How to play this hand?

[critter.gambler]

In cash game poker and you are holding pocket aces. You are first to act pre-flop. What do you do? 

[lipstick_xoxos]

No tip toeing, no slow playin, no bluffing, no check n raise.

I would bet the barn on it. Why? I have gotten burned too many times slow playing rockets. I am not going to lose to a 7 2 off suit if i can help it. The ideal would be to slow play it and hope the player will bet right into me.

It can be painful to have such a great starting hand as rockets and pick up a minimal pot. But whats more painful is to lose to a donkey.

The only exception to that rule for me would be the players at my table. If there is joker who keeps trying to steal the pot...i would lay low..play the part to the hilt..maybe even ask for extra time on the clock....then nail em!!!!!

Lips

[blueday]

Hi critter,

You are UTG and I have heard of a player who will fold his hand UTG no matter what and that includes AA.  I could not bring myself to throw AA if  I was UTG.   I think I would raise sufficient (and I mean really big like 20x blind) to make it look like I was either trying to steal the blinds or I had a good hand.  Either way, Im not sure I would go all in at this point. 

I generally play aces - raise huge, flop comes and then all in.  I don't think I would change my tactic if I was UTG.

blue

[Mago666]

Well the AA is a strong hand pre-flop but remember is just a pair on flop if u dont hit another A then the most profit style to play the AA is Raise preflop no matter what possition do u have on the table...... when u hit a AA pre-flop u need raise and of course if someone go all-in then call...... another tip if u raise preflop and the 30% of the table call ur raise and u dont hit a A on flop then u only have a 35% probabilities to win the hand