Down to One Chip – Fold AA!

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How should I play if I have just one chip left?

Down to One Chip – Fold AA!

As I've said in another tip, it is almost always wrong to fold AA before the flop in no limit Texas hold ‘em. But here's one case where it's correct:

Suppose that for whatever reason, you're down to just one chip in a tournament, and the blinds are 1000/2000. You're in the money. If you're dealt AA, you should fold! You're not going to be able to build your stack back up. Even if you tripled up four times, you'd still have just 81 chips. The best plan at this point is to hope to get lucky on your blinds and survive, and maybe you'll be able to inch your way up a few spots in the money. You're barely going to be playing poker at this point – it's almost like playing virtual poker game for you – but it's the most profitable way to play this (incredibly rare) situation.

   

Comments

1/22/2008 12:21:10 PM
Joe said:

This is admittedly an incredibly rare situation. You're not out to win the tournament. Everything you do is to either conserve or buy time. The longer you last, the more money you stand to make.

Under the gun, I would wholeheartedly agree. Players behind you would call just to make sure that your aces get cracked.

However, if you are in the small blind and have the opportunity to go heads up with the big blind, this could be a very playable hand.

You also have to take into account how many more players have to get bounced out of the tournament for you to get to the next payment level. If you are on the bubble for then next payment level, then folding is probably a good idea, depending on what the other short stacks look like.

If there are a number of players between you and the bubble, you probably won't get to the next level with the "fold strategy" and might consider taking the shot, especially in a late position.

As I said above, I agree that it is generally a good idea, but I feel that it needs to be considered in light of your position at the table and your position in the tournament.


5/20/2009 2:05:05 PM
me said:

I think this is a weird tip,
if your down to 1 chip, and you get the best preflop hand in poker why fold?
if you fold this, what hand should you make the call with then?




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