AKo in small blind with limpers

[ArcadianRock]

I don't necessarily have a hand to show, but how would you play this?

AKo in small blind with limpers. First to act, but probably the strongest hand at the table, would you raise here or reraise if there was a raise?

This and JJ are the hardest hands to play for me.

[Parasurama]

If there are limpers, raise 4BB+1 for every limper. If you're not raising AK out of the blinds what are you raising? Bully limpers all the time, it's fun and you'll start getting a better idea of people's ranges. Most limp-fold or limp-call and fold most flops. What are you doing with AQo in this spot?

If there's a raise, it depends on if you're playing FR or 6max, the position of the raiser, any reads you have, but probably reraise.

[clvacva]

Most limp-fold or limp-call and fold most flops.

This is what makes raising profitable
PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em, $0.05 BB (6 handed) - Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com

MP ($6.35)
CO ($5.50)
Button ($6.82)
Hero (SB) ($6.10)
BB ($2.07)
UTG ($5.37)

Preflop: Hero is SB with K, A
1 fold, MP calls $0.05, CO calls $0.05, 1 fold, Hero bets $0.35, 1 fold, MP calls $0.30, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.80) 3, J, 2 (2 players)
Hero bets $0.50, 1 fold

Total pot: $0.80 | Rake: $0

[kmind]

I'd raise with each everytime for value.

But I disagree with para about "all the time". You really have to figure out how passively they play. If they limp/fold or fold a bunch of flops then by all means widen your range here, but if they are aggressive or do not like to fold then you are bleeding money if you start isolating with trash. In that case, tighten your range for strictly value hands.

[ArcadianRock]

In FR, is doing this with AQo profitable? Is just calling a good play too to trap people that may have limped with Ax?

If they limp A9 they might think they have the best hand when that A comes up.

[Parasurama]

I'd raise with each everytime for value.

But I disagree with para about "all the time". You really have to figure out how passively they play. If they limp/fold or fold a bunch of flops then by all means widen your range here, but if they are aggressive or do not like to fold then you are bleeding money if you start isolating with trash. In that case, tighten your range for strictly value hands.

yeah I didn't mean raise trash and cbet every flop, I just meant that taking the initiative preflop more often will give him more opportunities to learn why it is so valuable, what flops are good to cbet, and what the different types of (postflop) players who limp-call are. I definitely advocate opening a tight range out of the SB.

In FR, is doing this with AQo profitable? Is just calling a good play too to trap people that may have limped with Ax?

If they limp A9 they might think they have the best hand when that A comes up.

It depends on how many limpers and their positions but I would venture to say that it is profitable to raise AQo. Limping can be more profitable at the microstakes for the sort of reason you mentioned but you won't have any sort of balance in your SB opening range (which may not be important to you atm). Keep in mind also that when you limp your relative hand strength goes down postflop. If you flop an A in a limped pot with AQ, you cannot stack off as easily as if you flop an A in a raised pot. So, it's true that you can get value out of weaker aces when an A flops, but you have to be more wary of two pair/sets.

[bigspenda73]

In FR, is doing this with AQo profitable? Is just calling a good play too to trap people that may have limped with Ax?

If they limp A9 they might think they have the best hand when that A comes up.

A lot of people like a limp behind with AQ for that reason
Also, limped pots are way easier to attack because no one is going to float you or c/r you with air when the pot is 2-3 BB.

[tyrn]

A lot of people like a limp behind with AQ for that reason
Also, limped pots are way easier to attack because no one is going to float you or c/r you with air when the pot is 2-3 BB.

Seems like at micros, people will float just because it's only a 3bb pot. Which isn't a bad thing when you tighten up your betting on limped pots at these tables.