Hi AF,

I'm also learning and have gone through recently how to play AA and KK right in my own experience. I've definitely made these hands turn more EV for myself so I think I have something constructive to add here... even though I'm somewhat of a noob (but the vets might correct me so look for that, they overrrule me of course!)

I have found that the best way to play these is to figure out what kind of raise is required to make all but premium hands fold pre-flop so I really know where I stand on the flop.

For example, I play mostly SNGs.

At the beginning of a SNG when the blinds are 30-60 or so and there are a lot of fishy people there, I bet 15x bb (or more) when I get AA or KK. If everyone folds, I'm happy I didn't have to deal with any suckouts.

Before the flop, if someone reraises me I try to get them all in and most of the time I'm looking at QQ or JJ or AK or some idiot donk who thought I was bluffing ... In all these cases I am favorite. Only rarely AA if I have KK and well thats just the way it goes if that's the case.. If someone calls, I can reasonably put them on a good hand and then can go forward based on what the flop looks like without worrying too much about low suited connectors etc.

As the blinds get higher, I don't need such a large bet for these hands, gradually I work my way down to 5x the BB as the blinds get higher.

After the flop if I have KK and an ace comes on the flop, I back off after taking a stab at it. Because if someone called my huge raise they probably have an A. If they have something like QQ and didn't hit their set they are hopefully going to check through with me also.

So in your case with 2NL, I would watch the table. I definitely think 4x the BB sounds way too small in this environment, confirmed by your saying that people will call with crap like 87.

Observe hat type of bet are others making that are causing the whole table to fold at this table. That is about the size bet I would use with AA and KK. Maybe all in is what is required at 2NL to make everyone but idiots and premium hands to fold - if it is then thats what I would do. If you get all your chips in before the flop with AA and KK against only one or 2 callers, from everything I read this is a good thing This should keep you above water not loosing on AA KK, even though a lot of times you won't collect a huge pot, it keeps you in the positive for the times when you do get someone to play back with you and you usually win.

Like in my SNG when blinds get higher, as you move up levels and people play better and value their stacks more, you shouldn't need such a high raise, I would imagine (as others have mentioned above).

It's nice to look at AA and KK in your hand and think you want to sorta slow-play it, make it look like all your other premium hands, but I have learned to love taking down blinds a lot with these hands, and cashing in HUGELY less often, when I DO get someone to play back at me with a big pre-flop raise.

I hope this helps you get more value from your AA and KK Good luck to you.