Playing Aces

Every kid knows that pocket rockets are the best hands in hold'em poker. There's simply no better hand and that's why you should try to get as much money as possible into the middle. Right? Wrong! Aces are the best hand before the flop but after the flop sometimes not anymore. You may think that this is obvious but some players aren't aware of this.

Aces with short stacks
There's no hand that is easier to play than aces with a short stack. When the blinds are high compared to the stacks you only have to find the best way to get the whole stacks into the middle. In the best case before the flop and if this doesn't work out on the flop.
On turn and river it's not that easy anymore. Even aces can be beaten and if you get a lot of action, and only hold one pair and aren't committed to the pot, you still should be able to make the fold, depending on the situation.
Let's assume you raise before the flop, two players call and the following flop comes: KJ3. You're making a continuation bet, both players call and on the turn comes a ten that makes also a flush possible. You check, the next one bets and his opponent raises. You have to fold at this spot because you're most likely beaten.

Aces with deep stacks
Actually you shouldn't have problems with the best hand. Unfortunately it's sometimes the case especially when you're playing with deep stacks. Here you must not try to bet all your chips if you're holding only one pair. Except you can do this before the flop – then a dream comes true.
But most of the players just can't lay down aces. It's a shame for them to fold this hand. This revenges when they're losing a big pot.
One good tactic is the following: You're just limping with aces. If someone happens to raise before the flop you can reraise and try to bet all your chips before the flop. If nobody raises you just try to hit the third ace and win an even bigger pot. If you don't improve you proceed cautiously.
The advantage of this tactic is that you only risk a few chips but still allows you to win some big pots.