A8s question

[checkmate36]

Hero is on the button with A8s. 4 players limp in and 2 of them are rated as fish. Hero raises.

Standard play or spewing chips? If you raise in this spot how low with Axs do you take it?

[Absolution]

ATs is where it gets close (rule of thumb).

[lufbradolly]

[ QUOTE ]
ATs is where it gets close (rule of thumb).

[/ QUOTE ]

ATs isn't close, you have a big edge 4 way especially with 2 fish.

I wouldn't raise with A8s though, but it's probably not a bad move.

You ought to run a few sims using pokerstove to get an idea what your equity will usually be against these sort of players.

I'm undecided though about A8s though.

[thesharpie]

Against 4 fish it's an easy raise. If they're loose [censored] pop it, mane.

[Nilbud]

I don't raise A8x from the button unless it's folded to me, or maybe if there is one loose limper in and the blinds will fold.

A9x is something I raise more often, just because of the difference in kicker value with the 9. It's not much, but you have to draw the line somewhere. I won't raise A9x if there are 4+ limpers already in, because I'd prefer the blinds to stay in and pay my flush off when it hits.

I will sometimes raise with A8s from late position in an unraised pot after loose limpers, particularly in a passive game. But A8s is normally my cutoff -- I don't raise with A7s-A2s, thinking that the primary value in these hands (mostly, I mean the lower Axs, but also A8-A9s) is the potential for a nut flush, so I want to see the flop as cheaply as possible.

[Greg J]

If this is a mistake, it's a pretty small one. I don't mid such a raise at all, though I usually limp here. A9s I will usually raise here.

[MrWookie47]

[ QUOTE ]
If this is a mistake, it's a pretty small one. I don't mid such a raise at all, though I usually limp here. A9s I will usually raise here.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Dunno]

I would limp. I think A10s is raising but all Axs limp for me.

What do you want out of this hand against these players? If you bump this and the blinds are loose, then you've got 14 small bets. The flop comes A-x-x. You bet your weak ace, and even though their pre-flop play was bad, they are now correctly calling with their 3-outters. You still don't know if your aces are good. I limp.