If a lot of players have put chips in, a pot-size raise can often take the hand, unless someone else also has a pocket pair and thinks they can challenge you. If so, then check-raising is pretty good. The later in the tournament, the most likely it seems someone will raise before it gets to the button. Less of a problem when the blinds have gone up to 150 or so and we’re down to 5-7 players. This is especially true early in a tournament when the blinds are low and the table is full. Not great odds for winning the hand with just a big pair now. If I limp, many times it’ll limp all-around, and now I’m up against 8 players having a chance to hit something on the flop. So you end up just taking the blinds, which is poor value for such a strong hand. Or maybe it just seems that way.Ī big raise from early position will scare everyone else off the hand, most of the time. I’m usually UTG or in the SB when I get AA AK KK QQ. I seem to get premium cards in early position a lot more than anywhere else.
