AK, AQ offsuit in the blinds, limit holdem

[chimpanzepoopdic]

When a hand has multiple callers I often limp from the blinds with these hands figuring no one will fold to a raise. Then on the flop I can check, evaluate the action and easily set up a check raise or fold if necessary. I've also been known to do this with medium pairs as high as QQ.

When my Ace big is suited I am much more likely to raise preflop from the blinds to help any drawing odds I may have later in the hand.

Am I giving up to much by limping with these big hands from the blinds?

[VictorHugo]

I'm not sure if your giving up alot, but your def. making a mistake.. you probably have one if not the best hand. And you want to build up the pot.

Learning to protect your hand after the flop by check raising is where I think you need help in.

By raising not only are you implying you have a good hand, you might get a free card with people being afraid of a check raise ...

so I think you are better off raising. You have +EV at this point preflop most of the time with limpers so build it up.

I think your way of playing is safe, and maybe good in a tight aggressive game, but in many loose limit games like the ones going on now.. your are better of bumping it up..

goodluck ...

PM me if you need anymore help or thoughts...

[Frond]

I like to raise these up almost every time in either blinds if there has been no PF raises to me yet. Once in a while I will just complete or check them but not most of the time

[chimpanzepoopdic]

Id say Im 50/50 raise or call with these hands from the blinds with multiple limpers. When the pot is shorthanded or raised in late position I raise it up most often. Only in this specific situation posted above am I likely to play this way. Does anyone have any info on how much + or - this is or perhaps a link to a previous thread that dealt with this subject?
Thanks

[emerson]

[ QUOTE ]
When a hand has multiple callers I often limp from the blinds with these hands figuring no one will fold to a raise. Then on the flop I can check, evaluate the action and easily set up a check raise or fold if necessary. I've also been known to do this with medium pairs as high as QQ.

When my Ace big is suited I am much more likely to raise preflop from the blinds to help any drawing odds I may have later in the hand.

Am I giving up to much by limping with these big hands from the blinds?

[/ QUOTE ]

In most cases you are doing the right thing, especially with AQ. You should only raise with AQ if you can limit the pot to a very small number of players (Holdem for Advance Players, direct quote). Raising AQ in the small blind with a few limpers is downright silly. See the Caro essay contest and threads.

With AK there is a stronger case for raising as you have more preflop equity. But concealing your hand when you have such poor position is probably worth at least as much.

In short, you are not giving up anything.

[BaseMetal]

I would always raise both especially at loose tables.
(With the exception to have a bit of variation I would occasionally limp, say 10% of the time).
I would doubt if anyone bar the first caller had AA or KK and so I would consider my hand to be probably ahead ( or having enough outs to a smaller pair) and by raising I am making any loose limpers pay. I would likely be dominating some of them and at this time and I would be happy to be playing in a big pot. Perhaps against very many limpers I too would only limp to disguise the hand (I would also start to worry that the last limper may too have a big hand.)

[ QUOTE ]
When a hand has multiple callers I often limp from the blinds with these hands figuring no one will fold to a raise.

[/ QUOTE ]
With AKo or AQo I would be happy with everyone calling my raise, I would get worried if the first limper re-raised.

As a caviate - I play $0.5/1.00 limit and I am only just profitable at that!

[Niediam]

Not raising in loose games with AQ, AK and QQ is terrible.

[emerson]

[ QUOTE ]
Not raising in loose games with AQ, AK and QQ is terrible.

[/ QUOTE ]

But AQ in the small blind?? What on earth gain is there to doing this against several limpers? You immediately give every 4 outer the proper pot odds to call on the flop. That can't be right unless the players are so poor that they are in there with virtually any two cards.

Another Sklansky/Malmuth quote:" In general you should not raise with offsuit hands (other than AK) except to isolate a weak opponent." and this is in the loose games section, since you mentioned loose games.

See Holdem Poker for Advanced Players, 21st Century Addition, p 161-162.

[AP0CALYP5E]

[ QUOTE ]
Not raising in loose games with AQ, AK and QQ is terrible.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree. I make so much more money when I limp these hands. You want the guy with A9o betting into you when you have AK. If you raise he is less likely to pay you off.

It's the "You gotta raise that preflop" regurgitation that has allowed me to trap the hell out of people and make so much money.

[McGinty]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Not raising in loose games with AQ, AK and QQ is terrible.

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree. I make so much more money when I limp these hands. You want the guy with A9o betting into you when you have AK. If you raise he is less likely to pay you off.

It's the "You gotta raise that preflop" regurgitation that has allowed me to trap the hell out of people and make so much money.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are playing against players who will often lay down A9 in this situation with an A on board, then you might be correct. However, there are plenty of games out there where a raise w/AK or AQ in the blinds will not stop the guy with a weaker A to pay you off on every street. In this case, you have missed a huge pot equity edge by not raising preflop.