Bullets

"Bullets" is a popular nickname for pocket Aces (AA), the strongest starting hand in Texas Hold'em and many other poker variants. The term comes from the visual similarity between the Ace's pip (♠,♥,♦,♣) and a bullet.

Key Points

  • Strongest preflop hand
  • Roughly 85% favorite vs any hand
  • Wins about 31% multiway
  • Other names: Rockets, Pocket Rockets

Hand Statistics

  • Frequency: 0.45% of starting hands (1/221)
  • Preflop Equity:
    • vs Random Hand: ~85%
    • vs KK: ~82%
    • vs QQ: ~83%
    • vs AK suited: ~87%

Strategic Considerations

  • Preflop Play:
    • Always raise/re-raise
    • Consider slow-play rarely
    • Get value from worse hands
    • Build pot early
  • Postflop Play:
    • Continue betting most boards
    • Watch for dangerous boards
    • Consider pot control multiway
    • Adjust to board texture

Example Scenarios

Heads-up: You have A♠A♣, raise 3BB, face 3-bet to 9BB. Consider 4-betting to 24BB to build pot and define ranges.

Multiway: You have A♥A♦ in early position, raise 3BB, get three callers. Consider a smaller c-bet on K72 rainbow board to keep weaker hands in.

Playing Bullets by Position

  • Early Position:
    • Standard raise size
    • Prepared for 3-bets
    • Value from position players
    • Clear plan for 4-bets
  • Late Position:
    • Larger raise sizes
    • More 3-bet opportunities
    • Position advantage
    • Better pot control

Common Mistakes

  • Slow-playing too often
  • Not building pot preflop
  • Overplaying on scary boards
  • Getting married to the hand
  • Not adjusting to stack sizes
  • Ignoring board texture

Psychological Aspects

  • Maintaining composure
  • Avoiding tilt after bad beats
  • Not showing disappointment
  • Balanced bet sizing

While pocket Aces are the strongest starting hand in poker, they still require careful play and consideration of many factors including position, stack sizes, opponent tendencies, and board texture. The key to playing Bullets successfully is finding the right balance between maximizing value and protecting against potential disaster scenarios.