AK, AA, KK from EP at the beginning of a MTT

yonosemanana

yonosemanana

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Hi guys,

Im usually in the situation where I'm starting a hand like AK, AA, KK at the beginning of a tournament (freerolls and small buy ins) from EP and I wonder what is the correct play here...

I like to raise usually 4x-6x from EP with AK, AA, KK, usually I get someone shoving. Or either calling my raise then shoving on the flop.

With AK on a 7 7 5 board I usually fold, but with AA, KK to me its a call no matter what. (or even a shove on the flop)

Im guessing this is the correct play? Remember that this is the beginning of a tournament and I don't have much of a read on people.
 
eidikos

eidikos

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hi!
i think its better to make a standard raise 3x and 4bet any raise
have in mind that aa is a very different hand with kk or ak
besides you are out of position
i dont like to shove ak early in the tournaments.its a -ev situation.you play a coinflip in a spot that you shouldnt
in a board like 775 check and call with ak.try to pot control
with kk or aa you can try a check raise
 
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PotluckXXI

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?

Why is 775 so scary that you fold AK without any read?
 
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pain_pain_go_away

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With the exception of AK i think there is nothing wrong with this play. I'm raising maybe 4/5BB rather than 3BB because of the fact we will be Out Of Position on flop if we get any calls. Honestly I'm hoping for a 3bet so that we can 4bet jam pre flop. As for AK I'm probably raising the standard 3BB in hope of of connecting with the flop & then taking it from there depending on how good the flop is for us.
[I'm no pro, so please take this with a pinch of salt.]
 
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PotluckXXI

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and if you came over the top? what read does he have on you? Why do you assume he has you beat?
 
yonosemanana

yonosemanana

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lets say the flop comes 7 5 5 and I have AK. The guy shoves. Im assuming he has a pocket pair (22-JJ) ... Since its a donkament he could be playing any suited cards with a 7 or a 5.

I have beat any Ace, except the A7 or A5, the same with the kings.

SO, Its to risky for me to say. I have no read on since I cant come over the top since he shoved on me, I guess my best play is to fold.... right?
 
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pain_pain_go_away

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IMO, yeah, unless you have a read, I'm folding AK here, as it is early in MTT, there is no point putting your tourney life on the line for a few tiny BBs, you're going to get plenty more opportunities and better spots.
 
Acesinthebig

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Another way you can play them is limp and hope for a raise preflop and then maybe pounce with a 3 bet, although a 3 bet may look too strong. Sometimes, just call and wait for some donkey to shove preflop. Sneaky is fun sometimes, but get ready for people on here to say, "you're just asking to get cracked".
 
Acesinthebig

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lets say the flop comes 7 5 5 and I have AK. The guy shoves. Im assuming he has a pocket pair (22-JJ) ... Since its a donkament he could be playing any suited cards with a 7 or a 5.

I have beat any Ace, except the A7 or A5, the same with the kings.

SO, Its to risky for me to say. I have no read on since I cant come over the top since he shoved on me, I guess my best play is to fold.... right?

You can win with AK high a lot, It's really not worth calling allin on the flop, but call one bet to spike an A or a K or just hope it gets checked down and you can take it with AK high!
 
mango5Tnl

mango5Tnl

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Hi guys,

Im usually in the situation where I'm starting a hand like AK, AA, KK at the beginning of a tournament (freerolls and small buy ins) from EP and I wonder what is the correct play here...

I like to raise usually 4x-6x from EP with AK, AA, KK, usually I get someone shoving. Or either calling my raise then shoving on the flop.

With AK on a 7 7 5 board I usually fold, but with AA, KK to me its a call no matter what. (or even a shove on the flop)

Im guessing this is the correct play? Remember that this is the beginning of a tournament and I don't have much of a read on people.

I always limp with AA or KK in early position. Then you can wait for someone to raise, and then re-raise them. It's the best way to play them from under the gun.
 
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Ambur

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AA early stage i will shove utg at freeroll - usually get at least 1 caller! Sometimes bet standard amount for mixing. Never limp! Buy in tourney should automatically bet standard amount, never limp.
KK - standard bet/jam hand EP, never limp!
KA - sometimes limp for mixing or bet (2bb-5bb depends on lvl) - but i like bet most of the time here!.

Summary: never limp!
 
