Part: Part Five - Betting Before the Flop

Don't let the aces get cracked

Pre-flop
Blinds 100 / 200Pot 900 (4.5 BB)MPA♠A♦● 25,000 (125 BB)YOUto actUTG● 25,000 (125 BB)LimperlimpsSB● 25,000 (125 BB)posts 100 (0.5 BB)BB● 25,000 (125 BB)posts 200 (1 BB)D

A player limps from under the gun and it's on you in middle position with A♠A♦.

A limper is in and you hold pocket aces in middle position. Best?

WhyRaise a strong amount. Limping behind invites a multiway pot, exactly where aces get cracked. A solid raise (larger with a limper to punish, building the pot) thins the field so you play your monster heads-up or three-handed with the lead.
What happensYou raise to 1,000 (5 BB) over the limper; one caller, the rest fold.  Pot: 2,500 (12.5 BB).
Flop
Heads-upPot 2,500 (12.5 BB)K♥8♣4♦MPA♠A♦● 25,000 (125 BB)YOUan overpairUTG● 25,000 (125 BB)CallerchecksD

Flop K♥ 8♣ 4♦ - your aces are an overpair on a dry board. He checks.

Overpair, dry board, he checks. Best?

WhyBet for value. Keep building with the best hand - a king, a worse pair, or a draw will pay. Slow-playing again only lets free cards undo your big pair.
What happensYou bet 1,500; he folds.  You win the pot you protected.
You raised aces to thin the field instead of limping into a multiway minefield, then bet for value rather than slow-playing. Big pairs want fewer opponents and a growing pot.

Raise your big pairs - thinning the field protects them and building the pot collects value; slow-playing invites the multiway pots that crack aces.