Pocket aces are certainly a thing of beauty to behold but more frequently you will be holding one ace and hoping to connect with one on the board to make top pair. That's the type hand we will explore today... top pair, an ace in your hand and one on the flop.

The strength of these hands lies in the value of the kicker, whether the ace is suited to the kicker, your position, and how the betting progresses. A suited A-K is the strongest of the single ace hands and some players bet and raise with this holding like they've just been dealt an unbeatable hand. Of course, in due time they find out that isn't always the case.

Let's imagine holding a lone ace in an unraised multi-way pot with four other players, and the flop is A-7-2 of mixed suits. With no raise prior to the flop and no reasonable draw, your aces are probably the best hand regardless of your kicker. If you are first to act or everyone has checked to you, a bet is in order. Taking down the pot right away is fine since you do not want to give someone holding a hand like 8-7 a free card, and along with it, the opportunity to draw out on you. Success in hold 'em is often linked to being proactive... take the initiative and bet!

If someone in front of you has already bet, I endorse raising with a ten or higher kicker, especially since no one raised before the flop. You need to play this type of hand aggressively to maximize your win, since many weak players who play weak aces will pay you off.

If you are played back at, you need to reassess the situation. Is the raiser capable of a raise in this situation with a weaker hand in an attempt to move you off your hand? Has he possibly hit a set of deuces, or was he in the big blind and hit the big blind special of 7-2 and made two pair on the flop? You won't always be on the correct side with your decision but seeing the turn for one extra bet might be in order, especially if your kicker is higher than a seven.

On those occasions when there is a bet and a raise before the action reaches you, there are likely two aces out and now your kicker is critical. If you're holding anything but a picture card kicker, your hand is probably beaten. Even a queen or jack may not be a good enough kicker. Many players will limp with A-K treating it as the drawing hand it is. Getting involved with just a pair of aces and a mediocre kicker can be a big mistake. Even with a solid kicker you are at risk of being in second place, or possibly investing money just for a chop. I would not play anything less than A-Q for two bets. But knowing how your opponents play is always a major factor in decision making, and erring on the side of caution usually serves you well.

While pocket aces are the best starting hand in hold 'em, many players overrate a pair of aces with one in the hand and one on the board. Our goal for today is not to be one of those players. Evaluate these holdings through a filter made up of the value of your kicker, whether it is suited to the ace, your position, and the betting action. When holding this kind of hand, be aggressive but don't hesitate to release it if it looks like you're in trouble.

See you next "TIME"

Tom "Time" Leonard has played poker in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and California for more than 30 years and written about the game since 1994. Contact Tom at thleonard@msn.com.