We all hear people moan about getting their rockets cracked -- to the point where some people insist that "Aces Suck" and so forth.

It is baloney. Here is an instructive hand with running commentary.

Seat 2: momlikesanal ($2.90 in chips)
Seat 3: Big Ell ($28.25 in chips)
Seat 4: NuWere [ JC,QS ] ($26.20 in chips)
Seat 5: nobluff79 ($21.50 in chips)
Seat 6: momgineer ($25.55 in chips)
Seat 7: pokerfather6 ($35 in chips)
Seat 8: willdthrill ($8.35 in chips)
Seat 9: zeee claw ($18.05 in chips)
Seat 10: Bri3 ($6.80 in chips)

ANTES/BLINDS
NuWere posts blind ($0.10), nobluff79 posts blind ($0.25).

PRE-FLOP
momgineer calls $0.25, pokerfather6 folds, willdthrill folds, zeee claw folds, Bri3 calls $0.25, momlikesanal calls $0.25, Big Ell bets $1, NuWere calls $0.90, nobluff79 folds, momgineer calls $0.75, Bri3 folds, momlikesanal folds.

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I really hesitated to call the blind here. One of those SB specials. Plus it looked like a possible steal attempt from the button.
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FLOP [board cards JH,KH,QC ]
NuWere bets $5, momgineer folds, Big Ell calls $5.

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Now, if you're big ell is it right to go ahead and fold your aces here? The pot bet seriously stinks of made straight, two pair, or a set of one of those cards. Set probably would have reraised PF though...
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TURN [board cards JH,KH,QC,3H ]
NuWere bets $10, Big Ell calls $10.
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Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but with another potsized bet here how many of you would let it go?

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RIVER [board cards JH,KH,QC,3H,5S ]
NuWere checks, Big Ell checks.

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Since he's been calling these big bets, I wonder whether HE is the one with the made straight, or even the top two pair.

SHOWDOWN
NuWere shows [ JC,QS ]
Big Ell mucks cards [ AC,AS ]
NuWere wins $32.10.

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Laying down aces is a definite skill. Two suited cards >10 should set off big bells, especially when someone is betting with authority. To me this hand is a textbook case of "my aces are almost certainly beat"

Comments?