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pain_pain_go_away

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Summary: never limp!
+1.
Limping can get you in a world of pain when you get any bets on flop & you can't fold your AA/KK on a 6 high flop, only to be beaten by 2pair 6s + 3s etc. by another limper or a big blind special.
 
cjmoles

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The main thing to do early in a cheap stakes tourney with a top premium hand in early position is try to ice as many out of the pot (not all-you want one or two to stay) as possible. Isolating the pot down to only a few callers increases your odds against random cards connecting on the flop. When the flop lands (assuming you did a good job at icing the pot), jam! Don't jam preflop in early position because that looks like a donk move; you'll either fold all your value out, or, worse, they'll call you down from all corners as the pot odds increase around the table; with a whole ring of random cards calling you down, the odds are against you. Ice, Flop, Jam!
 
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VGShaa

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I agree, do not play limp, it's a losing strategy. Play 3-4bb raised, if the board 775, in your arms I do not think that the AK is your fold on the flop at the first rate right move, even if it is the initial stage of the tournament. You can simply bluff. Why play the hand AK if dry board immediately fold. At least one street to pay.
 
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masyanya

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As usual my raise will be 3x at early/middle position and 2x at late.
With AK on any board I usually put cbet on flop, turn/river depends from cards on the board, but with AA, KK to me its a raise/reraise/allin.
 
yonosemanana

yonosemanana

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As usual my raise will be 3x at early/middle position and 2x at late.
With AK on any board I usually put cbet on flop, turn/river depends from cards on the board, but with AA, KK to me its a raise/reraise/allin.

Villain didnt even gave me a chance to control the pot. Villain from EP shoved on the wet board. Nothing i could do but fold :(
 
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masyanya

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Against some opponents you must raise much more, than usual, and must be ready to go allin on any board.
 
alar2080

alar2080

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AK is not bed, but KK and AA the best and We always must to think before our action
 
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bbiase

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Why is 775 so scary that you fold AK without any read?

I think it's a fair play to fold to a shove here, not because you're behind, but if you believe you're behind, but because there are better spots to play.
 
Luan

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MTT Tournament start and sit in go Regular the hands that I play with reise are AA, KK, QQ, AK, AQ out these hands and call or fold this and my game strategy
 
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Roblandinho

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AA, KK have't much board to fold but if i see flop in one colour and strit drows and opponent call. On turn is another card in same colour and bigger strit drow I should fold this hand after reraise. But many time i still push and this is mistake.
 
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bstest

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I modify my play with those cards. Occasionally limp. Often 2x bet to show relative weakness, 3x at other times. Sometimes even bet 10x, might as well play as if it were later in the tournament.
 
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KickDrummer

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Hi guys,

Im usually in the situation where I'm starting a hand like AK, AA, KK at the beginning of a tournament (freerolls and small buy ins) from EP and I wonder what is the correct play here...

I like to raise usually 4x-6x from EP with AK, AA, KK, usually I get someone shoving. Or either calling my raise then shoving on the flop.

With AK on a 7 7 5 board I usually fold, but with AA, KK to me its a call no matter what. (or even a shove on the flop)

Im guessing this is the correct play? Remember that this is the beginning of a tournament and I don't have much of a read on people.
AA-KK in an early position can be a tricky play in a freeroll from the early position in the early stages of a tournament.
The problem being, people are too quick to want to double/triple up and will put all their chips in without question.
I always consider this when playing these cards E-E (early tournament, early position). Your initial raise was good, I on the other hand probably would 4X bet max, probably only a 3x. You want callers, but you also want folders.
With your hand on a 7-7-5 board, later in a tourney would have been very good. People don't call 4-6X raises unless they are holding something. But small 4-6X raises early on are easy to afford so someone with small pockets or suited connectors will easily call you. You could have very well dodged a boat or quads.
It sucks having to lay down these cards, but knowing WHEN to do so, is what will allow you to win tournaments.
Good luck!

*AK thought strong, I never more than 3 bet. Been caught WAY to many times playing this and get busted. I tend to play AK like I would Q10. Easy lay down hand, but with extreme value depending upon the flop.
 
Bogdan Pyts

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it's nit style
aa - kk always re - raise on this paired flop.
AK - from a situation

raise from ep 3x-4x good sized.
 
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