Open raise or open limp? (General questions)

[JimGil]

If you are in middle position in a 10 handed game and have a hand that you might normally limp with, but its folded to you - 1) is it usually best to open raise? 2) what if you're UTG? 3) should you ever limp from UTG?

Assume no reads on any players and 3-4 players to a flop.

[DMBFan23]

I limp from UTG a lot in 10 handed games, but very very very rarely (ie I keep it in my bag o tricks but I've never done it) in a 6 handed game.

[emonrad87]

You should open-raise hands with high card value, like KJo or QJo, etc. But you should fold speculative hands like low pockets or low suited connectors or Ace- or King-rag suited, unless you are SURE there will be more limpers behind you AND no raises. In a situation like this, the pot is most likely going to have few people in it, so you want high card power and not hands that play well in a large field.

UTG, you can limp with a few hands in a fairly passive game. But if it's most likely going to be raised behind you, you have to fold those hands.