Pocket Aces at the final table

I would appreciate comments on how to play pocket aces at the final table once there are five or fewer opponents.

My situation was that I came to the final table as the chip leader there were three short stacks. I planned on playing conservatively until the short stacks were eliminated. My plans didn't matter much because I went card dead anyway. After 4 people had been eliminated I had a few playable hands, but my opponents were giving me credit for good hands because I didn't get any action on my raises. When it was down to four people remaining, I was in third chip position with about 20BB when I was dealt pocket aces UTG. I thought about limping, but I hadn't limped at all at the final table. For two reasons I raised the pot, I didn't want to limp and have two or three opponents see the flop cheaply and I thought they might be suspicious of the limp based on my prior play. Of course no one called the raise and I only picked up the blinds and antes.

Any suggestions?

I think you need to feel out the table a little bit. If there is a guy raising almost every pot, I'll limp and gamble that he will put in the first raise. If someone else calls between us, I'll pop the bet to see if I can get one of them heads up. If its just the two of us, I'll check the flop to induce another bet before I raise him out of whatever sick draw he is trying to make.

Sure I've let too many people to the flop before with a big hand, but I'm usually smart enough to get away if it looks like someone got a big piece. Occasionally I am sent to the rail, and left wondering if it would have been better to pick up the blinds...

and how did you do at this final table? in my opinion, raising with aces is never wrong. remember, you either win a small pot or lose a big pot with it. now i never said that just limping is wrong, just that raising is always right. The thing about limping is you really are gambling that the flop doesn't hit big with anyone. if it doesn't you look like a hero, and if it does you look like the idiot who didn't raise aces. considering your situation, i don't think it was a bad play. you're at the final table, you're playing to win. you have a good tight image so you can consistently steal blinds and bluff to keep your head above water. no point gambling with the aces here. now if you had a slightly shorter stack, say 15BB and below, then it may be worthwhile to try and trap with the aces.

depending on position, you could have possibly limped and hoped for a late position raise so that you could reraise and isolate. other than that, the hand was played properly. if the worst thing that happened was that you picked up the blinds, i'd be satisfied. a lot of people go broke with the hand.

Always raises with aces! better pick up blinds and antes (which are pretty high if u only had 20BB left) then slowplaying and BB hits 2 pair and then u lose all your money

Push All in. If the two bigger stacks are yet to act there is a good chance one of them will call. Just due to the fact that they can eliminate another player. I have seen this work and have made it work myself.

limping under the gun sometimes give you a chance you an oppotunity to reraise and get s9meone pot committed with an inferior hand like AK suited for example. I would always raise in late position

I agree. With short stacks push them around a little. They might call you if they have any decent hand.

My suggestion is to ALWAYS raise with AA regardless of stack size, tourney level, or position. Is it not the goal to win? Slowplaying AA that late in a tourney irregardless of style of you play, is inviting the poker god(s) wrath. Just remember the number of times your AAs got cracked. 'Nuff said