playing group 2 hands from early position.

with hands like JJ, !0 10, A Q, A J, KQ do you raise from the sb blind to UTG + 2?
i play 100 nl and sometimes i have trouble with these hands.
i usually dont raise them anymore from EP unless its a loose table.
what about QQ from sb, bb, or utg. do you put in a raise here?

thanks

I always raise AQ and QQ from all positions. Especially with QQ because I wanna get some isolation. AQ too because I can continuation bet with it if I miss.

JJ, TT I play for sets in EP and raise them from MP onwards.

AJ and KQ I limp from EP, sometimes consider folding them straight out if there is loads of raising going on at the table.

Originally Posted by homeboy604

with hands like JJ, !0 10, A Q, A J, KQ do you raise from the sb blind to UTG + 2?
i play 100 nl and sometimes i have trouble with these hands.
i usually dont raise them anymore from EP unless its a loose table.
what about QQ from sb, bb, or utg. do you put in a raise here?

thanks

It really depends on a lot of things.. is it a full, tight ring game or a short handed game on a maniac table. On your normal full table, in early position (UTG thru UTG+2), you would GENERALLY want to limp/call JJ and TT, raise AQ, AJ is a tough one.. folding is usually the best move though, fold KQ. Raise QQ-AA, AK obviously.

Originally Posted by homeboy604

with hands like JJ, !0 10, A Q, A J, KQ do you raise from the sb blind to UTG + 2?
thanks

Blinds and UTG --> UTG +2 are different.

EP if you raise with lets say AQ, you are raising "in the dark" cause you have no info about the hands of the other 7-9 players left to act. AK in a later position will usually just call you and you might end up paying them off on an A high flop.

Blinds is a diffirent story. You have the best position PRE FLOP (later is bad...) you get to act with the most possible information about your opponents hand, you get to act last.


EP I limp AQ (might raise AQs) and AJ, limp TT (recent addition, I was raising) and raise JJ and up.

In the blinds, if limped to me I will definetely raise AQ, AJ (usually suited) JJ TT or even 99. Why think there is AK or sth else better than your AQ out there if no one has raised?

Small pairs limped for set value, so charge them 4BB more to hit.

Hi everyone, first post so be nice...

Really not sure about raising in the blinds in full ring. Yes you do have the most information at the moment but most hand (especialy limped ones) are nothing before the flop.

I agree you may have the best hand right now but you will be acting first on every street and even if you hit a flop you wont be able to get full value from it or leave youself open to slow play.

I will sometimes raise the in the blinds, but if i do i want to go at least 6*BB to end it there or get heads up. Most bad players will call another 3*BB to see a flop and a good player would be tempted to call because they know they would have position on you.

Just my $0.02, but I don't like playing big multiway pots oop.

P.S. AJ and AQ, great for limping then letting Axs get excited they hit their A