Obviously depends on the situation, but what do you think is the best way to play pocket aces? do you always look to get your chips in pre flop? look to trap? Example of how i play them, if for instance i was in late position an ive got a number of limpers i would put a minimal raise in, hoping to get a couple callers to increase the pot before somebody thinks ive got a weak hand, ace rag etc and re-raises me, then i re-raise them all in hoping for it to look like a bluff.
Whats the best way?
Paul
I am conflicted. See, I love it when people do this. I honestly do. Most of the time by the time everyone finishes limping/calling the small raise you put out, there is usually such a large pot that the guy with AA is goin all-in post flop anyways, and the guy who limpped with KQ is sitting on 2pr.
What conflicts me here is now I have to go and tell you why doing this is not a good idea (aside from the above example).
First of all, when you just raise small after a few (let's say 2) limpers, it screams you have either AA/KK, a pp, usually 7 or lower, or A rag. Now think about what's in the pot so far. We'll use 25/50 blinds (in tourney format) SB+BB+BB+BB=175 + raise(100)= 275. Now let's say that nobody already in the pot folds, they just call your bet. There is now 500 in the pot PF. Do you really think you have any idea where you stand in the hand now?
Here's an example using some specific hands that players will limp then call a small raise with: You have AhAc. SB has 55, BB has KQs, and the next two players each have Ad7d and 89os, respectively. You have position and your current
equity in the hand is a slight bit over 49%.
Flop: 5c, 7s, 2s.
Looks like a great flop for aces, but on a board like this your equity shrinks to just under 8%.
With a flop of: As, 10c, 2s, you are in much better shape, roughly 73%, but a flop with an ace in it is very unlikely if one of your opponents has an ace as well.
Now say they all check to you. How much to bet? Too little any draw is going to chase, too much and a made set/2pr hand is going to call anyways, not at all and you're giving everyone a free card. So say you bet 250 (1/2 pot) and you get called twice. pot is now well over 1000 chips and you still have no idea where you stand. See where I'm going with this?
Granted this is a worst case scenario with the flopped set of 5's against you, but it is entirely within the realm of possibility, and I've seen countless bad beat stories here on CC that pretty much all resemble the stated example.
Now back to that 3-bet/shove thing. If somebody 3-bets against your small raise, then they are more than likely gonna call a shove (in the mocro's anyways). That is great. But I can determine with great certainty that this dosn't happen nearly enough for the situation to be counted on, but you remember it because it rocks when it happens. Most of the time raising small with limpers ends up with a bad beat story.
The exact raise amount to use is determined by many factors, but generally, raise with AA the same amount you would raise any other raising hand in that particular situation. Remember that the more players in the hand diminishes your equity, but also potentially increases the chance of winning a whole stack. Just don't forget that it is still only a one pair hand unless it improves.
