AK early position - an alternative

This is something I read once, it's a sound strategy I think - but alas maybe not one you can use successfully at lower level online games.

As an alternative to raising, limp in early position with AK.

As a result, often, some limpers enter the pot with an assortment of weaker hands.

One of the players in the blinds picks up something of a hand and and puts in a big raise looking to take the pot....not such an unusual scenario so far...

You then counter with a very big reraise (or shove allin) - representing a monster hand (AA)

Limpers fold, the blind reluctantly folds and you scoop a big pot preflop.

Unless the blind happened to pick up AA or KK youre still in good shape if you are called and there's dead money in the pot already - i.e better pot odds than you would get with a raise and calling a shove.


I like the play. Just thought it was worth a post.
Unless you are playing againstopponents with a decent level of sophistication, I don't often see this move working in your favour often enough to use online - not at small buyins anyway.

Against better quality opponents though , or say in an mtt with the blinds getting up there, I think it could be a very nice move to use.

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Online MTTs its a pointless move early and late (early the chips you pick up are somewhat meaningless and late it turns into a raise and fold game... you won't get limpers just because you limped). Mid levels it could pick you up some chips but you could also end up seeing a 5 way Kxx flop with no idea where anyone else stands.

I personally don't like the play (doesn't mean it's wrong by any means) but if your ultimate goal is for everyone else to fold preflop then why wait for AK? Move works just as well with 56

Exactly what I thought. AK makes you feel more secure of course.

Your other points I'll try to comment on later - with less wine and no games on.

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Yeah Fink, I can't disagree with the points you made. When I said 'blinds getting up there' I meant middle-towards-latter tourney rather than late or early in an mtt.

I still think it's a good move that could be used in the right situations.
Possibly those situations won't arise very often though.

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This is a move to use very rarely. Already limping early with KK+ is a move to do rarely, so this should be even rarer. And with the right table. If you get a table with people who limp/fold a lot, then yes.

If you limp in and face a raise behind you from someone with a small chipstack, just call and on the flop push it all in and make your opponent make a tough call for him.