[UVaHoo]

There's a difference between tournaments and NL cash games. Basically, I like to vary my play based on how the table is playing. How many people have entered the pot? If 5 people have entered and I have AA, limping is unlikely to be a smart play. If I'm first in in the CO and I have 88, I'm going to open-raise in a cash game. If I'm 6th in in the CO with 88, I'm probably going to limp and hope to get paid off when I hit my set.

In cash games, it depends on what you want to get from your hand. Does it have good heads-up value? Does it play better multiway? Use your preflop actions to manipulate the field to a size of your liking.

IMO, the limps people on this board hate are when someone has KJs in the cutoff and open-limps, because you have an unmade hand that doesn't really want the blinds to see a cheap flop. Why not try to steal the blinds with it? You have a good hand with position if you're called. No one is going to blast you for limping 56s after 4 other limpers.