In a $215 buy-in to a nice event on Pokerstars, a buy-in that I had won as a giveaway, I had a great start and was in the 1st ten with over a million chips. Everyone else at my table had less than 150K except the player to my right who had me covered by just 3 or 4K and on every hand someone was raising or shoving (Crazy action).
Just a couple of minutes before the second break, I got dealt the beautiful AA Under The Gun, so I chose to limp considering the hectic dynamic of the table, only to see everyone folding that time and the big blind checking. The flop came 2 Q7 and he came out betting 1/2 the pot. I was so confident and quickly (stupidly) went all in thinking that he probably has that Q and he would pay me. He was even quicker calling and showing me 72.
And to make things even “better”, another 2 hit the turn !
So please, never, under no circumstance, limp with your prime hands. Most of the time, it turns into disaster
Some of you already know exactly what I mean, if so, please share so we could all benefit from each other’s experience.
In fact, I am an adherent of the theory that there are no garbage hands on the preflop. Whether my hand is junk will show the flop. In this regard, I am quite often ready to limp with any hand. Especially if it 72suit.
And there are really a lot of players who want to see cheap the flop , while having absolutely any pocket cards.
But, with the same confidence, I can say that there are no 100% winning pocket cards, including AA.
However, to limp AA in most cases is really a bad decision. When you make such a decision, you give chances to everyone sitting with you at the table. Since fish like me will not miss the chance to see the flop cheap.
A simple 3-bet could save you from this opponent. I’m sure he wouldn’t call a bet higher than one big blind.
In most cases, 3-bet plays in your favor, isolating you from rivals with low cards and this is exactly what it is worth paying more for.
If you deciding to limp, you should be prepared for the fact that it may end badly for you.
I agree limping with prime hands is a bad idea, if you wind up going up against several players chances are good that you’re going down.
Sometimes that strategy works brilliantly since nobody thinks you have a great hand, but it’s very risky to say the least. If you think you can actually fold postflop, which will be difficult, perhaps that strategy may work since, many things depending, a large preflop raise may cause everyone to fold and you don’t win much. Of course that’s better than losing. It’s like a double edged sword.
Funny thing, which isn’t true playing for money, is that I often do well here once I’ve had a few beers, lol.
…then I run outta beers, then usually same with my good luck.
Another funny thing, I wind up having to fold more which is probably good since beer goes right thru me…then I return from the bathroom only to see I just folded bullets or cowboys or the like, lol. I need to keep a bucket by the computer like Cartman and the gang when they were like binging for days on a computer game
In whatever position you are, when you have to go all in! if you’re unlucky and lose, that’s it! If you make a simple bet, the flop can be seen and if there are many players in this pot, you can lose with AA!
I agree that majority of the time limping Strong hand can often often lead to being out drawn or absolute set up in regards to getiting your hand beaten.
But in some spots it can highly profitable if your playing with loose aggressive agro or big stack bullies are on your table.
My favorite position and situation to limp AA is from the sb if action has been folded around and im first to act.
Great topic @najisami , I’ve been there, done that also at times and just wanted to kick myself. I think it also depends on position, stack and how other player’s play the game with free chips here at Replay
This must been hard moment for you, but players like the villain(7-2 holding) will always try their luck against the chip leader. It would have been a different situation if you would have raised to 2,5-3,5BB but if a maniac thinks 7-2 suited in hearts is his semi-bluff against you and he calls you are again at flop in the same dead end - because you are in the weak position and even if you would make a strong bet to show that you have Q and a good kicker this maniac would show aggression again with his silly hand and flop!
In my opinion it is better in the most situation not to limp a high pair like QQ-AA because in fact if more players can see a cheap flop then things go the other way round und it is alway hard to fold such hands
For example:
in the last months for me there were 4-5 situations where i folded Jacks against 2-3 villains and it was always a good decision.
There is no such thing as an absolute. It depends on the table. ie: how high are the blinds and what is your position in the betting order. It also depends on what way the bets are falling. In the example given if the player had bet his AA and caused the big blind to fold, all he would have won was one and a half times the blind. If this is enough so be it, if not, I will go up with AA against 72 any day of the week. A bad beat is just part of the game.
From early position at a full ring table if the stacks are shallow late in a tourney you might entertain a limp with AA. Though I wouldn’t do this, I can see a case for it as most players should have a push/fold strategy preflop who will be going all in with a lot of hands. If you raise large from EP these players might have otherwise folded. Though if you’re going to be open limping make sure it’s done in a balanced manner, I expect players at a $215 tourney to be of a better class and notice your betting patterns. With very few exceptions, open limping AA is a really bad idea.
Limping with KK or AA in early position has many risks ofcourse . I might do it occasionally , hoping that some players after me will raise and reraise . If that happens then i am a lucky guy , i will 4bet or shove and have good odds preflop against one or two players .
But if they also limp , then i am ready to fold , when i see a lot of action postflop or when the flop , the board is very wet .
In cash games , 9max , limping KK has given me some very good pots , but AA no . Alos in tourneys sometimes limping KK might trap some others . But limping AA , it depends . If you have 100 or 200 blinds , and you get AA UTG or UTG+1 , are you going to raise x3 blinds ??? You cannot protect AA , only trap others , limping such a good hand might trap someone .
If there is a player that pretty much makes a large bet every hand preflop, then if your position is before them, limping to bait them may be okay. Because, then you can reraise and hope they at least call you. If you’re playing against competent players, you should always raise and build the pot.
I’m sure he wouldn’t call a bet higher than one big blind.
