Micro SNG

[Ragnar4]

3 hands in, no reads.

10/20

UTG folds, Everyone else limps. I'm on button with AQo.

Raise to 200?
limp and fold if I don't catch top two or better?
Simply fold?

[donkbee]

Raise to 180 and c bet 1/2 to 1/3 pot any flop if you can get it HU. If it's 3-way or more on the flop, check behind or fold unless you hit at least TP.

[taipan168]

Raise to 180 and c bet 1/2 to 1/3 pot any flop if you can get it HU. If it's 3-way or more on the flop, check behind or fold unless you hit at least TP.

What she said, and go broke if you hit an A or Q on the flop.

[Ragnar4]

I appreciate the help. I know I've been posting here for a while, and I know that comparatively this is a noob question.

But AQ is such a weird hand, since It's about a hairs breadth above the "premium hand" line.

[taipan168]

I appreciate the help. I know I've been posting here for a while, and I know that comparatively this is a noob question.

No such thing as a noob question in my book.

But AQ is such a weird hand, since It's about a hairs breadth above the "premium hand" line.

You can't necessarily generalise like this - sure, you need to play AQ carefully and there are times when you'd instamuck it (eg. to an UTG raise from a tight player) but in this spot you are well ahead of opps' ranges and as courtie said, you don't want to see the flop 6+ way so I'm happy to raise it.

[donkbee]

Position also plays a role when deciding what to do with it. I like raising it a lot less if I'm in the SB instead of the button.

[henriquebs]

I have been playing AQ and AK in the first levels only limping with them on the first levels, and it has beeing EV+. If some one reraises me, with AK i think if I push or just call if the raise is to 3BB. But in this case, only limp with AQ, and if dont hit TP, easy fold. Fews cheaps on the board to take the risk.

[donkbee]

Raising and isolating with them in position is much better than limping them.

[henriquebs]

Raising and isolating with them in position is much better than limping them.

I agree, but in first levels i think when you hit top pair you can get more cheaps, and when dont (2 in three times), it is easy lo let it go.

[taipan168]

Raising and isolating with them in position is much better than limping them.

I agree, but in first levels i think when you hit top pair you can get more cheaps, and when dont (2 in three times), it is easy lo let it go.

The reasons to raise rather than limp hands like AK and AQ (but especially AK) are:

1. AK/AQ is very likely the best hand preflop so you want to get in as much money as you can preflop.
2. Even if you hit top pair on the flop, the fact that you are seeing the flop with 6+ opps means that there is a risk of somebody having hit a random two pair on the flop meaning you lose your whole stack. If you raise you will clear out at least some of the limpers reducing the risk of a "BB special" type hand.
3. If you raise, there is always the chance that they all fold and you take all the dead chips without a fight.
4. Even if 3. does not happen and you are heads up (or 2 opps max) on the flop, you can often win the pot with a continuation bet even if you do not flop an A or K.