AQ and AK in the blinds 6max

[adi]

in limit i would raise/re-raise them but in NL after limpers i just call with these when i'm in the blinds because they usually call a good raise and i'll be out of position with a hand like tptk in a good scenario. how do you play them in 6max? do you raise and bet the flop no matter if you hit or not?

[Miffed22001]

Im mixed on this.
The problem for me is that people just dont believe i have a good hand in the blinds so i constantly get attacked even if i have tptk.
Id limp more often and then play the hand like an over pair if you hit unless you hit resistence of a better hand. Only if i think i can push opps of the pot preflop with a flop would i make a big raise

[SmackinYaUp]

I usually raise them from every position, but do not set my heart on them. I get AK/AQ in the BB, I'm still raising, betting the flop and hoping to take it down, but I'm not getting too attached even if it does hit. I also like to be seen raising a lot of hands preflop.

Post-flop is where it all becomes important.

If people think you're just raising from the blinds with trash, then its all the more reason to raise AK pf. Just adjust to your opponents.

On top of all this, just remember that any one pair hand out of position can be a real bitch. Whether its a TPTK or pocket aces, you're gonna have to play some poker. And most likely not be as profitable with the same hands UTG as on the button.

[journey075]

I usually raise them from every position, but do not set my heart on them. I get AK/AQ in the BB, I'm still raising, betting the flop and hoping to take it down, but I'm not getting too attached even if it does hit. I also like to be seen raising a lot of hands preflop.

Post-flop is where it all becomes important.

If people think you're just raising from the blinds with trash, then its all the more reason to raise AK pf. Just adjust to your opponents.

On top of all this, just remember that any one pair hand out of position can be a real bitch. Whether its a TPTK or pocket aces, you're gonna have to play some poker. And most likely not be as profitable with the same hands UTG as on the button.

you said everything i was thinking. thats some good fucking advice.

[jailhousejoe]

and how would strategy change in response to a raise? Would you advocate a reraise to represent a big pair and find out the true strength of the raisers hand? Or a flat-call and give the hand up if u dont hit a pair? Or is there no +EV way to play this without weighing other factors besides the cards dealt? Personally I have lost money playing these two hands OOP, particularly AQ(s) since even when I do hit I tend not to get paid off and lose the bottle to continue with aggression beyond the flop in case the pot becomes too hard to give up. 'youre gonna have to play some poker' - never truer words spoken smackin!

[ArcticKnight]

in limit i would raise/re-raise them but in NL after limpers i just call with these when i'm in the blinds because they usually call a good raise and i'll be out of position with a hand like tptk in a good scenario. how do you play them in 6max? do you raise and bet the flop no matter if you hit or not?

Speaking only from the perspectve of the Big Blind in this situation, for me much depends on the type of table I am at. If the table is passive and players can be pushed off hands easily, then a raise is in order as you have more options to take down the pot. However, if you are about to raise back into what is usually an aggressive post-flop opponent, you may gain some deception value and gain more bets when you do hit buy just calling.

Regardless, in 6 max mixing it up has merit, as you there are more hands per hour and you are "playing" more of those hands than you would 10handed. So, when you get an opptunity to have players think twice about the tendencies they "thought" they knew about your play, that can't hurt. Not to mention, what are they going to put you on in the BB if you do raise later on??

That said, i'd save this play for heads-up opportunties only. I would be raising into two or more callers, and perhaps 3 betting if the Co and Button were attacking.

[SmackinYaUp]

and how would strategy change in response to a raise? Would you advocate a reraise to represent a big pair and find out the true strength of the raisers hand? Or a flat-call and give the hand up if u dont hit a pair? Or is there no +EV way to play this without weighing other factors besides the cards dealt? Personally I have lost money playing these two hands OOP, particularly AQ(s) since even when I do hit I tend not to get paid off and lose the bottle to continue with aggression beyond the flop in case the pot becomes too hard to give up. 'youre gonna have to play some poker' - never truer words spoken smackin!

Most of the time if I'm in the blinds and there's a raise, I'll drop AK and AQ with a quickness. The reason I'll fold such a seemingly strong hand is because first of all most of the time your hand will miss the flop and you'll have to fold to his continuation bet. If you do hit, then they'll simply fold their pocket tens or whatever because the ace on board scares them. When you do get action from them, its because their hand is still better than yours. Kinda simple, but its true for the most part.

[Fnord]

Most of the time if I'm in the blinds and there's a raise, I'll drop AK and AQ with a quickness. The reason I'll fold such a seemingly strong hand is because first of all most of the time your hand will miss the flop and you'll have to fold to his continuation bet. If you do hit, then they'll simply fold their pocket tens or whatever because the ace on board scares them. When you do get action from them, its because their hand is still better than yours. Kinda simple, but its true for the most part.

Check/call
Check/call
Bet

It's a great line for spots like this.

[SmackinYaUp]

why do you use that line and what is the purpose of the bet on the end? i don't get into many situations like that, but i possibly could so i'm interested to hear

[Cocco_Bill]

in limit i would raise/re-raise them but in NL after limpers i just call with these when i'm in the blinds because they usually call a good raise and i'll be out of position with a hand like tptk in a good scenario. how do you play them in 6max? do you raise and bet the flop no matter if you hit or not?

You should always raise with AK AQ from the blinds in limped pots. You should re-raise AK AQ agains weak and loose opponents, against tight opponents you can sometimes fold.

Getting involved in raised pots against bad opponents is +EV. Anyone who plays these hands very passive pre flop must have bad confidense in their post flop skills.