raising from the blinds with lots of callers?

I find myself a lot where I have a hand like AJ, KQ, Q10 on the small or big blind and have 4 or 5 limpers in front of me. I know if I raise they are all going to call so I have not been raising with them. Then if I hit the hand I raise and it is sort of disguised. Is this a correct way to play or should I be raising with hands like these knowing that all will call?

Thanks,

Jutah

against this many players you're not forfeiting a lot of edge by just calling. if you're on a hot run or want to push every small edge you get, you should raise for value. (not QT, that's too loose, AJ and KQ definitely, especially suited).

If you have the best hand, why do you not want your opponents calling?

Hi dsaxton, what I have found in some of these low limit tables is that since everybody will call one more bet then I am out of position on the flop. If it doesn't hit me then I am forced to check and normally some goof will be with his ace rag or junk bottom pair and then I have to fold. If I have something suited or connected then I don't mind the callers. Also if I just call or check in the bb then when I do hit I am hidden and someone playing K junk hits too he will call me all the way down and I normally get paid off well.

FWIW I have never played 6max in the SB and have had 5 limpers in front of me. Either way I think you raise hands that play well in large pots with many opponents. Hands such as QJs play very well in these types of pots. Hands like AJo/AQo go down in value in much larger pots. I would just complete the SB with a lot of offsuited broadways and check in the BB to keep the pot managable. It is tough to protect your hand if the pot gets bloated, especially if the players in late position are passive and will not lead a flop if checked to affording you the possibility of c/r'ing.

Just because opponents are making a correct call does not mean you are losing money. If you have a raising hand you should raise. Your opponents are still losing money on that extra bet and you are gaining. It's a correct call for them because they lose more if they fold. Sure, you also create a situation on the flop where the pot is bigger and a lot of weak draws can call one or even 2 bets correctly, but you shouldn't mind this so much because again even though the call is correct for them, you are still the one making money on the bet when you are ahead. Not raising when you should preflop because you know everyone will call is a pretty big error.