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relaxedriley

Did a search but couldn't find this, if it has already been covered please tell me where i can find it.

when you are in the blinds and their has been no raises how would you play these hands.

PROVISIONS:

You are playing a typical .25/.50 9 handed limit game (i.e. very loose)

There are 5 limpers

If you raise no one will fold

Questions: You are in the blinds do you raise or limp with these hands?

Ak?

Aq?

JJ?

The question is, is it more profitable to just limp and check fold to a bad flop, saving yourself a bet. Because chances are with that many people in the pot these hands are no good on a bad flop. Or do you try to build a pot for when you do hit so that you will get max value out of these hands.

BOYNAMEDSUE · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:28 pm Post subject:

With a really strong hand, raise to get more money in the pot. With AK, AQ or JJ just limp. If you're in the SB you might get the BB to fold, but that's about it.

Riddim · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:42 pm Post subject:

People who aren't raising with all those hands in a game like that are costing themselves so much money. Just ask yourself if you think your hand has a better than 5:1 shot at winning the pot against the nearly random hands of your opponents. If the answer is yes, you should probably raise.

Paprika · Full House Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 194

If it were me I'd Raise Raise Raisewith all three. Some say limp with AQ but I never do.

cardfish2 · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:07 pm Post subject:

You always raise if you think you have the best hand. (Straight out of Sklansky.)

bigwheell · Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 9:37 pm Post subject:

griffinlord · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:03 pm Post subject:

Raise 'em!

I used to think that preflop raising was about thining the field, maybe getting heads up. But that is NL thinking.

In micro limit you are trying to build a pot preflop with big hands so you have something worth winning.

True, AK, AQ, JJ may all have to be folded if the flop comes scary, but what happens if you are holding AQ and the flop comes QQ4? Even the loosest player will hesitate to call a bet on that flop.

True, on some flops you'll get called down by someone with a bad hand who is actually making a correct play based on pot odds, but you are still beating them most of the time and winning more than you lose.

relaxedriley · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks to all who answered, I still am not sure what the correct play is but at least now I know im not alone in my current thinking. I will continue raising in these spots unless Poker office shows me difinative gaps in these situations over the long haul. If so I will post my conclusions.

meitiner · Pair Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 21

Think about it this way.
Your pocket is favorite to win, not a dead cert but better than the 6 to 1 odd that the table is paying. If it was a horse race and you could get those odds on the favorite then you would want to bet as much as you could. That is why you raise.
If you have aces you will win 30-40% of the time against 5 players and they are giving you 6-1 odds, over a lifetime of poker that will be a fortune.

fire_eyes_2k · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:05 am Post subject:

I gotta agree with those that said raise. Raise all the hands to get max. value out of your hand. With that many limpers, if you hold AK or AQ, you will often get weaker aces calling all the way to a showdown. JJ is a harder one to play postflop, as theres a ~50% chance an overcard will hit the flop, and with 5 limpers, I'd expect to be facing at least 2 overcards if not all 3. And keep on firing if the flop looks good!

craigo6x · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:12 am Post subject:

The real answer is it depends on you. If you can get away from the hand if you miss, then raise. One more small bet builds a nice pot, that if you hit will pay nicely. However if once you raise you feel you are committed and can't fold AK on a board of 8,9, 10, Q, K then keep your investment at a minimum and take the flop.

Problem is a raise out of the blind is supposed to signify a big hand, but I watched some donk 4 bet from the BB preflop with an os J 10 yesterday. Unless I know I have the best hand (or likely the best or race hand) and I know I can get away from it, I don't raise preflop.

deadmoney314 · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:15 am Post subject:

Paprika · Full House Joined: 09 Feb 2006 Posts: 194

So far, it has only happened to me one time at the lower limit that my utg raise with anything was folded all the way back to me. That is rare in LLHE I think. It happened to be with AA and I took the blinds but that is the exception. Especially when somebody has any ace or face card and is dying to see the flop. Think about all the times that you are folding with bad starting hands. Hopefully a good amount if you are playing somwhat well. When the premies come along which isn't all the time you have to get max value for them. I equate it to stud hi-You have to bet & raise those live big pairs in stud cause they don't come along a lot either. There is more to this game than just that but the point is that when you get em, bet em imo.

craigo6x · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:28 pm Post subject:

craigo6x · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject:

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