ACE Queen or low pockets (8's lower)

[Assassinator 23]

How do you guys play them? These hands kill me in every tournament. HELP! hah

[fastplay]

Early in a tourny.

AQ- I will raise 3-4x in a unraised pot. I might call a raise,depending on my reads.I would most likely fold if I was reraised. If you flop top pair your in good shape, otherwise I might c-bet, again depending on my reads.

8's or lower- I like to see the flop as cheap as possible. I will call a raise if I think I can win a big pot if I flop a set. If I miss my set, and dont have any decent draws Ill let it go pretty quickly.

Once the blinds get to 75/150 I get more aggressive.

AQ- I pretty much play this the same, with the exception of I might reraise with it if I think someones trying to steal the blinds.

8's or less- I will still try and see cheap flops. If im in good position to steal the blinds I will raise. Also if I get heads up with one of the blinds I might c-bet the flop.

Late in a tourny.

AQ- I will push in a unraised pot. If my stack is 10bbs or less Im probably going all in. I might reraise If i think i have a good read.

8's or less- I will push in an unraised pot, again im probably going all in if my stack is 10bb or less. Im either gonna fold or reraise all in to a raise.

[TheAAce]

I love to see cheap flops with small pairs, in hopes of hitting big and flopping sets, i will usually just call with these hands, but into a raise, i lay them down. as far as ace queen is concerned, fold it as soon as you see it. this hand causes more people to go broke, just watch the world poker tour for example, they have some stat i cant think of the exact number, but just about everyone that moves all in with it, has lost. what happens if you run into ace king and an ace hits the flop, your broke! what happens if you completely miss the flop but called a preflop raise, you have to muck the hand and take a significant loss. ace queen is ace rag to me, i would suggest folding it everytime you look down and see it, good luck!

[Steinn39]

if I have a low par (7 or lower) I see the flop as cheap as possible and try to get lucky

[StudlyOmelet]

88 is only one pair. and sometimes third or fourth pair, even fifth pair. so unless you hit a set, theres no reason to be betting or calling bets. that goes for AQ. AQ is better in 3-4 player pots because even though its 50% to hit flop, more times that 50% chance is good enough to win more than a headsup pot. if tha makes sense. however, any more players in the pot than that and one pair may not be good enough, therefore causing you to lose. however, a larger than 3-4 player pot is brilliant for something like 88 because the AQ hitters would likely pay you off. more opportunity that others hit hands they liked.

ramble ramble

[WalkWithGod]

With Ak,aq,aj,a-10 I Like To Limp In Alot ,ill Call Sum Raises But For Most Part I Like To Limp,and Set Traps With Them Hands,, As For Middle Pairs,, I Always Raise,why Should U Not,, U Have A Made Hand And Most Of The Time Anyone Else That May Have A Higher Pair Will Only Call(unless They Have Aa) That Way U Can See That Flop On Your Terms.and Even If U Miss The Flop Id Still Lead Out A Bet To See Where Your At,, Alotta Times If They Have A Bigger Pair Say Qq And A King Or Ace Hits The Board U Can Force Them To Lay Down Their Hand When U May Only Have Poc 88,,thats Just My Theory What I Do,, May Not Work For Every1

[lmille4574]

Early in the tourney any Ace High raise about 10 times but usually with this you have to continue to bet if you dont hit. Low pockets definitely limp. This way if you hit your set no one puts you on trips. GL

[xango777]

low par. save money and see the flop

[Gyoin]

Just as everyone else said, I love to see the flop with a low pair for as cheap as possible. If I happen to get a set, I still tend to play it slower than most others. AQ, I would play it suited before the flop, unsuited after the flop once I see what's dropped. Just read what others are doing and how you feel. I've played an AQ hand and the flop was KK4, and I just had to let it go.

[DarkRalph]

Originally Posted by Gyoin

I've played an AQ hand and the flop was KK4, and I just had to let it go.

With no hit on the flop you're in bad shape regardless. My only comment is that if I'm gonna chance it with ace high I would rather play against KK4 than Kx4. With 2 kings on the board that only leaves 2 kings unaccounted for rather than 3. Having said that I would probably fold in either scenario unless I had a read on whoever bets into the pot.