Quite what to do with AA preflop

[Bezique]

This situation has arisen on a few occasions for me now. This is how I've been playing it. Would you suggest otherwise?

I get dealt As early in the betting. I put in a moderate raise (4 - 6 xBB)
I catch one caller
A third person, short stacked, then raises all in.

When the betting returns to me I have simply been calling, hoping that the 1st caller will also stay in the hand, my intentions to beat them after the flop.

I wonder whether it is in my interests to reraise, keeping just the one player in. Not sure what the pay off is between taking smaller wins and having extra, richer stacks in the hand.

[EasyT]

I asked a similar question in the Tournament section and it sparked a lengthy discussion:

http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...hlight=isolate

I'd like to hear some opinions about how to adjust for the situation in a ring game, as opposed to tourney.

EasyT

[a500lbgorilla]

Push.

It's getting dicey on a flop in this situation since a lot of the time they're only calling your flop beats with a better hand.

Pushing isnt an absolute in this situation though.

-'rilla

[Greedo017]

I'd say probably push, but I like either one.

Something I think nobody's thought about yet is, I know if a shortstack who has a decent amount of chips, say at least 40% of a full buy-in pushes, and someone calls, I generally see that as a sign of strength. Depending on just how small the shortstack is, if its still a pretty significant sized stack I think you might see that third person call more often by pushing than by calling.

[ensign_lee]

Call and try to drag another person in.

Even if the guy who still has yet to call you decides that you're full of it, he may not be able to call THAT BIG of a bet (i.e. all in / reraise).

Chances are if he calls, he probably has an underpair to you, 'cause once that all in comes, implied odds should be gone.

[Nugunz]

i would push here.. your aces are dropping in value the more people in the hand, but if he does call then you've got all your money in with the best hand. isolating your opponent gives you the best opportunity to win.

harrington recommends this move in his book, even with less quality hands like AQ.

[bunthorne]

With AA in early position, in a tournament with 10 people on the table, I would probably just limp in with the aces. With six or seven players to come behind you, plus the blinds, chances are good that someone will make a decent raise. Then, when it comes back to you, you can come in over the top with a huge re-raise, probably even moving all-in. Anyone who has raised a decent amount with AK or AQ or a medium-high pair will have trouble letting go of their hand and you will be favourite. If everyone folds to you, then with the limpers and the raise you've picked up, you'll have won a decent pot.

Ideally, someone in late position or in the blinds might move all-in before the action gets back to you, as they might try to pick up all the limping bets. Then you can call/raise all-in with confidence, knowing you can't be behind pre-flop.

The chance you take, of course, is that everyone isn't just going to limp in. If they do, then that's unfortunate as somone is probably going to hit a set, two pair or a good draw on the flop. Still, although your AA has diminished in value, you can still win the pot with it. If the board pairs, your two pair might be best, or you could catch a third A for a set.

[johnnyawe]

Push. No brainer. Anything else is just greedy. You want to be heads up.

[Bezique]

Cheers very much guys, I think I might try to ust stick to taking out the short stack if the situation ever arises again. As happenstance has been until now - on both ocasions I've been in this situation - the other person folded the short stack's all in any how, so it's made no difference.