How do you play Pair of KK and AA on tournaments?

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Elvis

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I usually when I have AA or KK I play very aggressive but you must know your opponents style if you bet 5 bb maybe nobody will call you so you must value bet these hands depending on your opponents and don't play them slow but aggressive enough to win.
 
Bozovicdj

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It all depends on stack sizes (less then 20BB are shoves for example), position (UTG might limp/re-raise while BU can just call other's raises pre-flop) and opponents (knowing whether someone would call your 5x bet pre-flop or if everyone would fold to it).
 
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SIMON111

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I'm not saying this is a good play, but sometimes I limp from early position if I think that there are some aggressive players in late position who will do the raising for me. Off course sometimes I'll raise as well, but I like to balance my premium hands with not so premium hands. Another point is that depending on the flop texture AA or KK are not always a given by the river. By this I mean is hard to get 3 streets of value if the board is draw heavy.
 
Edison A

Edison A

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and how to know what your preflop opponent has?
 
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liaserg

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just contbet 3bb-5bb-7bb, if enemy too aggressive - all in
 
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ikarusalpha12

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hey,

i look at my position on the table and if i in early position i bet 2,5 BB and if i in late postion i do call 3,5-4 BB. And on flop, turn and river aregessiv if i hit the nuts.

ikarusalpha :)
 
Ragequit

Ragequit

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I don't slowplay with these hands. Yes they are monsters but they're still only pocket pairs and can be overtaken postflop if the board goes bad. In Early position and first in, I open the same amount as I do with any other hand. I make sure not to deviate from my normal betting patterns and strategy to conceal the strength of my hand. If I get 3Bet, then I will 4Bet for value, (Typically 2-2.5x) hoping for a call or a 5Bet shove. If I'm in Late position with these hands and facing an EP open, I will 3Bet them 3-3.5x, adding an extra 1x for any callers in the hand. I do this for two reasons, to protect my Kings or Aces from drawing hands and start building a big pot. If I get 4Bet, then I'm 5Bet shoving every time. I don't slowplay with these hands. If we get to the flop then I will continue OOP as normal on dry/safe flops, and likewise will flat call any donk bets in position and see what the turn brings. On wet boards, I proceed with caution. Facing a bet, I will generally re-raise pot on a dangerous board to deny draws the correct odds to continue, and force them to reveal their hand strength. If the turn is any dangerous looking card then I will bet big again. If they then come over the top then I will consider a fold. I will not fold if it is a player who I have read as being capable of huge postflop bluffs. If I know they are a good player who is reading board textures, and they know how I am reacting to certain cards, then I will be less likely to fold my Kings/Aces and will probably move in. This is because I know there is a higher chance that they are bluffing. But if it's a player who I know plays very straight forward and gets active when they're strong and almost never bluffs, then a big laydown might be in order. The most critical factor with KK+ is knowing your opponents. These hands are huge monsters. Play them very aggressively Preflop but proceed with caution Postflop if the board looks dangerous, and you're facing heavy action.
 
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HK_47

HK_47

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I'd say these are the hands most people get in trouble with in tournaments post flop, you really want to narrow the range pre-flop by raising otherwise people come in with more speculative hands and you don't want to be wondering what to do on connected flops.
 
makisaa

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I usually play them aggresivelly, but with some measure, because sometimes the unpleasant surprises appear!
 
ammje

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If I play in microlimites, I make it strong, but if you play at higher levels I think that raising by X2.5 or X3 is fine.
 
MeSayBeauxm

MeSayBeauxm

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You know I always thought raising 5BB with AA and only getting the blinds was preferable to getting them cracked by some bs marginal hand that got in because I made it cheap for them.
 
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rudy988

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Play it like every other hand u played on tourney , no exceptions , except u can't fold them preflop ! :)

Ofc if short stack , then push ...


-my opinion
 
dimon4ik89

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On KK or AA, I think it's always right to raise, at least 3 BB.

On KK or AA, I think it's always right to raise, at least 3 BB. Or bet 3 bet. I used to like to play such pairs with limps and as a result of 50% of hands I lost. After I started raising the game, I started to win a lot more hands, so my opponents on a small card just make a pass. On a good card, you always need to raise and do not check on the flop, then you will succeed. This is my personal strategy game, perhaps many players play differently.
 
Newzooozooo

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Hi.
It is difficult to give a clear answer to your question. No standard solutions.
Obviously everything depends on your position and on your opponents at the table.
Good luck.
 
strumble

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I will either raise something like 3bb or just go all-in especially if it's a free roll, I would never limp with them.
 
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redmast

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Of course you need to play aggressively. Otherwise your hand can be beaten by an average hand. Sometimes I just throw this pocket pair into an allin.
 
Andrei Korolev

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I play these pairs aggressively and often all ina...
 
mariale_1990

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I play them aggressively, of course everything depends on which tournament is and the readings that I have made of the players
 
krisi77

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I think it's best to play all-in, so you may not win much but avoid speculative hands that are dangerous
 
makisaa

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I start playing these hands with a simple raise, and then I increase my bet, depending from the flop and the reactions of the other players
 
timberwolf94

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It seems like if I slow play or try to trap with these hands I lose a lot. If I play aggressive I win a little so I'd really rather not even have these hands
 
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pokersextreme

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I go All-in preflop. It gives you a better chance to double up rather than losing more or all your chips to a bad beat or fishes!
 
Ranish625

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With such cards I play very aggressively, I try to provoke opponents to go all in
 
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pauloandre100

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Try to put your opponents in allin
 
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