Does folding AA preflop ever make sense?

maxstell · Aug 3, 2025

I know it sounds crazy, but I've been seeing situations where some players decide to fold AA preflop in very deep tournaments or major satellites.
Did they ever fold AA preflop?
In what situation would they or have they done it?

rsparente · Aug 4, 2025

Hardly ever, except if you know ranges are wild and a lot of players joined all in and buy-in is high enough to hurt your bankroll.

Even with AA, if you have 2+ more players in the hands all in, it turns to be a matter of luck to be the winner, even though you are in a better spot.

Rldetheflop · Aug 4, 2025

In certain situations in a satellite for instance if you're second in chips and the chip leader shoves in on you. There is only one more player to bust out and the rest get the same ticket. You can absolutely fold aces there

martDdart · Aug 4, 2025

The more players seeing the flop the less chance winning with AA.

Rldetheflop · Aug 4, 2025

martDdart said:
The more players seeing the flop the less chance winning with AA.

True but more chips to be won so in a regular tourney it's never a good idea to fold AA pre no matter how many in the pot

enno · Aug 4, 2025

Rldetheflop said:
In certain situations in a satellite for instance if you're second in chips and the chip leader shoves in on you. There is only one more player to bust out and the rest get the same ticket. You can absolutely fold aces there

I agree with this completely and maybe add that in any tournament when an opponent with a bigger stack shoves in front of you, and you would be eliminated if you lose, it may be an option to fold depending on his tendencies.

MK_ · Aug 4, 2025

I would totally agree with folding in a satty if you have already put yourself place to win your ticket....

you have everything to lose and nothing to gain, might even agree with a family pot negating the

odds of winning with AA to a large degree is something to consider at times.... other than that

folding AA because you are scared to be eliminated isn't playing poker😎👍

Pulse_69 · Aug 4, 2025

In theory, yes — but only in extreme spots, like satellite bubbles or ICM pressure in huge tournaments. In normal play, folding AA preflop almost never makes sense.

wushibala · Aug 4, 2025

Yes, sometimes you should fold AA in satellites or freerolls — if you know your stack is enough to simply wait and reach the money.
Because by going all-in or getting involved with pocket Aces, you risk losing the hand and missing out on a prize, which would be a big mistake.
The main goal in these tournaments is to secure the ticket, not to win every hand.
That’s why I often fold AA, KK, even QQ in spots like that.

Stringy · Aug 4, 2025

unless I'm really trying to get ITM I'm hardly gonna fold that pre flop

pentazepam · Aug 4, 2025

When Is It Correct To Fold AA Preflop?

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Rldetheflop · Aug 4, 2025

I mean I guess if you satty into a big money tourney and a min cash would be huge I would probably consider it but I would also be thinking how much a deep run could be

BillyR23 · Aug 4, 2025

In some situations it's the right play to fold Aces preflop and the most common one is in satellites when your stack already guarantees the ITM finish(winning the ticket)... It's of course a nitty/ crazy fold but there's no point in taking any risks in this situations and lose chips that might end up in you losing the prize too... Aces vs. 1 opponent is in great spot(80%+ equity and most of the time even 90%+), but vs. multiple opponents the chances of winning go down by a lot and even though you're still favorite to win, most of the time you'll be in a flip situation and because you already had the seat guaranteed- this 'gamble' will be a mistake...

PS. I'm never folding tho AA in regular games because of 'fear' and/ or because I want the min cash in a tournament... the big money is at the top(mostly for top3) and that's what you should aim for - of course you should take any spot with AA preflop, even if the entire table already went All In preflop and you're last to act lol

SOLO22 · Aug 4, 2025

I am an enemy of going all in from the preflot, it is an answer that, at the level of novice players, is a little difficult due to the simple fact that the decision to pay for an allin with a pair of aces is necessary to embrace the decision-making that you have set in motion, since paying for a ball or for the preflot is not bad, it is clear that doing so leaves a move totally to the variance of the game, a decision is made with a degree of possibility of success but also with a degree of possibility of wider variance simply because you have to wait for them to come out the five community cards.
My answer is that they would pay them without thinking about it, of course, I would welcome the decision of the cards because in the end if it comes out positive for my hand or I get eliminated or lose my hand in case it is cash, it was the decision I made from the beginning when I had the pair of asun cards to play it in a large percentage all in.

Mig32 · Aug 4, 2025

Yes, it does sound crazy at first — but I do understand the logic behind folding AA preflop in very specific situations.

Personally, I’ve never folded AA preflop — but I know that in extreme ICM spots, especially in satellites where everyone gets the same prize (like a ticket or seat), it can actually be correct to fold even pocket aces. For example, if there are more players than seats left to bust, and you have a guaranteed spot if you fold every hand, then going all-in — even with AA — could risk everything unnecessarily. The goal isn’t to win chips, it’s to outlast others.

It’s super rare, and it goes against every instinct as a poker player, but in some satellite or bubble spots, folding AA can be the most profitable (or safest) play.

So while I haven’t done it (yet), I can definitely respect the discipline it takes to make that fold when the situation truly demands it.

Chebchoub · Aug 4, 2025

maxstell said:
I know it sounds crazy, but I've been seeing situations where some players decide to fold AA preflop in very deep tournaments or major satellites.
Did they ever fold AA preflop?
In what situation would they or have they done it?

Yes, it is possible to fold AA.
In some cases, such as freezeout tournaments or when approaching paid seats, we have no choice but to fold even a pair of aces, especially if the table position is bad, or when more than two opponents are raising.
Sometimes, or even always, there are signs that your position in the table is more important than strong hands, or vice versa, or that aggressive or submarine play determines the winner.
Attention, focus, and a keen eye for detail will help you continue playing and emerge from difficult stages with minimal losses. Good luck.

aorodrigo · Aug 4, 2025

This topic remembers me this:

Rosylly · Aug 4, 2025

Yeah, as guys said above, if you are chip leader or 2nd-3rd, and let's say you play satellite where 10 people get ticket, and there are 15 people left, folding AA pre-flop is right decision.

Does folding AA preflop ever make sense?

maxstell

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When Is It Correct To Fold AA Preflop?

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