Why Not to Limp-Reraise AK

I actually think limping AK from EP is often a good move, but limp-reraising AK is just an awful move, unless maybe you're playing against a very weak and aggressive opponent who is raising nearly every hand. To be fair, I have played with this guy a decent bit before, so he knows I play aggressively and am capable of making moves (though the only hands I would push in this situation are AA KK and possibly QQ or JJ depending on my opponent).


***** Hand History for Game 1014261488 *****
0/0 TEXASHTGAMETABLE (NL) - SAT OCT 02 19:47:32 EDT 2004
Table Table 14218 (6 max) (Real Money) -- Seat 6 is the button
Total number of players : 6
Seat 1: AndyGM ( $65.60)
Seat 2: NotTooGood27 ( $92.30)
Seat 3: Dup85 ( $54.85)
Seat 4: Unclefvcker ( $72.55)
Seat 5: maximus67ae ( $46.30)
Seat 6: freebyrd33 ( $269.85)
AndyGM posts small blind (0.50)
NotTooGood27 posts big blind (1)
** Dealing down cards **
Dealt to NotTooGood27 [ Ah, Ac ]
Dup85 folds.
Unclefvcker calls (1)
maximus67ae folds.
freebyrd33 did not respond in time.
freebyrd33 folds.
AndyGM calls (0.50)
NotTooGood27 raises (3) to 4
Unclefvcker raises (14) to 15
AndyGM folds.
NotTooGood27 raises (88.30) to 92.30
NotTooGood27 is all-In.
Unclefvcker calls (57.55)
Unclefvcker is all-In.
** Dealing Flop ** : [ 9h, Qh, 6d ]
** Dealing Turn ** : [ Ks ]
** Dealing River ** : [ 7h ]
Creating Main Pot with $146.10 with Unclefvcker
Creating Side Pot 1 with $19.75 with NotTooGood27
** Summary **
Main Pot: $146.10 | Side Pot 1: $19.75 | Rake: $0
Board: [ 9h Qh 6d Ks 7h ]
AndyGM balance $64.60, lost $1 (folded)
NotTooGood27 balance $165.85, bet $92.30, collected $165.85, net +$73.55 [ Ah Ac ] [ a pair of aces -- Ah,Ac,Ks,Qh,9h ]
Dup85 balance $54.85, didn't bet (folded)
Unclefvcker balance $0, lost $72.55 [ As Kd ] [ a pair of kings -- As,Kd,Ks,Qh,9h ]
maximus67ae balance $46.30, didn't bet (folded)
freebyrd33 balance $269.85, didn't bet (folded)

As a generally rule, I always raise a modest amount with AK to discourage any limpers behind me. I prefer HtoH or 3-way action with these hands. I dont know alot of positions where I would limp/raise. Maybe if there was a lot of other limpers, the raiser was to my immediate right, and I knew they were weak. Here I might push all-in to get HtoH action or maybe pick-up some dead money. If I call, theres a good chance there will be a multi-way pot and my AK wont be worth as much.

I never like limp-reraising with any hand becuase it seems to expose the true value of your hand too early and you might scare off potentail customers. limp-reraising means you'll most likely be out of position for the flop and unless your put in preflop with your big pair, you'll extract little value unless they hit the flop hard enough to call a big bet but still weak enough to lose.

pre-flop i usually adopt a straight-forward strategy since the scenarios you face and the decisions put to you are a lot smaller compared to the flop, turn and river respectively.

-'rilla

Originally Posted by a500lbgorilla

I never like limp-reraising with any hand becuase it seems to expose the true value of your hand too early and you might scare off potentail customers. limp-reraising means you'll most likely be out of position for the flop and unless your put in preflop with your big pair, you'll extract little value unless they hit the flop hard enough to call a big bet but still weak enough to lose.

pre-flop i usually adopt a straight-forward strategy since the scenarios you face and the decisions put to you are a lot smaller compared to the flop, turn and river respectively.

-'rilla

Playing 6-max NL, I will almost always limp AA and KK if I'm first in the pot hoping to reraise. There's just too many bad players who can't get away from hands good enough for them to raise when a limper comes over the top of them big. If you run into JJ or QQ (and often 99 TT AK and AQ), you will almost always get them to push after you reraise.

If you're first into the pot with kings or aces for a raise, you'll usually get called by phenominally weak hands on the basis that it's 6 handed. I've seen a raise my pocket kings to be called by k j off and the miracle flop of k j x comes and I get paid off instantly. And it's very common place to get paid off when A-face pairs his face card and calls a large/AI bet with TPTK.

Also, if other players have 99-jj they may not pay you off, but you'll surely be protecting your hands and you'll still make money from the preflop call (which i usually make very large, in the 4-5 dollar range at 25 max buyin).

I just don't like limping and praying for a raise becuase If none comes, you may accidentally lay down to big bets on the flop when someone makes TPTK missreading them for 2pair or better. Or worse, pay off low cards that do make 2 pair and play them well.

-'rilla