AA or KK very early in a multi

[Aequitas58]

The question is not whether you go ALL IN with AA or KK pre-flop in a tourney. If you are doing this, then you are not making as much money as you can. The power of AA and KK is such that you are already a big favorite to win the hand. Granted, these power hands (specifically, AA and KK) CAN be beaten, so you shouldn't play a family pot w/ AA! The main goal is isolating 1-3 players where you have a clear advantage. [Not counting what the flop brings.] This shifts the implied odds of already winning the hand in your favor. Going all in is silly, IMO, because in most situations, you'll only pick up the blinds.

So how to play AA and KK? Depends on position and chip count, in my opinion. Maybe a raise 4-6x BB? Maybe an all-in raise if you have a low amount of chips.

I pose another question: Say you have KK on the button, first hand of the tournament. UTG raises all-in, and there is one caller before you. What do you do? [I know what I do, because I know how I play, but I'm just wondering...]

Hope this helps somewhat.

[2Tone]

The early rounds of a typical $5+1 Party SNG are just so crazy that you are likely to get a couple of callers and can triple up. Naturally, the higher the buy-in, the less wild play, so I'd play them differently at a $30+3.

[Talking Poker]

All in or just call? Neither.

I almost always play AA and KK for a standard raise. If I get reraised, then I have a decision to make - and more often than not, that's when I push in.

[Aequitas58]

Exactly. Pushing all in would realistically scare off money you could win.

[Penguinfan]

Good answers, my point was just that it seems you can get callers by people holding as little as Axs and bouble/triple up quickly. Later in the game I always play them for a standard raise and then if re-raised I push em all-in. The reason I asked was because the other day I got AA first hand and got called by A9s and KQo and tripled plus some on the first hand and was curious if anyone else sees this happen.

[Aequitas58]

Well it's always great to double or triple up in the beginning, but I feel like the odds of that happening in the long run are small. I'd rather try to milk the other callers for all their worth.

All in bet might scare away my action.

[DMAUL]

I don't think an all-in is smart at all, unless theres someone on the table you know will call. even then its risky despite having the best odds.

[Aequitas58]

Yes. The 5+1 games almost resemble the Free 10+1 tournaments! For my money, I'd rather play the 10 or 20s; the action is still good, and you can make more money.