Recently I've been limping with AK, especially from EP, early in SnGs (Party $10+$1). How does everyone feel about this? It seems that if I make my standard raise, someone invariably calls with a smaller pp or something else. I think AK is the hand I've busted ot of the most tournys with and I'm beginning to dislike it more and more (in SnG's). I see other people overplaying it ALL THE TIME. I realize the dangers of doing this (ex. bb cartching junk 2pair). How do you guys play AK in SnG's?

Early, from EP, I actually make a 5xBB raise (150 if the BB is 30, for example). This usually makes pairs either push back at me or fold -- the only exceptions I've seen are JJ-TT will sometimes call preflop and push if there's no AKQ on the flop. AQ and AJ will still often call this size of bet, believe it or not.

Limping with AK will be problematic because you *need* to find a spot to double up in an SNG. If you limp, its very tough to double up on that hand unless you get a dream situation (i.e. AAx flop where someone else has an ace, and you win by outkicking...). If you can't double up when you get a good flop (but not a dream flop) with AK, you are dramatically decreasing your chances of surviving to the money.

Remember, the best way to survive any particular hand of an SNG is to fold preflop, but the best way to survive an SNG all the way to the money is to play tight and AGGRESSIVE -- you punish people for being behind, gain capacity to double up (thus probably making the money most of the time), and get in fewer ambiguous situtuations.

After reading this thread about AK, I started just limping from EP. I really like the play. It already has saved me problems several times when the flop totally missed me.