limp/reraise

I've found that this play can trap players for some very big pots. I usually don't slowplay hands, but a lot of times I like to limp when in early position with big hands like AA or KK. I find that raising when you get these hands utg makes you lose action because most players are able to put you on a huge hand to raise in such early position. 2 times in the past week, I've won huge pots by limping in with AA, letting someone else raise, then going over the top for a big preflop reraise-followed by an all in call or an all in push on the flop. A couple of my opponents in these kinds of hands have told me they were confused by my play and put me on something like a small pair or ak. I've had my reraise all ins called by hands like 10s and even AQ, because they feel you're trying to steal the pot they've committed raising chips to. Just curious what others think of this play. Just can't use it too often, otherwise it's too obvious-gotta change up your play.

Wow, thanks for the tip that has to be a new way to play AA and KK. No one wonder ever expect you to be holding one of the top two hands.
Thanks

The limp can be dangerous though if no one raises behind you. Say you hold AA in EP and limp and 3 people behind you limp? Now you've hurt your AA and depending on the flop texture, will probably have to toss it.

If you are sure someone behind you will raise, then it might be worth it as a play once in a while.

As long as you are prepaired to Fold them if the Flop has scare cards like:

Pairs
Flush draws
Stragiht Draws




Very Dangerous but do what needs to be done .......

Good luck

lol well limp raising is probably the most transparent play you can make when done infrequently (ie. AA) and when the pot gets limped through and you are oop in a 5 way unraised pot, well yea...

It can be effective, but I find that it leaves you with problems:

limp reraising UTG in itself is fairly transparent, if someone was going to go allin after you limp reraise them, they would have given you action even if you just raised in the first place.

as mentioned, you can leav yourself playing against 4 or 5 opponents in a smallish pot in middle position.

Sorry to burst your bubble dumpy, but all the micro-kids are doing it now, if not limping with AA/KK they min-raise.

As others have said, not a very smart play, take for instance a game I was in earlier.
UTG limps, 4 others follow, flop comes something like 5T6 rainbow, he pushes, gets 1 caller.
Both flip over cards, UTG has AA and caller has 56os, AA didn't improve.

I think that such play is pretty obvious and I reccomend dont use it for value with AA and KK, but as a bluffs with weaker hands, like suited connectors.

I tried the limp theory twice last night. Busted both times. Go figure.

This.

so have you ever used the limp raise to bluff, semi bluff, whatever?

I have used the call behind and back-raise as a bluff, but I'm pretty sure I haven't open limped in quite a while, so personally no. I do know a few people that mix it up though kind of effectively. But when an unknown does it 9 times out of 10 it always seems to be KK or AA.

It's seems to me that limp/minraising is all the rage lately in the micro tourneys. I've busted/seen more people lose cause of this then in a long time.
I waiting for all the "My AA/KK always lose" posts to start rolling in.

Take your poker stove and put in AA against 1 player, then 2, then 3, and so on. Use any range you like(try random) and you will see as more people enter the pot you have less chance to win. If you limp/min you invite alot more people into the pot. Most people have trouble laying down AA/KK even when the board is screaming, FOLD FOLD FOLD. Alot of mirco tourney players seem to only trap themselves.

have to agree with the common theme -- it's generally just not a good idea to play big pairs weakly... but as always, it depends on the table. The situation you describe might work for a very aggressive table, but as noted above, at such a table the limp-raise isn't needed -- you can play your big pair aggressively and still get some callers without taking the risk that the bb with 7-2 will hit 722 on the flop.

best cased scenario for aa is heads up.the more people in the better chance of losing.and limpin is bad cause u get the small suited connectors callin u with chances of str8 or flush against u too.if they get good draw like open end str8 and flush draw u'll get called with good chance of losin.

This is too hard to balance.
an UTG raise represents a tight range but limp raising means u may as well flip your hand over.
At micros I doubt people will even bother giving UTG raises much credit anyway and even if they werent to do so they'd need some information on you beforehand as a big portion of micro players don't play positionly.

Well,

The best thing in this thread is that you have confused other players. That is very important. It is very bad to become predictalbe. Because, the good players will "eat you alive". Keep them confused.

Also, I think it is great to limp utg. A position I hate.

To raise is sending a message that " hey all" I have a decent hand. So, beware" One of the few absolute "tells" on on line poker is the betting process.

It is good to slow play. However, you should be prepared to fold on a big bet, since you have let the other limper in to get a good hand. And, that is easier said than done.

I think some of the pros recommend slowplaying some monster hands (I believe the percentage is about 20%. Just to throw a bit of confusion into your play and not be predictable.

I have no problem about predictability because I am a "donk" and impulsive. And, even I dont know what I am going to do. So, much less the other players figuring me out.

Good luck and keep up the good work.

mange

"Most people have trouble laying down AA/KK even when the board is screaming, FOLD FOLD FOLD. "


This is the problem, b/c if you allow those extra players to see the flop, are you going to be disciplined enough to toss your AA/KK if the flop obviously hits one of them? Probably not, and that player you allowed to see the flop will end up winning a big pot at your expense.