I think you played it well whether it was the first hand or not. Later in the tourney with some info on them and the possibility of players knowing you're decent it's obviously a different story and you might consider folding to a very tight player who might have trips.
What's you're alternatives here? Not many imo, other than the fact you might have one of those player's trip on you occasioinaly. Say you push all-in against a table full of limpers, which I don't recommend
, I'm just going through your one possible alternative unless you want to limp in, which I'm totally against but what do I know. Ok so you push pre-flop and recieve little in return if somehow they do all fold their PPs and Ace/rag/good kicker. If they don't you're basically in the same situation you are when calling the all-in on the flop. You have to call there and imo be glad its early in the tournament and possibly a quick double-up against a table full of mediocre players which you'll definitely need to make it the next few hours and reach ITM against them. That's just me. Maybe limping is a better idea in these micro-buyins and someone can back that up with some good advice.
Thanks for the feedback, I agree with everything you say.
Much better to be knocked out within 15 mins than on the bubble after 2 hrs.
The
sample hand I gave doesn't allways work out that way ofcourse, quite often after the flop, I make my bet and take it away. Other times I make my bet and get reraised by top pair with an A,K or Q kicker. As long as there is not an Ace on the flop, like yourself, i will take my chances against possible trips.
I can understand why the 3rd and 4th limpers call the reraise, they now have value to call with their pocket pairs. But it beggars belief how often the domino effect comes into play all because UTG1 decides to call!
Two years back, I got so fed up with all the callers early in a tournament, that I experimented with the prime hand allin strategy. Unfortunately I didn't find the game very mentally rewarding at that time so had to revert back to normality very quickly.
As you have said, later in a tournament it is a different kettle of fish, and to allways be wary of possible trips. Also later in a tournament your 3 x BB PF bet is very unlikely to be called by four or more players.
Talk about limping in micro - buyins, you would be amazed how often in the first 15mins of play, all nine players have limped in!
If I am playing on a limping pre flop table, I might limp with all sorts of cards, but I am sure as hell not calling a substantial raise with my small pocket pair or an Ace rag from early position!
You would also be amazed how many players limp with AA, KK or QQ and then only call a raise, almost as if they want as many players in the pot as possible. Some of them have no idea just how much their
odds depreciate with all these callers.
My whole point being - I only want 1 or 2 callers both of whom I can give credit for some sort of hand PF.