[Sushiglutton]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't understand why everyone is so sure raising pf is better than limping. Doesn't that depend on the table? I think raising and limping are very close plays.

[/ QUOTE ]

This topic comes up all the time.

Most veterans are raising this, and some would argue that folding is preferable to limping. The basic idea is that AJo is a "top pair" hand that wins mainly by pairing up on the flop. Those sorts of hands don't do well in multiway pots, but open-limping encourages multiway action. Rather, it's better to raise and to play against as few opponents as possible.

If the table is so loose that people are routinely coldcalling with trash, then you can raise UTG for value.

That said, you're right that it's not that big a mistake.

[/ QUOTE ]


I understand these arguments. On the other hand most books I've read (SSHE'm, middle limit hold'em (or folding)) recomend limping. I think they must have som reason for this. Here are a few arguments which I made up for now [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]:

1)If u raise u will only face better hands. By calling u let smaller Aces or J's (hands u dominate) come in which u don't mind.

2) Raising gives a tough player a better chance to isolate u. Being isolated with AJo OOP is not pleasent. It's easy to make a misstakes: calling down with few outs, or folding the best hand.

3) If there are two raises behind u, u can get out if u limp.


That's all for now. Perhaps I shouldn't hijack a post like this [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]. Hope OP don't mind.