Ace rag, Hold'em: Unless you have the skill to lay down the top two pair, like the kid in " Rounders ", you will improve your win rate by not playing Ace rag. (Exceptions do apply: short-handed, great read on the player, short last table, etc.) Personally I think the Ace rag suited is a bit of trap if you don't flop the flush card. Jones describes these types of hands as "Dominated." Barring a miracle flop we will only have a marginal hand. As Woody used to say about the pass play; "Only three things can happen and two of them are bad." Let's look at the out come if we play the Ace Rag.

1. Hit the miracle flop. Bet and win a small pot.
2. No help and fold: You have lost any money you put in the pot.
3. Get some of the flop and trap yourself into chasing a better hand and losing a bunch. (Remember your kicker or second pair suck.) By mucking the hand before the flop you can avoid some real bad decisions later in the hand. You would probably improve your win rate, if you consider A rag suited only marginal. The only real discussion should be. Can you lay down two pair to a bet?