I am a first time poster - I also have a question

[pokerTim]

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting in a poker forum and I have a question that I hope you can answer for me.

I hope it isn't a stupid question as I just started playing the game and I am not very good right now.

Here is the question: If I get dealt AA ( the best starting hand) how much should I bet if I am the first player to bet? I don't want to bet to little and have everyone call or raise, but at the same time, I don't want to bet to much and scare everyone away from betting and then the pot will be smaller.

What should I do?

Also in a home game, how often should the blinds increase? Thanks - Tim

[Sean_in_NJ]

Welcome Tim. I'm assuming the format is NL Hold'em.

The "standard" raise is 3-4x the BB. This will vary from game to game depending on your opponents. When they're willing to call a bigger bet, you should raise a bigger amount.

Never never never worry about someone raising behind you after you've raised with AA.

Never.

Honestly, never.

You should be trying your absolute best not to show how happy you are about such a thing.

As for the blinds, I never play tourneys at home anymore. I've found cash games to be a lot more fun and a lot easier to manage. But, if you insist, look at http://www.homepokertourney.com for some ideas.

[pokerTim]

Thanks for the welcome. sometimes it is both NL and limit. home games.

so if the BB is let's say $10.00, I would raise $40.00

[Miss_J]

Never never never worry about someone raising behind you after you've raised with AA.

Never.

Honestly, never.

.

funny story. me and my husband played a couples tournament in which there were crazy rules such as you can give chips or take chips from your partner and what not and one of the twists was that you got a red card and could ask your partner for help once during the tourny.

well this one girl who had never played before used the red card when i gone all in with A-Q after she had already made a raise. it took a few minutes for her partner to come over cause he was in the middle of a hand. well I sat there pretty content cause i figured her hand must be pretty weak since she didn't really know what to do.

SHE HAD ACES!! lol she honestly wasnt sure if she should call, so it wasnt a big deal. but talk about a slow roll from hell.

[jeffonline]

I NL position is very important, first to act after the cards are dealt is referred to as “under the gunâ€

[Sean_in_NJ]

Limp in, just call the big blind, you are looking for someone to raise it up, when it comes around to you again get as many chips as you can in the middle.

That's not fancy?

And if no one raises behind?

Limp reraises aren't for beginners. That's how beginners go broke.

[xDiamond_CutteRx]

I agree with Sean. For beginners, stick to raising with AA, preferably between 3.5 to 5 times the big blind (4 is usually about right from 1st position).

As for the home tournament question, it usually depends on how long you want the tournament to last. In general though, if you look on HomePokerTourney, try looking at the WSOP or Bellagio tournament structures, as both are usually quite good.

[jeffonline]

I have respect for your comments but I am playing the whole hand not just pre flop, beginners will loose with AA the majority of times or only win a small pot, they will get out played on the later streets. Shit the others already suspect that 4xBB bet from an early position, looks like KK AA QQ AK. Who’s going to help him out, when the flop comes 5,6,7 or 2 9 Q suited or someone hits trips with a small pocket pair and he’s looking at calling a bet 10-20XBB or is asked for all his chips. The only action he going to get is when he beaten. I say get it in early it’s a better % play.

[Sean_in_NJ]

How does limping, hoping to get raised behind, change this scenario?

When I was in Vegas two weeks ago, I had some crappy hand like T4o in the BB. UTG limped with AA, nobody raised, I flopped two pair and value bet him on all three streets for his stack.

Missing a limp reraise, when you don't have the requisite experience to play it well postflop, is inviting this type of thing.

[supafrey]

so jeff's simplifying advice for a beginner is to get as fancy as possible, and make our hardest decisions on later streets where it's more likely we could make a big mistake. hrms.. seems about right...

[shorn7]

so jeff's simplifying advice for a beginner is to get as fancy as possible, and make our hardest decisions on later streets where it's more likely we could make a big mistake. hrms.. seems about right...

LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!

In all seriousness though, limp re-raising is not a beginner play. I don't consider myself a pro, but I rarely use it. The timing needs to be specific and you should use it as a varying play only, not as basic practice. You need a hyper aggressive game where every pot is raisd preflop to consider it.

While I agree that AA can often be a "win a small, lose a big" pot hand, you should raise with it upfront a large % of the time. The key on flops that you mentioned is that you need to be able to lay it down when it appears beaten. This is where many players get into trouble as they think that AA is the mortal nuts no matter what the flop. IF that is your tendency, then it might be better to raise even more preflop so that at least the pot odds are such that felting isn't so bad. But, more than that, we all need to learn how to play the hand better in all positions and situations.

[BeerWench13]

Welcome to the forum, Tim. In general, I will agree with the majority that I would raise at least 3xBB in this situation. Once you play the game more and more, you can mix up your play. As you're learning, you would be better off to thin the field when you have a big hand like that to increase your odds of winning the pot. Sure, everyone may fold, but personally, I'd rather win small than lose big.

[pokerTim]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Some great info you all have provided.

I am playing Friday at a hotel near my home. They have free Hold-em on Friday & Saturday nights, &;30 & 10:30 PM. The games last for 2 1/2 hours. THe admission is free and the chips as well. I think it will be fun and it will be a good way to learn the game.

[jimmer]

I am playing Friday at a hotel near my home.

Where is your home? (Where is the game?)

[pokerTim]

jimmer, I live in Canada ( winnipeg to be precise)