Here\'s how I play them.
Here's how I play these hands. I'd be interested in hearing how other people feel these hands should be played... as well as what people think of my reasoning for playing these hands the way I do
#1) 3 passive players limp, button raises, sb folds, I have J3s in BB
I call. There is little to no chance of a limp raise with passive players in the pot. I’m getting better than 9:1 from the pot when I have an 8.1:1 chance of flopping a flush draw… I think these are the important factors in the decision, and vastly outweigh other considerations, namely position.
Also, it’s great for my image if I get to show-down my hand. A lot of players will assume I’m a magoo when I turn over my “rags,” and they’ll pay me off later in the game and be less likely to try to bluff me.
#2) 4 players limp, I have KQs in BB
I raise. I’ve got a hand that plays well multi-way, and I likely have the highest cards as well. Again, I think these factors greatly outweigh my poor position on the hand.
#3) MP open raises, SB calls, I have AT in BB.
I fold. With no information about my opponents I fear being dominated by a better Ace. If I had some info I could see a call being correct under the right circumstances, but with no info I could hit my hand and end up losing a lot of money.
#4) 5 players limp, I have 65s in BB.
I raise. I’m getting 5: 1 on my raise, so the odds of my hitting the flop must be greater than 16.67% for a raise to show immediate profit. I have a 10.94% chance of flopping a flush draw, a 9.35% chance of flopping a straight draw (actually, there is a 10.5% chance of flopping a straight draw, but some of those come with 2 of my suit and are therefore already counted). I also have a 9.15% chance of flopping a gutshot with a backdoor flush, and a 12.06% chance of flopping a pair with a backdoor flush draw. I’d have odds to chase with any of these hands had I not raised, so I’m in a +EV situation whenever I get one of these flops. IMO this is an easy raise because when you add up your chances of hitting one of these favorable flops it comes out to way more than 16.67%.
There is also an added benefit to raising because it makes the pot larger, and therefore other players will be more likely to chase with inferior draws that I’ll crush when I make my hand. Also, a third benefit to raising is that a lot of players will again think I’m a magoo when I show-down my hand, as they won’t understand why it makes sense to sometimes raise with 6 high preflop.
#5) 7 players limp, I have AQ in BB.
I check. Of the 5 hands this is the one I am least sure of. I check in this spot to keep from making the pot humungous. If I hit my hand I try for a flop check/raise. If I don’t I fold (unless I flop a draw that I have odds to chase.)
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