Is it ever okay to limp in?

I was taught to always raise when I'm first to enter a pot.

I dunno if its correct by the book, but i limp alot aslong as my stack alows it

Someone opens... and u got callers and it goes to you with pocket 2's. First we look at our left are they aggressive? Squeezes?.

No: We limp along and setmine

Yes: We fold.

UTG is the worse position for me with small pairs. I want to limp, because I want to see a flop, but I can't raise because it will probably cost me more with a re-raise. So in early position I just fold them and will fold them to a big raise no matter where I'm at. Now don't get me wrong. I've seen many players who will play them no matter what, but they just don't work for me. One thing about small pairs is that if you do make a set on the flop, it will really pay off. GL to you

If you actually mean "Is it ever okay to OPEN limp in?" then the answer would be, rarely. To do so you must definitely have a reason to do so e.g. You are SB with AA. BB is Nitty/folds BB often. Then some might limp to keep BB in the hand. I wouldn't but some might.

Other than open limping then, as others have said, there are occasions when it is OK to over-limp.

YES

There are plenty of situations where it is okay to limp in. It all depends on the table dynamics and how aggressive players are preflop. Sometimes you find extremely passive tables where you don't get punished for limping in. In tables like these, you want to limp in with low-medium pocket pairs and suited connectors (particularly low ones), since there's no point in bloating the pot and having a low SPR with a marginal hand.

There are also tables where it's very difficult to isolate people. I was playing $1/$3 at my local casino a few nights ago, I was in the BB, there were 6 limpers before me and I had AA. I raised to $33 and got 3 callers! People were limp-calling hands like Q2s, 85s, T9o, K8o, 22, etc. On a table like this, you can safely get away with limping in with suited Aces, suited connectors and low pocket pairs, since even if there is a squeezer, you'll end up getting so many other limp-callers that you'll have the odds to call as well.

But I would never limp in on pokerstars (or most online poker sites), since even at 2NL, the online players know how to punish limpers.

PapaC said:

UTG is the worse position for me with small pairs. I want to limp, because I want to see a flop, but I can't raise because it will probably cost me more with a re-raise. So in early position I just fold them and will fold them to a big raise no matter where I'm at. Now don't get me wrong. I've seen many players who will play them no matter what, but they just don't work for me. One thing about small pairs is that if you do make a set on the flop, it will really pay off. GL to you

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This. And occasionally late in a mtt with AA or KK. But that's about it. 99% of the time just raise if you're going to play.

I think it's ok to limp in as long as your bankroll is high and you have good odds of hitting something on the river for example 10-9 suited. On the flop you can get to diamonds, flush, straight, etc. But if someone 3 bets you do want to fold.

Just like with every other play, there has to be a good reason for doing it. I see people limp-call big raises constantly then go broke thinking that top pair with a 5 kicker is the nuts.

Is it ever ok to - - - - - - ? (fill in your word... limp, call behind, min raise, check raise air, masturbate, ask your best friends girl on a date...etc..)

Probably. As long as the situation calls for it.

There are some things a newer or more inexperienced player should do or not do. As soon as you find you are doing things for a reason directly involving the hand you are in, then you can quit having a one-size-fits-all strategy approach and vary your play.

If you do not ask yourself "why am I going to do what I am about to do (raise, call, limp, check with a plan to C/R etc)" then you should start.

If you do not understand those dynamics of the game yet, then have a basic strategy, and that would involve, if first to act, raise. But start to think ahead.

"If I raise from CO, I know SB is super agro so he will likely re raise with a large portion of holdings." This is a scenario you can do a lot with. As only one example.

If all this is too much, read some good basic beginner books. (not meant as a slight, I still re read a lot of basic books, but I probably need to.....lol) If you want suggestions on books, just ask.

As other have already said, there is defineatley times to limp into a pot.. Many as a matter of fact.. Just be sure when limping that you have a plan of attack.. EX. limping to try and reraise, or at least planning your next move in advance, and always adjusting when need be!

"Ever"? - Yes.
Often? NO. Moreover - it is a badstyle playing. The great Branson says: you have to play as much aggressive, as your opponents let you. If you see , that it is a tight table - go for it - raise. If your opponents play loose, then try to entice them for raising by weak passive limping. But of course, it is in general.

