Limit 5 Card Draw

I like the $1.10 limit 5 card draw tournament on stars, but I have plenty of trouble with it.

Could this be a thread discussing 5 card draw tournament strategy?
(Thanks, and if this topic has already been thoroughly discussed, could someone link me to the page.)

So I ended up getting 6th of 264 in the L5CD mtt I was asking help for.

Since no one has replied I'm going to describe my strategy in this game.

1) Early Game:
I like to play Aces to Jacks as it is cheap to play, but will usually just limp them in. Aces I tend to raise.
Any hand better I will open-raise.
2) Middle Game:
It's getting more expensive to play a hand so I tend to just play Aces and Kings from 1st and 2nd position and Queens and Jacks in later position.
Any hand better I will open-raise.
3) Late Game:
Same as middle game really.

(What a sad description of my hand strategy )

Now, what's most important is reading the hands others are playing.

For instance:
They call the BB:
a) They draw 1. Likely they are drawing to a straight or a flush. But if you have noticed this person to play very tight and cautiously, it is also quite possible they have some sort of small two-pair.
b) They draw 2. Likely to have a pair with a decent kicker. That or they are playing some junk hand. Since they didn't raise I'm assuming most often they don't have three of a kind.
c) They draw 3. Obvious pair. Which pair it is they have you will have to try to think of depending on their range.
d) They draw 4. Playing really loose and trying to get lucky. Hold an Ace or a King.

Then they bet.
If this is a) and I don't have two pair or better I'll fold most often.
If this is b) ^^
If this is c) ^^ and I'll be weary of them having made trips. So if I have made trips such as 444/555/666/777 I probably won't be re raising them.
If this is d) ^^ I'll assume they could have made Kings or Aces. But still when they draw 4 I don't give them much credit at all. Also it doesn't happen often.

They open-raise:
Let's say I have a hand to call with such as AA or KK or QQ.
They draw 1. I can give them credit for two pair or better, unless they seem to be a very tricky opponent (in which case they might be betting on the come- straight or flush draw), and I can fold my AA/KK/QQ if they are unimproved after the draw.
They draw 2. I assume they have at least AAK AKK AQQ, or trips.
They draw 3. They have a pair. After the draw if my hand improves I will always at least call another bet or bet myself.

When I check or bet:
When I am holding a high pair and the pot is multi-way, and I see people draw varying amounts of cards I will always check my high pair unimproved after the draw.
Though if my hand improves to two-pair or trips I'll likely bet depending on how many cards the others drew. If others mainly drew 3 and I made two-pair I'd bet. If others draw 3 and I made trips I'd certainly bet and happily re-raise if I made trip AAA/KKK/QQQ (unless they are tight I might only re-raise AAA fearing they have the AAA other times when I have KKK QQQ JJJ...). If my hand improves to two-pair or trips and plenty of people draw 1 I will be very uninclined to bet. Though I'll likely call a bet (a bit counter-intuitive). If draw 1's start betting and there is re-raising I will immediato fold my two-pair/trips.

My draws:
When I hold a hand such as AQQ24, and go to the draw, I tend to throw the A24 away. I've seen suggestions to keep the ace, but it seems to me that limits my chances of improving my hand.
in the big/small blind if I get to see a multi-way hand virtually free,
hands such as Js 4s 6s 10d Kh, I will throw the 10d Kh, and see if I can't catch a miracle flush. If its a blind war and I have the same hand, I'd only try to make a pair, so for instance I might throw the 4s 6s 10d.

^^ This is a very ragged strategy article. It might be helpful to newcomers to the game. Any questions, strategies of your own, or errors in my reasoning please respond.

I don't think many members play 5 card draw. I love it - but am no good at it so rarely play.

5 card stud > 5 card draw imo

No face up cards in draw, different games altogether, imo

Oh fine.

Try this today:

http://www.cardschat.com/f39/pokerst...1/#post1269653

Hi,

Glad to find another draw enthusiast. Most of what you've said there mirrors my own strategy.

I'm curious, how do you like to handle low or mid 2-pairs predraw. Things like Tens Up which are ahead but tend to be behind after 2-3 callers come in to try their luck with paint and kickers..

I find these hands the most frustrating to play in Draw.

If the blinds are high, I like to raise to isolate preflop if I'm first in.
If someone else limps in before me I'm likely to just call in position and try to see showdown for free, when everyone checks to me fearing my draw1. Then I can safely check behind and drag in the pot the times it holds. Or if I limp in position and there is a bet I'll likely call, drawing to a boat or to see the hand he represents.
I won't play it against a raise out of position. And I won't play it against a raise in a multiway pot, unless I think I have odds for making the full house. But yes, an annoying hand.