This is something I've been thinking about recently, but I'm not sure how much value it holds as a play, or in fact whether or not it is already an accepted strategy.

Working to the principal that it is generally better to have position in a holdem hand, I'm wondering how much mileage there is in checking when out of position, not as a passive play or a slow play, but to artificially manipulate the position of the button in relation to your seat.

Say I raise with a hand in early position, get a caller after me, and a fold from the blinds. I'm now first to act for the rest of the hand. Regardless of how the flop hits me, if I have decided I want position in this hand, the plan would be to automatically check, almost like I hadn't even made the play and that opp was 1st to act. I would then proceed to play the hand the way I would from late position.

I know this tends to fly in the face of widely accepted poker theory, whereby you want to take control of the betting in the hand, and by checking to opp you are effectively relinquishing that power to them, and there are of course times when I would strategically choose not to make this play, such as when I flop a strong yet vulnerable hand, such as TPTK-trips on a highly coordinated board.

I haven't put this into practise yet, and I'm not even sure that I will. I guess I'm looking for feedback from people who might have angles on this play I have yet to consider, or to hear from people who have already experimented with this strategy.

All thoughts and criticisms welcomed.