Quote Originally Posted by steelwheel
With A9 the only thing you SHOULD be looking for is the flush draw (and of course the two pair, trips) ...if you like having a pair of aces with crap kicker than A9 is good. But I dont so I prefer to have the option of getting a straight (however small that probability is), which is why I prefer A-2,3,4,5. I guess its just a matter of preferences.
Don't forget a very good thing that can happen with A9: a 9-high flop. Your likey opps are T9, J9, and Q9 people and if you keep your eye on their straight possibility, you can make very good with this hand.

That said, I prefer Ababy to A6-9, for the same reason as steelwheel. It's not a hand you fight with to the bitter end. Nor is A8 or A9. I think the straight possibilities are similar to the 9-high possibilities, but don't have any math on it.

To me it goes without saying that you don't flop wheels or 2pair very often; probably a matter of personality more than anything else. You just have to know with exactitude what your starting hand is good for.