I dont know if this has been said already, havent read all the posts.
IMO i dont think raise less and give up more preflop is the best solution. This just means tight passive in my book. if u r betting out with AK (not a bad move with 2 in) then u r wanting to simply take the pot down. however, it seems like u anticipated the reraise (in ur words a good aggressive player would make this play) so it seems that it is your post flop statergy is weak here. I certainly wouldnt want 2 give up here if i thought the button player was making a play. I think a check raise would suit for a couple of reasons;
1) You dont want 2 build a massive pot and while check raising does bump the pot up, it is not half as committing as raise, reraise rereraise. You only have AK, not a made hand, and surely aggressive players win big pots when opponants underestimate their made hands. If you play the hand as you described then you are digging a massive hole 2 fall into.
2) Either win or lose you may stop the guy position reraising (or at least make him think before he does so) , so u may lose the battle but the table doesnt get run over.
check- calling and then leading out on turn also works, but it gives a free card for button-boy to improve. Yes, u get a free card but if an ace or king hits it may kill any action VS a mid pp.
IMO People over playing AK is 1 of the biggest mistakes in nl cash games, how many times have you made money from a guy call in down with this unbeatable hand? therefore against ur aggressive/aggressive find out where you are as cheaply but as powerfully as poss. but by defending your hand here i think win or lose it is beneficial to keep the agg in check and setting him up for his whole stack when you get a hand VS him later on. dont let him set you up for your whole stack.
As a side note, u mentioned being weak on turn if he calls. well i think the check-raise has given you the info you needed. u may get a free river and potential hit ur ace or king, a high card like a Q may also give u a stab at a steal on the river but i think in general my breaks would be on thereafter.
gl well, i hope this player was me
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