AAA2 (Suited)

Playing this hand effectively will largely depend on your position on the table and the action before you, along with the action you anticipate behind you. You would prefer to play this hand head's up, but if that's not possible, don't be deterred because you can't fold it anyways.

Pre-Flop Play

Pre-Flop from early position

When playing this hand in the first two positions, I would always like to raise in an attemp to thin the field. If there is already action in front of you, then play this hand as if you were in mid-position (see below).  If there are tight players behind you, then your raise will likely serve its purpose. However if there are loose players behind you, you can assume that at least one or two of them are going to call and you'll be playing this hand against multiple players.

Pre-Flop from mid position

Your strategy now changes when playing this hand from mid position. If there is no action before you, play this hand exactly as you would from early position -- with a raise. If there is already action in front of you by one or two players limping into the pot, you should also limp unless there are loose players left to act behind you. Why? The high potential of this hand is very vulnerable to competition in a multi-way pot. Against multiple players, you are most likely only going to play this hand for its low potential, as somebody else will likely win the high. Assuming your high hand will not hold up and that your low hand will (unless counterfeited), you want as many people in this pot to increase the value of your split. If you raise with tight players behind you, you will probably force them to fold pre-flop and the value of your split will decrease (notice I'm assuming you will not win the high in this multi-way pot). However, if you have loose players behind you, you can assume at least one or two of them will call also, as will the same people who just limped in early position. Therefore a raise is warranted when this condition is met (loose players left to act behind you). This conditional limp/raise strategy will certainly guarantee that the pre-flop pot is as large as it could have possibly been. You need this pot large because there is less than a 50% chance you will make a low at all. If you hit your low, you're almost guaranteed that it's entirely yours; and therefore you want this pre-flop pot as large as possible -- and the strategy I just gave you will ensure that it is.

Pre-Flop from late position

When playing this hand in late position (from the cut-off or button), I can't think of a situation where you wouldn't raise.  If you're first to act, then a raise might win the pot right there.  If you're second to act, a raise might get you head's up against tight players in the SB and BB.  If the SB and BB are loose players, they might enter the pot even with your raise, and will make the pot sufficiently large enough to mitigate the marginality of the high potential of this hand.  If there are multiple people in this pot, they will all call a raise, and you'll be getting great return on your investment should you hit your low.  So in just about any situation I can envision, I would raise with this hand in late position.

The Flop

Playing this hand on the flop will largely depend on the texture of the flop, the number of players, your position, and your action pre-flop (that's a lot of things to consider!).

Early position, three players, high flop

If this is a high flop, then there is a good likelihood that it is also coordinated (makes some type of straight or straight draw).

, thus if you do, you want

If there is a raise already in front of you, three-bet this hand in an attempt to thin the field. Any 3-bet will likely force all but the loosest players out of the hand. If the action is

most like Loose players behind you will probably come along for the rid
I would prefer to raise with this hand, especially from early position to thin the field.

If in late position with many players already limping into the pot, I would prefer to limp as well because of the possibility that this hand won’t hold up. If the flop doesn’t come just right, the high potential of this hand (pair of aces) is very vulnerable to being outdrawn – and thus has much less value. Therefore, I prefer not to raise with this hand when multiple players have already entered the pot.

If a high or coordinated flop comes out that doesn’t include your suit, this hand is easy to fold with the least amount of loss. However, if the flop is low, and especially with your flush draw, one would be wise to place as many bets as possible on as many streets as possible. There is some chance your aces are still good for the high, and you’re almost guaranteed to win the low with your AAA2 unless your deuce is counterfeited. If you do get counterfeited, then provided you have some flush outs, this hand still has some potential. If you don’t flop any flush suits, don’t always assume your aces are going to win the high. Remember, when multiple players are competing in the pot, you can assume your aces are dead. Whatever you do, don’t get stubborn about your aces as a high hand – because they can easily be cracked in Omaha – and this is a sure fire way to lose lots of money.