AA in the big blind and UTG raises.

[Heath]

Was playing 1/2NL at Harrah’s Cherokee this weekend. Realized early on that people love to chase at this table, very loose players however nobody was running their mouth or anything. It was a full table of friendly conversation and good spirits (which honestly is rare for here in my experience). I open up AA in the big blind on a 9 handed table. UTG raises to $12 and to my amusement 6 people call the raise before it gets back to me, so $86 pot which includes my posted BB. I wasn’t flatting by any means, but I wasn’t sure what to do here. It was a great spot for sure, but do I want to bring people to the flop with me or not?? After thinking over the way this table was playing for a few seconds, I decided that I didn’t want somebody to draw out on me with some kinda suited lower cards or connectors. Concluded my best option was a significant raise to get rid of all the chasers and jam on the flop if I had any callers, and given the size of the pot already I was fine if my raise was big enough to get everyone to fold.

I raised to $80, only logic to that number was $10 per person in the hand (does that makes sense??) and I would likely only get called by KK, QQ, maybe JJ, and AKs/AQs type hands. Honestly I was sort of hoping to get at least one caller, but it folded around and the dealer slid me the pot. My AA got paid a lot without having to see additional cards, profiting $80 PREFLOP in a 1/2 game was fine with me lol. Plenty content with how this one ended, not kicking myself at all thinking I played it wrong, but I am curious to hear how others would have played it in this spot.

[Kyle]

You did what I would do. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and I think leaving pre-flop with $80 is great

[Scott]

with out a doubt a raise is in order. AA plays awful against multiple players. even larger might look like a steal attempt and might get better value heads up from some body.

[David Wibel]

Seems good to me, We almost expect the UTG or UTG+1 to have something worth calling, or maybe even 3 bet jamming with here if they are thinking players, if not you will thin the fields massivly.

If you want to get called in at least one spot, a sizing of $50-$60 might get there, the amount seems so scary A2s-AJs and a number of unsuited broadways and 22-88 will fold. The only risk there is if UTG or UTG+1 call it makes so many other people more likely to call. I would think 99-JJ would call for set mining or hitting an over pair, Maybe AQs+ and certainly AKo will call and QQ and KK may even jam on you.

But $80 preflop is good with any hand, especially in a 1/2 game.

[Author]

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