How To Play AQ ?
Can anyone explain to me why you cannot play AQ unsuited from the middle position with 4 or more callers when it is ok to play hands such as 98 and T8s. Is it because if you hit two pair, somebody is bound to have made straight?
Answer 1:
From your title I’m guessing that you’re thinking the Jones book recommends folding AQo from middle position with 4 or more callers. But, the book doesn’t say that. On page 38 there is a small summary end-of-chapter table where AQo is omitted in the 4 or more caller’s category. The same table says raise if 3 or fewer callers and call if someone has already raised. The text of the short, two page chapter says that you should play that hand and usually should at least think about raising. I’m guessing that there was an error in that summary table. Don’t pay so much attention to the details of tables of hands — think about what the book says instead. I really mean that — most readers pay way to much attention to lists of hands and just don’t think about what the book is saying.
Answer 2:
Basically because 98s and such hands play well multiway, whereas with AQoff you want to narrow the field as much as possible to give your hand a better chance of holding up if you make a decent, but not great, hand.
Answer 3:
For a single bet, AQo can be played from ANY position, regardless of number of players in the pot. If QQ, KK, AA or AK is not in there, AQ will make good EV (even against JJ). If there was a raise which strongly indicates a possible dominating hand (one of the above), it becomes a must dump. If the raise is loose, AQ should three-bet (regardless of the number of players!). There are players though who open-limp early with their strongest hands, but don’t play AJ and friends utg at all. Against these rocks AQ is dumpable for a single bet. Whether to play AQ or not is not really an issue. HOW to play it is a much more interesting subject (see my homepage).