Double Up or Steal? Short Stack play

[Peter H]

I have been debating w/ several ppl about how to play Big hands when u are very short stacked. If i have around 5 big blinds and i pick up a very good hand (AA, KK, QQ, AKs) is this a situation where I want to give someone a shot at me so that i have a good chance of doubling up?

3 options are to
1)push allin preflop
2) double the blinds preflop
3) limp

if there is a limper the play is just to push allin. however if you are 1st IN... NO LIMPERS

i believe the standard play is jsut to push allin, but if i have around 5x the big blind then i will likely steal and not have another chance as good as this to double up since i will always push or fold.

the play i have been making lately is to raise the minimum so that i very often get action from the big blind or some other big stack.

if we are not close to the money yet, then is this an acceptable risk to try and double up and get back into decent chip position? i believe YES, but most others ive talked to think its just best to push allin regardless and hope to get a call. My goals are pure +EV so i nearly always go for the win instead of going for just placing.

thanks,
pete