Significance of Poker Aces
In this article we will talk about poker aces in high-low split games. As an example we will take a game of 7-card stud, eight-or-better, high-low split. In such game low cards can form high hands too, so it is quite possible that the same hand will play well as a high and a low hand at the same time. Normally these hands are straights of flushes formed by low-value cards. A good hand of such type can scoop the entire pot, so it is quite important to not forget about such opportunity.
3 Low Cards:
Getting three low cards at the beginning is a great start, but it still does not guarantee that you will have a good low hand and almost certainly means that you will not have a good high hand. So what hand is really good? A hand with an ace. Poker aces are the highest and the lowest cards in the deck at the same time. A player with poker aces in his starting hand gets a vide range of opportunities.
For example, 5-4-2 is a good hand, but 5-4-A is even better. Both hands can grow into a wheel, but the first hand is nothing more than a low-draw. It will only become a good high hand if the player receives 2 perfect cards, which is not an easy task. It is also possible that a low card will not be formed at all. Player can receive high cards in later rounds and only forget about winning the low half of the pot.
Low hands:
Low hands are more valuable, as it is more difficult to combine one. A player holding a low hand of any kind already can consider himself as a claimant for half of the pot, while high hand players need to have really strong hands like a full house or a quad to be more or less sure to take their half.
The 2nd Hand:
The second hand (5-4-A) is a perfect draw to start with, but it is still a draw and not a complete hand. However, having an ace the hand is more likely to be developed successfully to both directions, so the chances to get a strong hand are twice better than they would be without an ace, and therefore can be played more aggressively than any one-way draw.
More than One Ace:
Getting another ace further in the game also is good. Although it eliminates the chances to form a low hand, it gives the player a pair of aces, which along with another pair can become an excellent hand
Of course, poker is a game of chance, and almost anything is possible. Counting on successful growth of a hand with an ace can become costly for the player if his hopes do not materialize, but, however, it does not mean that such hands should not be played properly, and an important part of proper play is realizing that low hands with aces are extremely valuable.
