[norshvind]

In a low-limit, no-foldem game, how is the best way to play AA (and maybe KK) on the button?

While I know that it is generally a good idea to get as much money in the pot as possible when you have the best hand; I also know that with AA I don't want too many players.

With a bunch of limpers already, a raise will probably be called all around; and then it is entirely probable that it will be checked around to me after the flop. Any bet there will be likely be called also because everyone will probably be getting correct pot odds to stay (whether or not they understand the concept).

Alternatively, I could just call the bet preflop, then hope someone bets after the flop so I can raise. With any luck, that will make 2 bets to some people, and they will fold.

Which is the better play?

[lork]

Raise it up! Punish the limpers and make them call 2 bets preflop with their Kx or other junk hands.

Aces always have more pot equity than the amount of money you have to put in, no matter what the amount of opponents is. Heads-up, they're an 80ish% favorite and against 9 random hands at showdown they'll win 30% of the time. You want gutshots and other weak draws paying you off and trying to chase you down! Bet if it's checked to you. You play your aces strongly and you'll make money on them. You will lose sometimes with them, but don't let that discourage you from playing them strong the nesxt time.

The key to playing aces is to dump them when you're beat. If there's a scary board and you're facing a raise and a re-raise, then get out of the way.

[norshvind]

Thanks. That was my first impulse, but I always hate it when I get a bunch of callers willing to see the turn again my AA. I was hoping this would help me thin the herd a bit.

[pritz]

If this is a no-foldem-holdem game, then you will probably have alot of people calling you no matter what your table image or any of that stuff that most low-limit players tend to be ignorant of. So raise it as many times as you can; there will almost always be some idiot willing to fill you up a little more in that type of game.

[lork]

If you thin the herd, that's ok. If you don't thin the herd, then that's ok also. Say against 5 opponents your aces have about a 40% (just a random guess but it should be close enough for illustration purposes) chance of winning at showdown, but you have only contributed about 17% of the pot. You aren't going to win many of these situations, but the money you put into the pot gets a great return so over the longterm, the few hands you will win will make money even though you don't stand to win too many individual hands in this situation. See what I mean?

[ThomasR]

I would rather cut the pack in half at least - I'd raise big, let the table know you've got a high pocket pair. The limpers don't get a cheap flop, they are likely to back out. Anybody that stays in fancies their chances - so long as you flop something you should still be looking good.

It's not ideal putting in a large proportion of the pot, but things change dramatically on the flop and further on, and that is where "idiots" playing crap hands can take a pot or two from out under the nose of a reasonable player.