I was at a table of superstud (played fixed limit, upcard fixed, pick 2 of 4 down cards). Someone mentioned he played 8d(Ad3d) rather than 8d(AdAc). Which is better? I assume the 3-flush plays better multiway. Also it is important if the 3-flush is live. I assume the 3-flush would be better with like A34. Is it close, or is one usually better?

Aces are still better

Aces are better. Here's a sim for the suited low hand HU vs a range of typical low hands with at least one wheel card, which includes small rolled trips, suited and unsuited 3-straights, small pairs with a low card and another pair of Aces with a low card:

ProPokerTools Stud Hi/Lo Simulation

600,000 trials (Randomized)

Hand	Pot equity	Scoops	Wins Hi	Ties Hi	Wins Lo	Ties Lo
3dAd8d	54.42%	210,002	329,424	149	208,262	842
$L$L$W	45.58%	157,035	270,427	149	189,477	842

Here is the sim for AA8 offsuit vs same range:

ProPokerTools Stud Hi/Lo Simulation

600,000 trials (Randomized)

Hand	Pot equity	Scoops	Wins Hi	Ties Hi	Wins Lo	Ties Lo
AcAd8s	62.35%	281,469	438,611	59	77,496	218
$L$L$W	37.65%	133,302	161,330	59	209,198	218

Quibble about the range is that it includes hands like 872 offsuit, but it's difficult to quickly express a more discerning range. This should do for comparative purposes.

There's a slight playability advantage for the suited hand, in that you can brick off against a low card and fold easier, though mitigated because you can also catch a suited banana and get to the river with a draw you can't fold but fails to improve.

HU it seems close but multiway I'm definitely taking the flush hand.

In super stud I think it's important to realize that low hands are typically stronger in that they will usually have low hands with draws so you will be getting freerolled more often. And it's around six times more likely that someone is rolled up in super stud

I guess this is super/8? HU AA is definitely better. 3-ways is close and 4+ the 3-flush (assuming it's reasonably live). 3-ways I might play the AWWs over the AA if it's live, too.

8 low draw is not strong multiway, I would take the AA hand and look to knock players out to get HU vs a single incomplete low.

Multiway you really aren't playing for the 8 low but it does provide an emergency outlet

Gimme da flush hand imo

Do you bet before you discard? If not, and I kept the aces, I'd raise 3rd. If I didn't get it heads up, I'd be through putting money in.

I don't play in superstud games where HU early is much of an option, so I really don't like AA that much. I think some of the Vegas games during the Series might have tight moments, but I wouldn't see the point of trying to eek out a mite of profit with AA in a tight superstud game.

jmo

Best opportunity to KO is usually 4th when you can either lead into a low board that should raise or c/r if a bet comes from your right. If everybody bricks off fourth your hand becomes strong enough to handle more than one player against you, and you'll usually have another opportunity to hit somebody with two cold on Fifth.

With the Eight draw you'll often be in a spot where you have <33% equity 3-ways but enough to stick another bet in, say partway to completing a modest low or a four flush. You can fold and surrender your share of the pot, but you'll at least break even lifetime if you don't, so there's an incentive to carry on with the hope of breaking even. Meanwhile, your variance in this spot takes its toll and the RIO of completing an Eight can be considerable in Super.

In superstud you are typically up against much stronger low hands such as 456 two suited as opposed to stuff like 652. What that means is that you are going to be put in a lot more situations where you have bad equity or really bad spots where you are getting free rolled. Think the AA has has more RIO. Super Stud 8 pots are typically multiway and not really a game for high pairs even if they are aces imo

Hi pairs other than Aces are sucker hands in super. AA plus a little card is a really strong hand that starts with significant showdown value and has removal effects that weaken opponent hands. Situations where AA plays badly tend to be obvious later in the hand, and if you play this game regularly you have to be able to fold in those spots rather than shrug call. For many players the suited hand will be difficult to fold specifically in spots where variance is highest, and will make payoff hands in big pots.

I don't doubt that due to playing style and perhaps competition, some people make more with the suited hand. I think I make more with the Aces.