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What To Do With Kings On An Ace High Flop
Stu Ungar once said “The only thing aces are good for is winning small pots or losing big ones.” If one applies that same logic to pocket kings the same would ring even more true. Although pocket kings are the second best starting hand in Hold'em they can present some interesting problems in how to go about playing them. Poker players amateur and professional alike can experience some of the same difficulties when trying to take down a pot with the “cowboys.”One of the biggest problems for pocket kings is when an ace comes on the flop, crushing your dreams of taking down a big pot. So what do you do now? Many players will look at it as a death sentence for their cowboys, awaiting their hanging at high noon. But don't put your six shooter away yet – there is hope.
People often play kings wrong in this situation for three key reasons. (1) They do not create a heads up pot going into the flop, (2) they play the hand too weak because they fear their opponent automatically has an ace or, (3) they refuse to lay down their kings even when it becomes fairly apparent that they no longer have the best hand.
The most important thing while playing pocket kings is to raise in any position. There is almost no situation in which you want to slow play kings before the flop. Premium starting hands will often become vulnerable to many different flops and while holding pocket kings, an ace on the board will only complicate the situation. Multi-way flops are very dangerous with high pairs, therefore a strong raise is needed to engage in a heads up pot. A re-raise is a necessity if there was a raise and a call in front of you. Many players are scared to make a re-raise in fear that it will be folded around and they will get no action on their big hand. But like Mr. Ungar taught us, sometimes these strong hands are only good for winning small pots. I for one would take winning a small pot over losing a large one any day.
So lets now assume that you have a caller, have done your job, and are going into the flop in a heads up pot. Now comes the fun part; how do you play after an ace comes on the flop?
Many people will play their kings entirely too weak after an ace hits on the flop. They will check it down until their opponent picks up on their weakness and puts out a bet, to which they will dogmatically fold. To remedy this fearful approach try playing your kings as if you flopped a vulnerable top pair (i.e Ace-Deuce). I know it may sound strange, but just because an ace hit on the flop does not mean you must automatically give your opponent credit for holding one. While continuing use your powers of observation by picking up on tells, and carefully analyzing past and current behavior, play the hand exactly as you normally would with one important adjustment; fold to aggression when someone is representing a strong ace. This method allows you to pick up more pots especially rewarding when your opponent does hold an ace, but your combination of preflop aggression and follow up betting may lead them to fold an ace with a mediocre kicker.
Continue to play the hand as strongly as you would play top pair, until someone gives you reason to believe they have kings beat (or won't get off their ace). Read the texture of the board and realize the ace may not be your only problem, but also that other cards may be linking your opponents hand together to bring you down with a flush, straight, trips or even two pair. A common problem in No Limit Hold'em is understanding that top pair will often lose a showdown, so even though two kings in the hole look good, folding is many times your best option
Playing pocket kings on an ace high flop takes a delicate balance of aggression, observation, and the ability to not overplay premium starting hands. Realize that your best defense for kings is a good offence. Don't play scared and certainly don't be afraid to throw out a bet just because an ace hit on the flop. However, you must be willing to fold to continued aggression by your opponent and throw your kings into the muck as easily as you would fold an Ace-Deuce. Next time you run into this situation play your cowboys proudly as if you had their famous western movie star characteristics; fearless, aggressive, but with the intelligence to know when a new sheriff is in town.
Article written By Tom Bostic - Poker Expert