Yes there are plenty of occasions when limping is a good idea...

I played yesterday and my 3xBB Open Raise from mid position on KK and QQ both resulted in nothing but picking up the blinds... I got AA in EP and limped them... Not something you normally do but the situation required it...

Put me in the 'YES' camp.

But the question is the perfect question for the perfect answer.....

It depends.....

On limits below 50NL i would allways raise when i enter the pot. On the limits where i expect a lot of good players i want to have some balance with my strong hands and also for the purpose of deception. Lets say on a tight aggresive table you raised your monster and good hands every time in the last hour. People will notice. When you limp someone might try to isolate you and you can 4 bet him or you can decide to slowplay. If you get to showdown no matter if you win or lose and they see that you limped with a monster or a pretty good hand they wont know what do you have next time you limp. Next time you raise they might think you are tricky and call you off with worse and thats what you want. The point is against good players you have tohave some balance and deception in your arsenal otherwise they will read you like an open book.

PapaC said:

UTG is the worse position for me with small pairs. I want to limp, because I want to see a flop, but I can't raise because it will probably cost me more with a re-raise. So in early position I just fold them and will fold them to a big raise no matter where I'm at. Now don't get me wrong. I've seen many players who will play them no matter what, but they just don't work for me. One thing about small pairs is that if you do make a set on the flop, it will really pay off. GL to you

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if you ever wanna play those small pairs worst spot to limp raise and raise strong 3x no less

It always depends especially your position

As with most things, it depends on the situation. Late position after a small raise with a speculative hand (suited connector, small pocket pair) is fine to limp. On the other hand, limping from UTG into aggro players = just asking for it. As in all things at the poker table, position and the villains you face will determine a lot of what you can/should do with marginal or even good hands. Gl out there!

usually just limp in the beginning, when the blind is down to play a few hands for set value or hit a set with hands suited connectors

Of course it's ok to limp in sometimes. There are many variables and no set rules for poker. What works one time, may not work the next time with different variables. You have to do whatever is best at that particular time based on position, stack size, player activity, etc. Never say "never" and never say "always".

2Pacavelli said:

usually just limp in the beginning, when the blind is down to play a few hands for set value or hit a set with hands suited connectors

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Do you play on pokerstars? I think I saw that exact fish avatar at one of my tables on Saturday

Hi there, im a beginner, I was told repeated and still am being told that there should be no reason for me to ever limp. I'm told to either check, raise or fold.

Rishlin said:

Hi there, im a beginner, I was told repeated and still am being told that there should be no reason for me to ever limp. I'm told to either check, raise or fold.

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For tournaments that's mostly true. More important than following a rule though is understanding why you're following it.

Do you know why limping and calling is bad?

Rishlin said:

Hi there, im a beginner, I was told repeated and still am being told that there should be no reason for me to ever limp. I'm told to either check, raise or fold.

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This is a good idea for beginners, the reason is that when you raise you accomplish two things:

1. You give yourself the chance to win the pot right there (everyone folds).

2. You force the blinds and anyone else who calls to narrow their ranges, which helps you when you try to figure out what they could have post-flop if they call.

If you limp in, the SB may come along with mediocre hands (weak Aces, medium strength Kings, Q9, T8, etc.) because of the pot odds, and the BB gets to see a free flop with whatever garbage they're sitting on.

If you raise and get calls from fairly tight players, it's then much easier to figure out what they have post-flop. For example, you limped 99, the BB checked, and the flop was 842. You think you're good here with an overpair to the board, so you start betting, and the BB lets you hang yourself because he has 42, even though he would have folded had you raised pre-flop.

In poker its easy to think of things in black and white yes and no right and wrong. This is just another example, some will say never ever limp, others say yes. Like many have said already there are a lot of variables that can make limping a bad, ok, or great play. Stack sizes, players yet to act, your percieved image to this point just to name a few. After considering the variables what is important is that you have a plan for all your actions at the table. You consider what could happen and how you would react, and you stick to your plans barring new information that helps to give you more informed action.

However, it is often recommended that new players to the game avoid limping or passive action in general because more experienced players will exploit you for it. As you get more comfortable in the game try different strategies and adopt whatever feels natural for you.