small PP late in a tournament?

[DBL0SVN]

How do you guys play small pocket pairs late in a tournament, when the blinds are high? Especially when you are out of position (ie early or mid). Seems to me that the odds of this hand winning are not high whether you limp in or raise. Not sure I should play them at all, though they are hard to put down.

Also, how would you play them in late position if several people have limped in for 1BB? Not sure limping is a good idea since the blinds are high but raising will probably not push all the other limpers out of the pot. Either way, you are looking to lose money unless you hit you set.

[|~|ypermegachi]

if you have a big stack, limp. if you don't fold the smallest PP.

[a500lbgorilla]

Just fold 'em. You can find a better spot to put your money in that won't eat away at your stack. If you've got a large stack, raise it up and push out the competition.

-'rilla

[michael1123]

What gorilla said. Its raise (if you have a stack big enough to steal) or fold. You can also call a small raise with a big stack in late position, but I'd hardly ever reraise.

Usually you just have to fold them or try a blind steal in late position with them.

[TylerK]

It depends...if I'm on my way out of the tournament, I will push with the first pocket pair I see. If I steal the blinds, great, if a bigger stack calls me with AK, AQ, KQ, etc, etc, also great. The only hand that has an advantage against you is a higher pocket pair (though that is a HUGE advantage).

[DBL0SVN]

Thanks guys. I think I've been limping in for too long after the blinds start getting high, so this has been a real leak in my game. But no longer!

[|~|ypermegachi]

damn i've been playing too much limit....i forgot how you can bully people in tournaments with a bigstack with 74o

i also forgot late in the tournament not 5 people see the flop to make PP worth limping in :P