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The Trouble with AQ

We have already seen that AQ features in the top ten starting hands in poker. Why then, does AQ cause so many problems, not just for regular players but for the pros too? Daniel Negreanu used to call the hand ‘1.4’ after the number of millions he has lost with it! Let’s investigate why this hand, which looks great pre-flop and is statistically in the top ten hands, causes so many problems for people.

The first rule to take on board is not to overplay AQ. If you are playing against players with a similar tight strategy to yours, they will only be playing the top starting hands. Of these hands, AA, KK, QQ and AK all dominate AQ. If you play AQ as aggressively as you would with these four hands, you will lose money. AQ is a premium hand but it is at the bottom of this pack. Let’s look at some examples where AQ should and should not be played:

In early position, you find AQ in your hand. You raise 3x the big blind. A player in a late position raises you. The button then calls. This should almost always be a fold. Players rarely raise with nothing in early position, so a player raising you when you act early should be a warning sign. Then the call on the button should be the icing on the cake for a quick getaway. By calling the re-raise, the button will probably have a monster (KK or AA).

AQ is better played in late position where you can raise the pot and be confident you won’t be re-raised. If your opponent appears weak after the flop, you won’t have difficulty taking down the pot. If you miss the flop and your opponent is strong and aggressive then you can fold having lost the least amount of chips possible.

Those looking at Scratch Cards Online normally should note AQ is a powerful starting hand but looks prettier than it really is. If played too aggressively it can lose you a lot of money. There’s a reason Doyle Brunson famously said he never plays the hand.

The Trouble with AQ

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