When to shove AA or KK preflop?

I’ve been in many situations where it would’ve been better to shove AA or KK preflop but I have 30BB+ and the play would look too strong and get no calls so instead I’ll 3x or 4x but I often find myself with more callers than I’d like.

Is there any optimum time to shove large pocket pairs maybe UTG or late position when faced with many raises?


I hate having my AA cracked when I 4x to j10 and they hit a straight. I can’t get plays down for large pocket pairs when it comes to value/shoving. Any suggestions would help!

I think that there is no universal formula for playing premium pocket pairs. It all depends on the situation. Everyone has a loss to some extent when they play these pairs. You do everything right. I think it's better not to think of anything better.

just did it sb all in bb all in 2k each utg bet 2,5k im cut off all in utg call. Me KK utg AA. He wins ....

Ofarah said:

I’ve been in many situations where it would’ve been better to shove AA or KK preflop but I have 30BB+ and the play would look too strong and get no calls so instead I’ll 3x or 4x but I often find myself with more callers than I’d like.

Is there any optimum time to shove large pocket pairs maybe UTG or late position when faced with many raises?

I hate having my AA cracked when I 4x to j10 and they hit a straight. I can’t get plays down for large pocket pairs when it comes to value/shoving. Any suggestions would help!

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I believe you are asking this question as a purest in playing the game of poker, but due to the probability that you are discussing this topic due to your experiences of playing online, this type of question goes out the door lol.

I must unfortunately bring you back down to reality J

I do agree with your assessment, if and when you shove all-in preflop, your possibility of being rewarded has been reduced and at times significantly so, PLUS, that type of play is self-defeating with a extremely strong hand.

When receiving a pair of A’s you could try to raise the pot 1/3 your starting chip count, this way it will scare off all the weak and junk hands, only allowing those with strong hands such as KK, QQ, AK. ....... possibility of JJ and 10,10, and 99

This way, you have a better possibility of getting some action, while it still will in many cases, scare many players out of the hands, it will also allow the major donkeys to try to bluff you off your raises in these situations [IMHO], which is exactly what you are hoping for.

Keep in mind that it still is better to win a small pot with a monster hand, then to get crushed by some donkey who sucked out on their 3 6 suited because you allowed them in the pot in the first place, due to weak raises when holding monster hands.

depending on the situation increase a value is already enough, something around 5 to 6 BB, less space for those who pay everything, and if they pay no money you will already be pulling something around at least 2BB what is already something in the long run.

When to shove with #1 and #2 best hand

I always shove except under the gun. There I actually limp in. If there is 3 and 4 betting before you, that's the most wonderful time to have the aces or kings.

Depends on who you have behind you. If you have a guy who loves to squeeze out limpers, it's ok to limp though I still wouldn't recommend it. If you go to the flop in a multipot with AA, you just have to slow down if you bet and encounter resistance.

The shove is alright. You ought to be mixing it up to balance your range though. Depending on the stack sizes behind you, you will get surprised what people call you with.

if you play a freeroll at the beginning of the tournament, make a raise immediately in the 5-6 BB and after the flop , make all-inn

EVERYTHING depends on the position and the number of chips, preflop in the early position rise 3-5 BB or bank, if at a later position you need to see the flop need call, if someone else has gone all in, I risk with AA

Ofarah said:

I’ve been in many situations where it would’ve been better to shove AA or KK preflop but I have 30BB+ and the play would look too strong and get no calls so instead I’ll 3x or 4x but I often find myself with more callers than I’d like.

Is there any optimum time to shove large pocket pairs maybe UTG or late position when faced with many raises?


I hate having my AA cracked when I 4x to j10 and they hit a straight. I can’t get plays down for large pocket pairs when it comes to value/shoving. Any suggestions would help!

Click to expand...

You must play in the micro games or freerolls, in those levels, players can seldom find the fold button.

As for pushing all-in, most at the micro levels will see a flop with 22+, Axs and all broadway cards, regardless of raises.


Just play your premium cards the way you normally do, pay attention to the board and be prepared to lay down those premium cards, it also helps to know your opponents.

I really think situations like this are best made by understanding your opponents play at the table. If you are at a super loose table then proceed with caution. Just my opinion. Good Luck

I don't generally open shove AA or KK unless im at a shove/fold stack size. I may limp at a loose table to re-raise but generally I'm 3xing it before antes and 2-2.5xing after antes come in looking to get a re-raise.

If you get tons of customers to the flop and a wet board you have to learn how to lay these hands down post flop.

Depends on the situation, need more information than you gave to give an informative answer.

ssory83 said:

My brother. One tip from me would be: when you have KK, preflop just makes a 3xBb raise. If A does not get aggressive on the flop, there is a chance that the opponent will also have AA in hand. If you have AA in your hand, all-in preflop. I'm one of those games. Which is good to pay ... because many times at a small rise you are paid with small cards, and you risk losing this hand.

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AA All in pre-flop
suppose you supported and you won
but the risks are great.
at the very best, you take the blinds - not the best way to play a couple of aces.
I'm against all in pre-flop regardless of the cards that you have on hand.

The first thing I have learned when playing AA or KK is never do a (slowplay) is I in the early positions I do 3-bet ... and if I'm in the late positions I re-raised by 3 the biggest bet before of my turn ...!

yess AA

Of course, A-A has won the biggest pot, $ 25,000. I love AA

never do that again, in my opinion you judged wrong the situation, you must think you start with 50 % chances of win.good luck at table!!! and play responsible!

good for you!!! what a great advice ! good luck at tables!

when you are under 10 bb it's usually a good idea to go all in with AA or KK

It depends of the table, if there agresive players, or if the table is passive.

I think it's definitely impossible to say, it all depends on the tournament and the type of players at the table, but I can say that it is more convenient for me to play these pairs from the bottom position. I bet to raise more than x3 from UTG because I want to prevent my loss. From the bottom positions, I can do rerise to infinity, knocking out the players from the pot.

Well I often try to have a strong bet like all in in good position, to reduce the number of opponents or try to get a cheap pot under the gun. Then I measure my odds.

It all depends on what you want to hear in return. Poker is like chess. Sometimes you can limp, if you understand why you do it.