Raising with AA/KK preflop question .5-1 100NLH

When i raise with these preflop and do not get a caller i feel a massive failure, aside from the obvious feeling of a missed opportunity.

But my question is this: Is it better to get 3/4 callers and bet smaller rather than risk raising too high and getting no callers at all? I normally raise 4x's the BB, especially if someone has already limped. Is 3x's just too small letting them in too cheaply? What is the +EV strategy?

Thanks :)

PS-I play 6 max on Ladbrokes and will adjust my raises to the players and flow of the table

Don't get greedy, take whatever's on the table and be glad no one sucked out on you. Getting 3-4 callers on your premium hands is always risky because everyone's drawing to something and you're more likely to beat 1-2 players rather than 3-4

I like 4xBB personally

99% of the time when I raise preflop, It's exactly 4xBB ...

also, when you hit with your AK, a $4pot doesnt give you much to raise in... if the pot is $12 you have a much better chance of actually making good money with the hand.

Hitting your hand on with a $4 pot isnt going to even come close to the profit you will make with the exact same situatuion with a $12 pot.

jesus ferguson recommends raising different amounts pre flop depending on your position. 2xBB in EP, 2.5x in MP, 3x in LP. the reason being that you could always get re-raised if you are in EP and you don't want to be investing 8x pre flop on say KJs. serious players recognize that any raise in EP is a warning sign, so 3x is not necessary. also in LP, you really just want to steal the blinds, so you bet more to dissuade calls.

Stealing blinds in ring? That sounds lame.

Laeelin is right - bet the same amount regardless of your hand and position. Nobody will be able to read your hand. If 4xbb get's rereaised and you don't have a strong enough hand to meet it, then lay it down.

The other thing about having a standard raise size is that after a few orbits at the table, people will stop folding to your 4x BB raise when you are holding AK. Because thats how much you always raise, if people want to play a hand with you, thats how much they are going to have to come in for. Raise more (to a standard size) and limp less, and people will stop folding as much when you raise your premium hands.

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Originally Posted by Phill_555

When i raise with these preflop and do not get a caller i feel a massive failure, aside from the obvious feeling of a missed opportunity.

But my question is this: Is it better to get 3/4 callers and bet smaller rather than risk raising too high and getting no callers at all? I normally raise 4x's the BB, especially if someone has already limped. Is 3x's just too small letting them in too cheaply? What is the +EV strategy?

Thanks :)

PS-I play 6 max on Ladbrokes and will adjust my raises to the players and flow of the table

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It depends on your position and the number of limpers in the hand. Honestly, I'd rather get 3-4 callers than no callers. Not that I want that, it sucks, but it's still better than getting nothing.

The difference here is when there's a lot of limpers and you raise big and all the limpers fold. I have no problem with that. I won something and I don't have all those players gunning for me. But if I win the small and big blind only, that sucks. I'll take my chances with the flop.

If you can play flops well, then limp with AA and KK in ep and hope for a reraise situation. Mid position with no limpers, make a standard 4xBB raise. More if you have limpers. Late pos with no limpers, 2xBB. Stuff like that. I take some chances, but I want to get paid off.

I pretty much always raise 3 times the big blind whenever I come in for a raise. I don't want to reveal any special information about my hand before the flop.

Some people like to raise more when there are a few limpers behind them, but I try to avoid this, since I'm basically saying "I have a strong hand that I'm trying to protect here." I think that puts me at an informational disadvantage after the flop. I don't want my opponents to have any idea what I'm raising with.

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Originally Posted by dsaxton

I think that puts me at an informational disadvantage after the flop. I don't want my opponents to have any idea what I'm raising with.

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True, but sometimes you need to let them know what you have. That way, not only do you avoid more bad beats, but you can now know if your AA and KK are no good. If you tell them that you have the goods and they play back at you, then you know they flopped two pair or better.

Also, you have to play AK, QQ, and JJ the same way. That way, you will get credit for a whole lot more aces and kings then you're being dealt and wind up scooping a lot more easy money.

Raising using position or amount of limpers IS NOT giving anything away. Say I knew your EXACT strategy. Can I tell what kind of hand you have? No! Even though the factors of how many limpers there are or your position can be seen plainly! I can say "oh he always raises 4.5xBB when there are two limpers and he's on the button" but that gives me nothing on your hand. If you raise more with limpers, the only thing that the amount of the raise tells is the amount of the limpers... which you already knew already! I personally always raise 3xBB without limpers and 1BB for each limper.