Limping in with AK in early position

I'm a huge fan of limping in early position with AK when playing NLHE. I'm aware of the risks, but have had some success lately.

It seems I can conceal my hand nicely if there are bettors and raisers acting after me. If I miss, I get out cheaper than having raised pf and possibly getting into it. If I hit, I can make some tricky plays in early position.

Anyone else like playing AK this way?

It's great fun until the BB hits 2 pair on a K 9 6 flop. Then you'll be back to raising it up again.

It is a perfectly acceptable play. It is not acceptable to always raise just because you have AK in your hand nor is it acceptable to always limp because your in early position. Switch it up and play the table dynamics...Limp some, raise some, but understand you play the hands different.

Loose table: I prefer limping, calling any reasonable raise (x3-x6) and then check raising the flop against the original raiser. If for some reason no one raises, I then treat my limped AK like 96...I better hit a great flop and I am not willing to get real aggressive out of position.

Tight table: I prefer raising and then making a continuation bet regardless of the flop. If I don't pick up the pot after the cbet I slow down, even if I have hit a decent flop.

I disagree with the "changing it up" philosophy. I look at the opponents that are hard for me to read, and they are not the ones who bet the "maybe" hands like early AK weak and the monsters big. They're the ones who raise 2 or 3 times the big blind, consistently, on any unraised pot they enter. If you don't raise or weak raise your early AK and you get callers and limpers, you have no idea what kind of strength you're up against. Also, it's a good hand but not a great hand; the more people you allow to the flop, the bigger your chance of getting beaten, even if one of your cards hits. Hillbilly is right. Make the K6 fold preflop. Why in the world wouldn't you?

Not that Dick is wrong. You certainly do consider table dynamics and make adjustments.

Play your AK strong. That way, subsequent bets - even if you're bluffing - demand more respect.

If you insist on slowplaying your big hands, please come to my table.

The exception to this might be in a tourney situation with a medium stack. You don't want to get sucked down a blackhole, so maybe you'll try to limp and see how the hand develops. But short-stacked: all in. Big stack: play strong but leave yourself an out. Cash game: don't jump on the slowplay bandwagon.

ANOTHER reason not to slowplay is that big hands want big pots. You limp with your AK, get a good flop, make a bet and . . . everybody folds. Part of the art of poker has to do with building a pot. If you have a hand with good potential, you're going to want to take some steps to build the pot. get some money in there, bet the pot post-flop (which should be a big bet) and you've made a worthwhile profit.

It really does concern me when I read posts like yours where people promote slowplaying as good strategy. Sure you're welcome to do it, but as a developing player, you really need to be aware of your motivations, aware of the consequences, and aware of going down blind alleys. We're all here to help each other; which kind of goes against my grain, because I'd much rather have weak opponents. But since you asked earnestly, please consider the advice.

Now if you flop a FH, sure . . . Go ahead and slowplay.


Gary

Yes i'll play that way in early position as well,for me it works out about 1/2 the time the other 1/2 can be quite punishing. gl

Just looking for clarification...your saying the opponents are consistently raising 2-3x the blinds from early position with AK or 72 because it is an unraised pot? This is what makes it difficult for you to get a read?

usually a good play early on in tourneys, but later on when blinds get raised and antes come into play, you have to raise

I also agree with the changing it up philosophy, good one

I just hate to slowplay this hand. There are just too many people who limp in with a hand that the shouldnt have even called the blinds with and end up out flopping you. If the blinds are 1-2, I will try to throw in $2 for every one sitting at the table, and 5-7 more for me. Usually $25 to see the flop. You can usually tell who has the other big ace or king or small pocket pair. AK just doesnt do well with alot of company in the pot.

I have been trying to limp in lately w AK lately and it hasnt worked out well for me on a consistant basis however when it does it usually pays really good when u slow play but its not something I try to often because usually it doesnt work for me.

perhaps not exactly the topic, but i hate getting AK. That hand has cost me more then any other hand. It does not matter if i limp, raise or go all-in, that hand is going to cost me. Now A-J thats another matter, i dont seem to be able to loose with that hand

i agree with dr dick switch it up a bit and you'll find that limping in aint always the best move.

honestly you're my favorite person

I dont agree with limping premium hands, EVER.

I don't like to limp. period. Unless there have been a few limpers already and I am getting the odds to see a flop, then sure by all means I will take a sneak peak.

but limping with premium hands always gets me into trouble.

There are a few occasions where I might limp in order to trap an aggressive player that likes to raise when there are early limpers.

if you don't raise you are giving your opponents the same odds as yourself

or

a 72 is getting the same odds as you

Just make a minimum raise

HAHAHAHAHAHAAHA


NEW SIG

i would never limp in with ak.... well maybe, but i def lose alot hands with them believe it or not... i almost wanna fold them pre flop..lol.. but then again i have won alot of cash games with them, some just cuz of the higher kicker