I know that generally you should raise pre-flop with AK to narrow the field a bit, but I'm wondering if this holds true for AQ, AJ and AT, or whether it's better to simply call.

i assume your'e talking about limit.

the short answer:
in full ring, it's probbaly correct to fold all of those hands in early position in most games, with AQs being the exception.

in middle position you can make a good case for raising all three if you are first in the pot. if a few people are in ahead of you, you can probably chuck a 10 and a J and call with aq, occasional raising is ok. if there's a bunch of limpers in front, calling with thsoe cards when suited is fine.

in late position, all three are raising hands if you are first to enter the pot. whether or not to call with those hands late depends on too many factors to list here...

these answers are very general and only apply to a standard full ring game. your opponents should cause these strategies to vary wildly.

chris

Sorry, I was talking about NL.

i'm going to have to disagree with you on the short strategy, altho all play is really just a matter of style and opinion...

when you're short, say 5 handed, any ace is a raising hand, esp from the CO or the button. i'd say from the CO or button about 30% of all hands are raisable. now CALLING a raise with Ax isn't always the best idea, unless you're up against someone raising with the standards above...

adapting strict standards for short NL play is a bad idea, and makes you very readable.

maxpot

At a full table I'll only play ATo on the button (unraised with limpers).

AJ is a raise in LP (sometimes) and a fold to a raise, and a limp (usually) in EP. I'll fold AJ more often than not in a MTT when the blinds are big and pre-flop action is more of the game.

AQ is a good hand to mix it up with pre-flop (limping for big hand value and raising for steals and to isolate) though a big raise pre-flop can make it difficult to laydown postflop.

The strength of AQ AJ and AT is in their big hand value in straights and two-pair more than their TPTK value which can cause huge trouble when they meet resistance.

I think it's more about knowing when to lay them down on the flop than when to raise them pre-flop.


(Oooo get me, all opinionated today )

I would be leary of even playing ATo against limpers, too many people limp with AJ,AQ and even AK.

I play it (and even then rarely) for the straight and for the "bluff with backup" value on a ragged flop.

short NL is all about building pots opponents can't get away from so you can exploit your edge. it's also about frustrating your opponents to the point that they lower their calling and betting stadards.

raising like clockwork from the button and CO accomplishes both. ok, not clockwork ... 70% of clockwork.

maxpot