Sanity Check
 

Typical LP low limit HE game. Here's the situation.

Hand 1: You're on the button. Player in MP2 open limps, folded to you, you raise, blinds fold, limper folds.

Hand 2: You're in the cutoff. Same basic situation. Same player as hand 1 open limps, folded to you.

You have ATo (I think cards are somewhat irrelevant - so any mediocre hand you might consider playing with position)

Question: Is there any rationale at all for not raising?

Re: Sanity Check
 

You have to raise, in order to reinforce any hesitancy and timidity in his play. Don't go crazy after the flop if you suspect he's setting you up for a nasty trap - but you have to have grounds to really suspect that.
That said, A-10 is my danger hand, and I've stopped raising with it - I never win a thing with it!

Re: Sanity Check
 

How loose can it be if you are heads up? ATo is not a very good multi-way hand but if raising can isolate you, sounds good.

Re: Sanity Check
 

The raise is mandatory for these reasons:
1. You want the blinds to fold; big offsuit cards play best short, and you'd like to be able to win unimproved (which you'll be, a good portion of the time).
2. You're taking charge of the hand, with all that implies.
3. You're likely betting the best hand; a raise with this hand in this situation is +EV on its own merits.
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4. In hand two, your raise may also buy the button.