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In a (low limit) cash game you can usually play aggressively without getting too crazy.....knock out a few players with a raise, evaluate the flop, and hope for the best. Often win, but if you lose, you lose a few bucks...no big deal.

.....but tournament play can be very different, especially with an increasing blind structure. Winning a small hand later can be more profitable than winning a big hand early. (relative to the blind)

Let's say the each player starts with $2000 in chips, blinds at 25-50. It would take at least $200 to make people fold when betting from early position, more if you're in late position with callers. God forbid you're up against a loose player. You're not going to fold a re-raise with AA. You can easily be in for $800-$1000 chips before the flop. If you lose, your out....done. If you steal the blinds ($75) or even win $1000, big deal! In a little while the blinds will be that large.

I know it sounds crazy to fold this hand.....but do you think (or have you) just folded this hand without even betting it early in a tournament in hopes of getting a hand that has a better risk reward ratio a little later when the blinds are larger and the advantage of stealing is greater?

I've never lost $1000 on J 9 suited.....I've lost that much on AA, KK, QQ many times.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

JC

Answer: I actually think the opposite way for playing AA and KK in tourneys and cash games. In a no limit cash game the only way I'm going to make a big pot with AA is if I get someone else in with a smaller pair or if the guy is just an idiot. Any big betting post-flop and my one pair isn't looking so good. QQ is a good hand in no limit tournament play but in no limit cash games if you get too crazy with it preflop you are going to lose.

A lot of new no limit players don't realize how weak some hands are if you are calling raises preflop (QQ, AQ, JJ, etc). I would actually prefer having AK and flopping an Ace or King then having AA and getting action on the flop. Now as for tournament play, I understand your point about how winning a smaller pot later can add up to more then winning a big pot early on but you don't have a choice when your good cards come.

The chances that your AA will hold up at one point in the game is exactly the same as it would later in the game (given the same amount of callers). Winning poker is the practice of making other people put in money when you have the better hand and they have to try to catch up. When you have AA against a couple of opponents preflop you have the best hand. With some aggressive betting post flop, it will take a lot for them to beat you. With that said though, poker is a game of small edges and even when you have the better hand the other person isn't usually that far behind -- this is the nature of the beast. Even if the person has 22 against your AA, he is only a 4:1 underdog if it goes to the river.

Is that a reason to stop playing AA early on? No, you want to maximize it whenever you have the chance. I think the worst thing you can do, even worse then folding the hand, is to play it weakly and end up getting stuck and drawn out on. Play it and play it correctly and you'll do well in the long run -- it is the best hand.

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