How To Win With Big Slick In Early Position

Let's discuss how to win when you're dealt
Big Slick (Ace, King) in an early position.

First, let me clarify what is meant by the
term "early position".

If you're in an early position, it usually
means you're one of the first three players
to the LEFT of the dealer.

Of course, if you're small blind, that
means you're almost last to act before the
flop, but first to act AFTER the flop.

If you're big blind, that means you're last
to act pre-flop, but second to act after
the flop.

And last but not least, if you're the THIRD
player to the left, that means you are the
FIRST to act before the flop, and third to
act after the flop... This position is also
known as "under the gun".

Ok. Enough with the definitions. Re-read
those four above paragraphs if you're
confused. Otherwise, let's dive into the
strategies...

As we discussed a few days ago, Big Slick
is a "monster" hand that most players pray
for... BUT... it can actually be a TERRIBLE
hand for you if you don't know what you're
doing.

It can be terrible if...

1. You go "all in" (or bet a substantial
pile of chips) before the flop, but then
don't catch anything...

Or...

2. You catch an ace or king on the flop,
bet a lot of chips, but then get run down
by another player who gets a better hand.

Since even a pair of DEUCES can beat Big
Slick by itself, I recommend that you don't
go all-in with Big Slick before the flop.

It's just too risky. Because there are so
many hands that can beat you.

Going all-in with Big Slick pre-flop is the
equivalent to saying, "Hey, I'm not that
confident I can win this game, so I'm going
to HOPE to get LUCKY and risk all my chips
on the CHANCE that an ace or king hits, or
that my ace high wins."

Obviously that's not ALWAYS the case, but
for the most part it's pretty accurate.

The second scenario- getting run down by
another player even though you hit your ace
or king- can be EXTREMELY frustrating.

For example, let's say you're holding Big
Slick and the flop comes out A,K,5. You're
obviously excited because you flopped top
two pair... but what if Marty, that new
guy who just learned how to play Hold'em
a couple weeks ago, is holding a pair of
fives?

Chances are, he's going to clean you out
for all your chips.

Your strategy then, should be to DECREASE
the chances that someone at the table (like
Marty) is going to get lucky on the flop.

And you do that by making sure they don't
even SEE the flop in the first place, by
making a pre-flop raise or strong bet.

The ultimate goal should be to create
"heads-up" action before the flop when you
get dealt Big Slick. Force players like
Marty to fold before the flop hits.

That will prevent the "bad beats" and allow
you to focus on a single opponent.

The most difficult way to win with Big
Slick is if you're in an early position AND
you don't catch anything good on the flop.

Here's how I play it:

Let's say I'm "under the gun" (first to act
before the flop... third player to the left
of the dealer) in a no-limit cash game.

I look down to see AK of diamonds.

Great hand, terrible positioning.

Instead of limping in and letting all the
crap hands at the table see the flop, I
make a raise as we discussed.

"$15 to play."

Some players will limp-in with AK when
they're first to act, hoping someone ELSE
will make the raise for them (which gives
them the chance to re-raise).

I don't like this strategy. Because if
someone else makes the initial raise, that
means they get control over the table and
betting.

For example, let's say I limp-in and Josh
makes it $25 to play. Everyone else folds
and then I come back over the top of him
for $100 more.

Without hesitation, Josh goes all-in and
pushes in his stack of $350 in chips.

See how this could get ugly?

Josh may be holding pocket 9's for all I
know... which will BEAT me if I don't catch
the right cards on the flop. Then again, he
might be holding a pair of face cards... or
maybe just AJ.

No matter what, I really don't care.

Because I don't want to risk all my chips
on AK and leave my night up to chance.

As much as possible, I want to be in FULL
CONTROL of my destiny at the card table.

There will inevitably be players who are
more reckless with their chips- and these
are the players who rely on LUCK more than
SKILL...

But not me... I know I can beat the game,
which is why I don't limp-in here when I'm
first to act with Big Slick.

OK, back to the hand...

"$15 to play", I repeat.

I'm hoping to get just one caller, or two
at the most.

The action goes around the table, and
everyone mucks their hands... except for
Drew. He splashes the pot and calls.

So I've created heads-up action and taken
control of the betting... exactly as I
wanted to do with my monster hand in this
position.

The flop hits: 2h, 9d, 7s.

I'm first to act.

Obviously, this flop is terrible... the
best thing I've got going is a possible
runner/runner diamonds draw.

So what do I do now?

Should I check my ace high?

No. This is where you should fire AGAIN,
and continue to play aggressively...

Because the flop probably didn't help Drew
either.

If I CHECK, Drew will sense my weakness and
might try to steal the pot.

My bet will give him the impression I'm on
on over-pair and have the best hand... so
he'll probably muck his cards now.

Even if he calls, I'm still in good shape.

If the turn card doesn't help me, I'll
back down and minimize my losses. I DON'T
want to dig myself in a deeper hole and
try to bluff it out.

Or I may catch my top pair on the turn or
river and be able to win that way.

So no matter what happens, I'm not risking
too many chips and I'm putting myself in a
great position to win the hand.

Now... rewind for just a moment. What if my
$15 pre-flop bet had multiple callers?

Having multiple players in the game would
have increased the odds that someone
actually benefited from the 2,9,7 flop.

Which means I would NOT have made a strong
bet after the flop. Instead, I would have
backed down and just checked. If someone
else bet strong, I would have mucked my A,K
and lived to see another hand.

So THAT is how you play Big Slick under the
worst of circumstances... with scraps on
the board and bad positioning... and STILL
have a great chance at winning a nice pot.

Of course... the chances of getting AK are
just 1 in 83. And the odds of getting AK
suited are just 1 in 332. And that doesn't
even factor in the odds related to your
positioning.

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I'll talk to you again soon.

Your Friend,

Roy Rounder


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