Not raising in the blinds with AKo?

[UATrewqaz]

See the following article:

Pre Flop Errors

He covers two "errors" as he sees them, the first is cold calling, anyone who has read SSHE should find this information very familiar and solid.

The other "error" he covers is "raising from the blinds inappropriately." He basically argues that against a large field of opponents that only with big hands (AA,KK,QQ,AKs) should you raise from the blinds and that raising from the blinds with big unsuitd cards (AKo, AQo, etc.) is generally a mistake.

This seems to ignore the concept of pot equity (due to the fact that AKo is probably the best hand otu there preflop) but he seems to think that the disadvantage of awful position against a large field more than eliminates the edge of the better cards preflop.

His point is that you are building a big pot and making it proper for draws to chase against you and making it less likely for top pair to win (which big unsuited cards excel at).

Anyone read this article? Read it and let's discuss where he's right/wrong, etc.

[TheHammer24]

I strongly disaggree with the author. Strongly.

Author argues that you should ignore your equity because you can surprise your opponents when you flop an A or K. He asserts that by raising you give your opponents odds to draw against you, but when you miss your flop it is bad, ignoring you also have odds to peel also.

That's just one thing I caught, not the sole reason for my disagreement.

[Jacob_Gilliam]

It depends on your opponents. If your opponents really suck, you have to raise with AKo and AQo every time. Your hand is much better than thiers. Also, remember that in terms of giving your opponents the correct odds to draw out on you, this isn't really all that important if they were never going to fold to begin with. Against good opponents, you would sometimes just call with AKo and AQo, as they are much less likely to misplay the flop.

[benkath1]

I remember reading this article when I got the issue in the mail. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. I am very very rarely in a game anymore with 6 or 7 limpers. I think this article is more focused to the tourist games in casinos, which this forum applies to also.

What I don't understand is, in future articles he talks about not betting or raising with the best hand being a mistake. I think that is the situation you are in right here. You have the best hand, not all 6 limpers will have drawing hands, so why not charge them for limping with Q 10, or 8 6?

[Absolution]

Um I'm raising JJ and TT (at least) here against limpers as well. This is absurd advice.

It's funny how he says you don't want to build a pot when you have a significant equity edge. Haha, that's exactly what you want to do.

Hmm, can't you also raise any pp if their are enough limpers just for set value?

[TheHammer24]

[ QUOTE ]
It depends on your opponents. If your opponents really suck, you have to raise with AKo and AQo every time. Your hand is much better than thiers. Also, remember that in terms of giving your opponents the correct odds to draw out on you, this isn't really all that important if they were never going to fold to begin with. Against good opponents, you would sometimes just call with AKo and AQo, as they are much less likely to misplay the flop.

[/ QUOTE ]

no

[aces_dad]

The main reason he sites for not raising from the blinds with AKo are:

You will then be faced with an unpleasant decision after the flop.

I think Ed Miller would flip if/when he reads this. We don't make preflop decisions based upon getting ourselves into pleasent positions postflop, we make them because they are profitable.

According to his article, if there are 4 or 5 callers pf, he only raises from the blinds with A's or K's. If it's 6 or more he raises with all PP's and some suited connectors like QJ or J10 and better.

While I can see his reasoning for AKo it's too cautious. If he were to say don't raise marginal multiway hands like A10o from the blinds that's one thing but not raising AKo is weak.

[aces_dad]

With 6 or more he advocates just that ...

I think you are raising for equity. Put the money in with the best hand. You are punishing people who have limped in with junk like A-rag & K-rag. Players limping in with Q10s & 98s are still getting correct odds. The players with unsuited Big-small, will be nearly drawing dead when the flop misses them and they continue.

[Absolution]

AQo as well for me.