Playing A2s

Should I have folded to such a pathetic bet? I remember somebody saying that with these A-Low Kicker suited hands if you don't have a flush draw get out. Opinions?

PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.02 BB (8 handed) converter

Button ($1.25)
SB ($4.64)
BB ($1.83)
UTG ($4.71)
Hero ($1.80)
MP1 ($3.90)
MP2 ($1.98)
CO ($2.80)

Preflop: Hero is UTG+1 with A, 2.
1 fold, Hero calls $0.02, MP1 calls $0.02, MP2 calls $0.02, 1 fold, Button calls $0.02, SB completes, BB checks.

Flop: ($0.12) Q, 9, A (6 players)
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks, MP1 checks, MP2 bets $0.06, Button calls $0.06, SB folds, BB folds, Hero folds, MP1 calls $0.06.

Turn: ($0.30) 6 (3 players)
MP1 checks, MP2 checks, Button checks.

River: ($0.30) A (3 players)
MP1 checks, MP2 checks, Button checks.

Final Pot: $0.30

Results in white below:
MP1 has Td Ks (one pair, aces).
MP2 has Th Jd (one pair, aces).
Button has 8s 9c (two pair, aces and nines).
Outcome: Button wins $0.30.

There are some players at those limits that will call just about anything. I wouldn't have folded in that situation.

If I have top pair in a micro game, I don't consider a bet to be a "raise" until they are putting in at least 10 cents, otherwise everyone is calling and playing with crap and the odds are there to stay in and take those pots with just a high pair, everyone else probably has 2nd pair not high card.

That's just my limited experience, but the standard 3x and 4x bets just don't have the same effect in a micro limit game. You need to be making 6x or 7x raises to get peoples' attention.

I don't think the half pot bet was enough of a show of strength for you to fold. It was a feeler bet. "Is there an A out there?" It also might push flush draws out of the pot. Although at these limits, anything is possible.

Another use of this bet is to get some money into the pot for the trips. But sooner or later they need to show some strength to maximize the value of their hand and you can abandon yours then if you sense that strength and that they are not bluffing.

I notice from your post that you don't mention your 'read' on this player, which is more telling than any sage advice on particular strategies for starting hands.

My personal poker style is evolving from one of starting hand rules to getting a sense of the relative value of my hand (no matter what it is) and what my opponents are doing based upon my read and their betting patterns. I learnt this through losing AA, AKs, KK hands.

There are many ways to play this hand. A pot sized raise, for example, might have won the pot on the spot. And even if it lost it might have altered your table image to suit you in some future play. I don't mind losing small pots if it encourages people to be looser with my stronger hands in the future.

Good luck.