Table is typical $1/2, with one internetesque player, 2 Asian gamblers, and a bunch of passive players, 2 of who are more weak/tight and the rest loose/passive.

Villain is mid-late 30s female, looks upper-middle class. Sits down in her first hand on the button (allowed because of table break) and Mississippi Straddles to $8

If you are not familiar with this, it is a back straddle that MAKES THE SMALL BLIND FIRST TO ACT preflop.

SB calls $8, BB folds, UTG calls $8, UTG+1 folds, Hero is EMP
Effective stacks for players already in pot range from $200-300, players yet to act range from $150 to about $400.
Pot is $24
Hero looks down at AA and raises to???

I am looking for a raise that will get me at least one, but no more than two callers. While I know that we are now playing 1/2/8NL, I don't know if any of them realize it.

I think $38 is a decent sized raise, I wouldn't go below $30 though and I prob wouldn't go above $45 because you'll lose everyone.

I might even say something along the lines of "man there's a lot of money in the pot, almost $30 already!" And then raise to $38 so people see it's just a pot sized raise.

Grunch

I raise to $35, this will fold out any medium strength hands behind. I think Straddler folds unless she wakes up with 1010+ or AK. Do you have better descriptions of SB or UTG?

SB is a loose passive PF and fit-or-fold post. He plays the same strategy regardless of position or stack size. UTG+1 is rather ABC, but not great at it. He tends to play his hands face-up, but at least he can fold and has better bet-sizing than most 1/2 players.

can we limp and let the straddler raise? in my experience, straddlers raise a significant portion of the time... not always, but alot... and you and her are in the perfect position to try this...

35-40 is prob good. This is live poker so we gotta drjkidhhfgdd x it to build a pot pre with the nuts

With no reads I think this is wayyyyy too risky with all the money in there. I would just go ahead and raise to $35 here.

I think you are right.... and most of the time we should raise, but i think we already have a decent read... she sits down and immediately Mississippi straddles the button (which is an insane rule btw)... what do you think she did that for, to let limpers in on her button for free? really dont see her just checking behind...

me personally, i will gambool here

in my experience, most people who straddle, especially on the button, will defend the straddle with marginal holdings...best to raise and get her to call with a marginal hand as opposed to try and trap...

I'd say 32-38...