that is the question.

in later stages of a tournament, say approaching the bubble and many players are starting to tighten up, you look down at A6 offsuit in the cutoff. it's folded around to you. in this position, do you generally/automatically or situationally raise it up to steal the blinds?

any input is appreciated, thanks.

Unless I have the sort of image that's going to make people play back at me with weak hands or there's a maniac still to act, that's an auto-raise.

I will generally raise with any 2 if its folded to me in the CO of a tight table late in a tourney. Ax is one of my least fav hands to raise with, but I'm raising if my stack is fine and my table is tightening.

What about if you are in an earlier position and it's still folded around to you so far?

Still a pretty standard auto-raise or only in late position?

I will never raise Ace-rag from EP with short stacks at the table. They're just looking to double up with any ace, and their A-10 suddenly looks like heaven; and, against my A-4, it does.

I guess a case could be made for the bubble, because players will fold that A-10 trying to make it into the money, but I still don't do it.

In the CO, absolutely. Depending on the stacks of the players yet to act, I'll raise Arag every single time. You're likely to have the best hand against the random button/blinds. Of course the last time I attemped this with A9, I ran into the BB with AA, so what do I know

Ye obviously. Stealing isnt reliant on cards. Hence the word stealing. You should be comfortable open raising any ace in LP.

Not an auto raise at all if in earlier position. I think it's an auto fold. The whole thing is having late position and having first in VIG. The cards dont matter much at all, but position and being the first one in the pot are paramount.