My first post w/ a quick hand q

[tom]

Whats up guys, I registered a long time ago with apparently the older version of this site, then went to school and had little time for poker, but I've come back to it and have started playing 5+.5 SnG's on pokerstars the last week or so and thought I'd start trying to get better through actually showing my hands instead of reading about others'.

Anyways, had a question on my preflop play here and what you would do. No real reads on either player this far,
-Thomas




PokerStars No-Limit Hold'em Tourney, Big Blind is t50 (8 handed) FTR converter on zerodivide.cx

BB (t2815)
Hero (t1245)
UTG+1 (t1595)
MP1 (t3435)
MP2 (t920)
CO (t1640)
Button (t1235)
SB (t615)

Preflop: Hero is UTG with A, T.
Hero calls t50, 2 folds, MP2 calls t50, 2 folds, SB raises to t250, BB calls t200,

[Demiparadigm]

fold.

[a500lbgorilla]

Dont even limp.

-'rilla

[vqc]

hero folds ATo UTG.

If hero is goign to play this hand, hero should raise.
But oflding is correct here.

[tom]

I folded as did MP2, flop came ATx rainbow, BB bet out big and got SB to fold and ended up showing A7

I figured limping UTG w/ AT would be acceptable in most cases and I probably would have called a smaller bet but figured I was dominated at this point. <--- is that good reasoning or should I not have called the blind at all as rilla said?

[vqc]

U are being too results oriented.

No you should not have called the blind at all.

[tom]

with how many left at a table then does it become 'smart' to call or raise with AT, specifically in early position like this?

:edit: AT is in group 4 in the preflop hand rankings on the strategy section of this site, with the writer saying he calls BB with all the hands but will not raise

[Demiparadigm]

Don't ever limp UTG.
don't ever open- limp, period.

[lowBoy]

The only time you want to limp open a pot UTG is if you're sitting on AA/KK and you're pretty sure someone's gonna raise. I don't even do that in most situations, as too often I'll get no raises and see a flop with AA and 4 people in it. Not something you want with the best starting hand in poker.

The only reason you should concern yourself with the result is to get information on that player. The fold was correct.

The strategy section on this site is for ring games also, so use it as a guide to the rankings of the hands, but not as how to play the hands.

[gabe]

The only time you want to limp open a pot UTG is if you're sitting on AA/KK

i limp utg with 99-22.

[vqc]

The only time you want to limp open a pot UTG is if you're sitting on AA/KK

i limp utg with 99-22.

depends on how deep the stacks are!

[Blinky]

Threadjack alert!

Demi, quick question regarding limping to open.

Sometimes I'll play connectors or suited connectors and the like in position-say CO, CO-1 or BN. Are you suggesting that

- these hands be raised?
- that these hands be played only if limped into?
- that these hands be played in a raised pot only?!
- that these hands always be folded?

[Demiparadigm]

Threadjack alert!

Demi, quick question regarding limping to open.

Sometimes I'll play connectors or suited connectors and the like in position-say CO, CO-1 or BN. Are you suggesting that

- these hands be raised?
- that these hands be played only if limped into?
- that these hands be played in a raised pot only?!
- that these hands always be folded?

I don't open limp.
Sometimes I raise sooted connectorz and small pocket pairs. Sometimes I fold them.
If there are limpers, I limp, not raise. This is completely different than opening.
If there is a raise, I take implied odds into account. At some point the stacks will be deep enough that I will call with almost any 2 cards. With very short stacks, I never call a raise. It is push or fold.
I will, very very rarely, open limp a small pocket pair from EP if I think there is little chance of a raise behind me, and I have a large stack, and my opponents are weak, and I can outplay them post flop.

[lowBoy]

there is little chance of a raise behind me, and I have a large stack, and my opponents are weak, and I can outplay them post flop.

Those are the exact conditions in which I would open limp a small PP from EP or mayybe some suited connectors from MP onwards.

[drmcboy]

why does it make sense to limp behind but not open limp?

[zenbitz]

Assuming we are not talking about a deception limp (AA/KK)...

Limping vs raising an "implied odds hand" like 66 or 89s is a trade off between getting in cheap and folding equity.

If you are opening the pot - you have maximum folding equity, if someone has already limped you are less likely to steal the blinds PLUS those acting behind you are more likely to make the same decision with their mediocre hands (I want to play, but only cheap - and now they would have to make 2 of you fold if they raise).

This is obviously NOT always true, but when it IS true, limp behind is better than open limp.

Also, for completeness, the higher the blinds and the tighter the table, the worse it is to limp in general.

[drmcboy]

Early, raising 66 UTG to steal blinds that are not worth stealing is just silly. Folding and wasting the chance to call a 3-4x raise and try to flop the set doesn't make much sense either. They are they easiest hands in poker to play.

[a500lbgorilla]

In low buyin sngs, you should be deriving all your edge from your push/fold play on the bubble. (the bubble should be the first place where you ask for advice)

The accepted strategy is to play weak/tight til the bubble then wield your huge edge mercilessly.

I fold ATo UTG becuase I want to conserve chips and also becuase it will be difficult to know if AT is ahead on a flop of A75. Factor in that you're not the aggressor AND you're OOP makes this hand a bad situation.

Early on, let go oh hands like ATo and KQo, and other slight edges in order to help ensure you make it to the bubble where your edge is much bigger.

-'rilla