AQ SB Hand

[durron597]

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My problem with raising here, even raising a lot, is I will likely have multiple callers and likely miss the flop. Also, I would not say there is nearly that high a chance I have the best hand since I am behind all pairs, and players with pairs are not folding at this level in my (limited) experience. If I raise, there is a good chance they won't fold postflop, either, so I am left in a tough spot if I miss since a continuation is not very effective here, but if I hit I could easily stack someone with a middling pair (less chance if I hit the ace).

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I think raising here with AQ is -EV, for the above reasons. Maybe I play better postflop now, I dunno, but when I raised AQ out of the blinds it always hosed me. Maybe that's not the case in the buyins where Irie plays.

The thing is, when you choose not to raise AQ, your hand strength is disguised. As far as everyone else knows, you voluntarily chose to put in 5 more chips - which you might do with any two. So everyone expects you to check this flop - do it! When it gets back to you, which it almost certainly will be with this many opponents, put in a nice sized checkraise designed to get draws to make a mistake.

The checkraise is the awesome tool of the out of position player. Learn it, live it, love it.