Crazy first hand, pre-flop. I lose, but i will do it again

[Millers]

Very first hand of a $5 STT:

I'm on BB, sitting pretty with KK.
Several limpers/callers round to me, so I employ a tactic that has worked a few times for me already when I get a monster on the first hand... I make like I'm a maniac and go all-in, fully expecting 1 or 2 callers.

UTG immediately calls (with QQ), then a fold, next guy thinks then calls (with 99), next guy umms and arrrs in the chat with 22 (!), then folds, next guy calls (with AA, damn!) and yet another calls with A9!!!

5 of us all-in on the first hand including 99, QQ, KK and AA. Crazy!

As it turned out the AA's held up, fair enough, though given the same situation I'll do exactly the same thing again.

I think my tactic was proved right. Any thoughts?

[kingnat]

I've done this once before, and everyone folded... I don't think it's a terrible idea... especially at a lower buyin game.

I'd probably only do it with KK or AA... but I'm a pussy.

[Halv]

Yea, with a few limpers in front I don't think it's an awful play. Chances are someone is calling w/ middle pp or AJ+, thinking that you are trying to steal it preflop. And every now and then some moron might even call you with his low suited connectors.

Those times when everyone fold you will get some chips from the limpers, which obviously isn't good value for your kings. However, I think this might be outweighed by the fact that most of the times you get called you will double or triple up. The play might be better at sites where you start out with 800 chips, because the chips from the blinds and limpers actually make a difference to your stack even if everyone folds.

Of course you'll run into the occasional AA and some suckouts, but that's poker.

If everyone folds you need to be rock tight for a while to build your table image. If you get called you can probably be a bit more aggressive than usual.

Edit: Oh, and the play works because every now and then some idiot like me will call you with his TT. Luckily, villain WAS trying to steal the pot w/ his J9o, but I'm not making that call without reads again. But that'sa different story .

[gabe]

try to improve your postflop play and you will make more in the long run

[Millers]

I genuinely believe this is a long term profitable play at these levels. Monster (KK, AA) dealt on first hand, few limpers, all-in, get one or two callers.

[biondino]

I'd do it. Not every time, but I'd do it.

[mcatdog]

I genuinely believe this is a long term profitable play at these levels. Monster (KK, AA) dealt on first hand, few limpers, all-in, get one or two callers.

Obviously, almost any way you play AA or KK is going to be profitable in the long run, but that doesn't mean it's the most profitable way to play the hand.

[Sighman23]

I do what you did here as well. Nobody had raised and you can't expect someone to have AA. If you don't bet big, you are still going to have callers and probably have one of them beat you before the hand is through.

[gabe]

I genuinely believe this is a long term profitable play at these levels. Monster (KK, AA) dealt on first hand, few limpers, all-in, get one or two callers.

in the long run i mean your poker career, not $5 sngs

[kingnat]

I genuinely believe this is a long term profitable play at these levels. Monster (KK, AA) dealt on first hand, few limpers, all-in, get one or two callers.

in the long run i mean your poker career, not $5 sngs

I agree. I guess I should've mentioned I think this is a viable strategy pretty much ONLY at $5. At $11 and $22, (maybe higher) I think you still need to employ the 4-5xBB raise during the first level because you want to thin the field down to 2-3 players.

I guess that brings up an interesting question... my standard TAG play at the early levels of the tourney is 4-5x BB with premium hands. (This is something that seems consistent with most people here) At higher levels, ($55 and higher sound like they have a marked difference in talent) do you continue this same type of play? Do you resort to the standard 3xBB at this level, or do you constantly mix it up?

Thanks