Raising Pre-Flop A Bad Idea?

I know this question have been asked many times, but mine is different than the ones I've found. I like to play fixed-limit a lot, but I will only raise pre-flop with AA, KK, and QQ. I will only call with KK and QQ if there's already a raise before me. With AA I will "Cap" pre-flop because I have the best possible made hand. I will also raise AK in the Small Blind if no one has raised before me to push the Big Blind out.

What confused me is people are telling me to raise pre-flop with hands such as:
1. 88-AA
2. A10 (suited or unsuited) or Better.
3. Suited "High Cards"
4. KJ (suited or unsuited) or Better.

I would see the flop with any of these hands, but will only raise AA, KK, and QQ. I would also raise AK in the small blind.

I don't want to raise the other hands because they are drawing hands. You're basically playing bingo and I hate bingo players in the Poker world. Even if your AQ hit an Ace on the flop it's still not TPTK. Another problem is that people won't give you action because you raise pre-flop unless they have something that beats you.

I know you are supposed to raise to push out the weak hands just in case they hit 2 pairs on the flop, but I don't think that happened often enough to matter. If you play in the $30/$60 those guys are freaking nit. You won't get suck out by 2J offsuit hitting 2 pairs anyway (unless it's the Big Blind).

I know 88-JJ are also made hand, but even with JJ there can easily be an overcard and I have to Check/Fold to a bet.

For those of you winning players at fixed-limit who is willing to raise pre-flop with anything other than AA (Cap), KK, and QQ please let me know why you would do that. AQ suited is a drawing hand. Would you raise pre-flop?

I find that I'm losing money by raising pre-flop with anything less than AK. I've tried the continuation bet when I miss the Flop with 2 opponents and they both checked to me. A lot of the time they ended up check/calling. I can't really continue to push on the "Turn" with nothing because that's too much money to waste. I would rather not Bluff in a Cash game.

Go get a book. Small Stakes Holdem was the FL Bible at one time. Not sure how dated it is but if this is where you're starting it's going to be a million times better than nothing.

I actually have that book. Haven't read it in years, but I remember it being pretty good. Gives a breakdown of playable hands by position regarding calling/betting/3-betting hands. A lot more too. I'm sure it is pretty dated now, but tbh I'm not sure how much new stuff is being written on limit these days anyway.

Regarding the AQs hand.... I only play limit live so I don't know what its like online, but I'm always raising with that hand. Especially if you are in MP or later. You can look at it as a drawing hand, but it may also very well be the best hand out pre-flop, so it is and it isn't a drawing hand. (WVH didn't tell you that 'cause he's a nit ).

He should be raising a LOT more than just AQ in FL Holdem.

If you raise only the best, players will pick up on that, too. Raising more often pre-flop helps disguise your hands better and helps get the chips in the middle.

Raising is not bingo. If you play good hands in good position and play well postflop you want the pots to be bigger.

Sorry I messed up the book title originally. Here is a link to it on Amazon: Amazon.com: Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big...

If you have HM1, check out the Preflop video by Bryce Paradis in the Limit version of Leak Buster. Very good info in there although sometimes Bryce can be a little hard to listen to : ) I believe you can see this vid in the trial as well.