B&M 4/8 Game w/ AA cracked promotion, need help w/ strategy

[RedDawg]

I am an intermediate limit player with 2+ years experience.
I play about 90/10 online vs. B&M. When I do play live, I go to a local card room that has loose games where I generally do fairly well. They run a promotion in the 3/6 and 4/8 games that pays $100 to anyone who gets their aces cracked. I am uncertain how to best take advantage of this and I'd like some input. I have always felt that it was correct to limp (w/ AA) pre-flop from any position to encourage the maximum number of callers thus increasing my chances of losing the hand in favor of the $100 bonus, this also serves (appropriately, I thought) to ultimately reach a showdown as cheaply as possible thus getting the most out of my losing aces. Typically after the flop I re-evaluate my situation and if I'm a heavy favorite to win the hand I will switch gears and try to build the pot.

I have a friend who disagrees with this approach. He prefers to raise pre-flop if there are several limpers already in. His argument is that players in these loose games rarely fold to a raise and, in fact, many will cold call two bets. He feels that the pot equity of the aces more than justifies trying to build the pot. He claims that this play gains much more when the aces hold up than it loses (by cutting into the winnings) when the aces are cracked. I think he makes some good points. He may well be correct. I'd just like to know if there's anyone who's carefully examined the math on situations like this. I'd like to play the game armed with the optimal strategy for the AA opportunities.

I hope I've explained the situation clearly. I apologize if my post is a little wordy. I've always enjoyed reading the comments here, but this is the first time I've posted myself.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can set me straight.

[mrcunningham]

They have this at a local casino for both 3/6 and 6/12. SB is $2 at both stakes. I will limp AA, except from both blinds at 3/6 where I raise, or the BB at 6/12. Given the 2/3 SB at 3/6 most of the players will call the raise from the BB. It seems to me that every extra player who sees the flop increases your chance of being beat. Once your in blinds, however, everyone will come along for the one extra bet. I'd love to hear others thoughts, too.

[counterspell]

something else worth considering is that if there is a raise preflop players will get tied to the pot and are more likely to crack your hand.

i would def raise them from either blind, and from late position as well if the blinds are loose.

[Fnord]

Build big pots and see a showdown. The only adjustments I would make is maybe limping UTG if you're not getting cold called by crap (LOL.) Certainly, if you're right behind a pre-flop raiser with no one else in the pot it's a flat call. Otherwise, don't discount the value of actually winning the pot!