Handling Ax in Party 5/10

[Skip Brutale]

How to play this proably eludes me more than any other hand right now. If your UTG with A4 what do you do? I have been folding A7 and below except for opening the last 2 seats. What if there is a caller UTG and your behind him with A8? My hands probably better, but is it good enough to raise with people behind me? Do I want to call and have a 4 handed flop with A8?

I've been basically mixing it up but I'd like to find some line in these situations that seems most plus EV, and I don't feel the other players are good enough that it's worth mixing it up just for the sake of it.

I guess in a way this post could extend to small pocket pairs. The only time I seem to find a good reason to play them (outside the blinds) is opening from the last 2 seats vs. a bb/sb team that doesn't contain a defend with any 2 player.

What's your guy's thoughts on the roll of Ax and small pocket pairs in 6-max games?