this is the most popular i the past format (slow MTTs) so it's studied alot.
most of the rules still apply:
- first 3 posstions: are basically dead unless you ~3% hands(
AQo+,JJ+)
- MP's: are a bit wider you can add strong mid pairs(~99+) and strong off/suited A (~T+)
- late possition: mid pars ~66+ good suited A, and connectors (
78+).
- SB/BB defence will be wider Most brodways with some sort of connection will do (~K9o)
- anyway hands will depend on action before you. It's smarter to exploit than GTO your ops.
- here is a
chart if you want visual
in generall eeryoe knows to bet and 3 bet AA, I would suggest playing around in Equilab or some other sort of calclator to figureout how T9s plays out agais strong pairs on suited flop.
I diverge a lot here. Two things:
It depends on the field and stage of the tournament.
Early in the tournament, I wouldn't raise with AQ in the first three positions if the field is comprised by loose callers.
odds are: you're playing a had with tons of reverse implied odds probably out of position against multiple opponents. Odds are: you are not going to be able to make value bets a ton. If you're not value betting, than you should rarely be betting at all early in a tournament with loose callers.
Also, raising with suited connectors in late position is bad early. People defend the BB wide with weak hands that has you beat pre flop and unless you crush the flop with a strong draw, you'll be more often than not semi-
bluffing on a weak/medium draw or two pair hands that are likely to play bigger pots than you want.
I'd also not be defending this wide in early MTTs, against a loose field. You're not going to be able to make value bets and will be forced to play very passively. Against microstakes MTT field, you want to be aggressive when you play the hands and in position. Defending big blind wide is a major leak.
Blinds play to me on microstakes is always a matter of 3-betting hard and win pre flop, or fold. My flat calling range in microstakes mtts are AT-AQ, KT-KQ, Pocket pairs, QJ, JT, T9s, 98s, when I know I'll play heads up flop, and these types of K8, Q9, Ax hands I'm 3-betting strong for
bluff because they don't play well post flop and I can generate tons of folds against HJ/CO/BU range, because microstakes fear huge 3-bets (around 75 % of the pot raise) on TT+, AQ+.
