First Hand in a Tourney

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sportsfreak_39

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During a tournament I always have a sense of uneasiness when deciing to play the first hand of a tourney. Now I usually play some lower limits as I don't have a high bakroll, and whenever I'm dealt a hand I want to raise with pre-flop I get a bad feeling. It makes me want to toss my Aj Aq or JJ etc. and I have to close my eyes and bet when Im dealt AA KK AK etc. mainly because unless I have notes on people, I don't know who the maniacs are and when they may strike. Now with the monster hands its okay, but when I raise with JJ and I get re raised all in by a lunatic, I all of a sudden have to make a decision for my tournament life. How do you suggest playing the first hand or two in a tourney?
 
aliengenius

aliengenius

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Play in position, and try to keep the pot small.
 
Grundy

Grundy

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I'd say people are a little more likely to go all-in on their first hand then the following. They may be on tilt from a previous loss or just like establishing themselves early as a maniac. Also they may be playing a stake lower than their usual and don't care whether they win or lose and just want to mess with you.

That said, I have a higher standard for my opening hands when I don't know who I'm up against early in a tourney. On the other hand, if I have KK or QQ or AK I don't put an all-in reraiser on AA, I call. More often than not I win the hand.
 
arkadiy

arkadiy

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A lot of people go all-in on first hand in small buy-ins because they think "if they double up now they are 100% sure to win"
 
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switch0723

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Just play your normal game, if someone re raising all in, you have to call with jacks since you probably would at another stage of the tourny aswell. Just dont try and get tricky in first few hands, only raise with the goods then bet out when you hit
 
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duosports

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I suggest you play the same as you would in the middle of the tourny as you would in the beginning because the only way you can build your bankroll is by winning hands. If you have ak, aq, jj. I would play them strong because they are strong hands. I am not saying call all-ins or anything. I notice in free-rolls and low buy ins people do this all the time and I feel that they are playing due or die poker. What I mean is if they win the hand they are in it to win it and if they lose they are done. They are pretty much playing 50/50 poker and some people play this with really weak hands. Just play your cards man!
 
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