Should you raise 4x with any ace in Hold’em vs. Dealer?

Every ace, raised or checked

Average result per unit of ante (the blind equals the ante; trips not included), with the best play on every later street. Exact: every card that can still come and every dealer hand.

Why

An ace is the best high card, so even without a pair it often beats a dealer who misses the board. When the board pairs your ace you usually have the best pair, and when the dealer doesn’t pair you can still win with ace-high. The kicker matters, which is why A-2 offsuit is worth far less than A-K, but even the worst ace earns more by raising now than by waiting.

Related questions

• When should you raise 4x before the flop in Hold’em vs. Dealer?

  With any pair from 3s up, any ace, any suited king, K-5 offsuit or better, Q-6 suited or better, Q-8 offsuit or better, J-8 suited or better and J-10 offsuit. Check everything else, including pocket 2s.

• Should you ever raise 3x before the flop in Hold’em vs. Dealer?

  No. For every starting hand, either raising 4x or checking is worth more than raising 3x.

• Should you bet 1x or fold on the river in Hold’em vs. Dealer?

  Bet 1x with any pair that uses one of your cards. With nothing, count the dealer’s outs, the unseen cards that would beat you: bet with fewer than 21, fold with 21 or more.

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