In the first round of a tournament, if I get a pair, should I go all-in!!

S

SKChan

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Sep 4, 2024
Total posts
2
HK
Chips
46
In the first round of a tournament, if I get a pair, should I go all-in to maximize value? This way, I can take the pot away from two or three players and make it easier later on. What do you think? Thank you!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
kunkgreen

kunkgreen

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Jun 1, 2022
Total posts
1,143
Awards
4
BR
Chips
389
Welcome...

In poker there are so many different ifs and situations. We always want to take actions that are EV+...
So like everything in life the answer is it depends...

Type of tournament? Stack? Phase of the tournament? (in this case we know it's at the beginning, but we still need a lot of information to make decisions).

I don't think it's a very smart attitude to play this way, but several actions can work for different people.


Don't forget to make the posts in English... You can use a translator!
 
Vallet

Vallet

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Jun 5, 2019
Total posts
2,168
Awards
14
Chips
328
It will still happen that you will get all-in in the first hand, sooner or later. For example, when he will be sitting at several tables at the same time online or in a freeroll.
 
olejean

olejean

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Oct 11, 2022
Total posts
571
Awards
2
UA
Chips
354
It all depends on the feature of the course of the game and which pair you have, of course.
 
eetenor

eetenor

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Mar 5, 2019
Total posts
2,414
Awards
2
Chips
416
在錦標賽的第一輪中,如果我得到一對,我應該全押以最大化價值嗎?這樣,我就可以從兩到三名玩家手中拿下底池,讓之後的比賽變得更容易。大家覺得怎麼樣?謝謝你!
Your actions should be based on the best return on investment. If you will get more chips over multiple hands played in that way then going all-in is the best play. Mostly 1 pair is not a strong hand when all 5 cards are seen by 2 opponents so all-in is not that effective a play
 
MK_

MK_

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Sep 14, 2022
Total posts
1,816
US
Chips
959
I'm on my phone right now so haven't translated but I'm gonna go hog wild and say yes if you have AA or KK get froogy and jump! ..... I'll translate it later and see if I still like my answer but generally if you aren't going to play AA or KK what are you going to play lol
 
MK_

MK_

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Sep 14, 2022
Total posts
1,816
US
Chips
959
In the first round of a tournament, if I get a pair, should I go all-in to maximize value? This way, I can take the pot away from two or three players and make it easier later on. What do you think? thank you.

......so this appears to be your full question,. I don't have a problem with shoving AA or KK, heads up you are 80/20 against all the lower pairs, so I don't mind the shot at doubling, maybe QQ or JJ too, sometimes you gotta go big or go home lol. ..... especially in a freeroll or low buyin, for other pairs it's obviously a little different. I don't think scaring people out of the pot is maximizing value but you up do want to be hu. There's something to be said for building a pot early but not all pairs are shove worthy. A lot depends on the pair and type of game as to how to play to maximize value, gl
 
infonazar

infonazar

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Oct 10, 2017
Total posts
3,883
Awards
3
UA
Chips
329
I think it all depends on the pairing, and it's also important to take into account the format and structure of the tournament. With pairs like AA, KK, QQ, JJ I would be willing to take a chance. But that doesn't mean I always do it :)
 
puzzlefish

puzzlefish

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Feb 18, 2018
Total posts
4,775
Awards
3
CA
Chips
866
In the first round of a tournament, if I get a pair, should I go all-in to maximize value? This way, I can take the pot away from two or three players and make it easier later on. What do you think? thank you!

I think this is what a player did to me today after cold calling a 4bb raise from me when I was UTG. They had a pair of 9, with an Ace kicker. I had KK. All-in doesn't maximize value by taking the pot away from players by forcing them to fold. All-in narrows down who will call, and usually it will be those players that have you dominated. Sometimes you will get lucky and win a big pot when you get called, but I don't think that this is a good strategy at the beginning of a tournament when the risk is not worth it.

If you mean going all-in with a pair before the flop, that is even worse because you will either get only a small amount of chips from the blinds and there are very few hands that should call your all-in.
 
pentazepam

pentazepam

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Total posts
2,663
Awards
4
SE
Chips
1,034
Depends on the value of the pair, actions before you, and stack depth.

But to open push early is rarely a good tactic unless it is some short stack hyper MTT or a loose freeroll.
 
Igor Popadyk

Igor Popadyk

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 7, 2015
Total posts
1,209
Awards
7
Chips
375
There are different pairs, it is important to consider what type of tournament, stage, prizes, and most importantly - what kind of hand do you think they will answer you with? Are you ready to go all-in against these hands?
 
recerveau

recerveau

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 23, 2017
Total posts
876
Awards
2
Chips
384
I think I would only have a chance of doing that if I was drunk.
 
gustavofuentes2

gustavofuentes2

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 28, 2015
Total posts
737
Awards
2
Chips
71
I don't think that is a good idea. There is no reason to sacrifice your tournament life at the very beginning. Good luck
 
jcxmendes

jcxmendes

Visionary
Bronze Level
Joined
Sep 2, 2017
Total posts
619
Awards
2
BR
Chips
301
I play all-in like this, depending on my position at the table and how many moves were in the game
 
kaynbergo

kaynbergo

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Nov 24, 2022
Total posts
381
Awards
1
UA
Chips
367
if it's the start of a tournament, I can support all-in with AA, but I won't be the first to go all-in with this couple
 
Like2Play2

Like2Play2

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Oct 31, 2016
Total posts
684
Awards
2
CA
Chips
439
Risqué my friend at the beginning, If your pocket Aces don't hold up, there goes your tournament.
 
scobido

scobido

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Nov 10, 2018
Total posts
673
Awards
3
Chips
549
Welcome to the community, I think the one you are asking is the worst solution, I advise you to have as much patience as possible and to observe the game of the other participants at the table in order to gain some knowledge about the online poker game at the table.
 
LUKADONCICMVP

LUKADONCICMVP

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Dec 3, 2022
Total posts
577
Awards
2
BR
Chips
529
sure if u want to bust as soon as possible why not
 
dzsire

dzsire

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 8, 2021
Total posts
1,372
Awards
2
HU
Chips
465
First hand, pair in hand and all-in? This is usually the tactic of beginners who don't dare to play with their wits.
It also depends on the type of tournament, because if there is a tournaments with 3 people with a very few starting chips, then this can still work, but I think it is never a sensible solution.
 
Falzee

Falzee

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Total posts
1,104
Awards
2
US
Chips
697
Not if you want to remain in the Tournament!
 
R

rachelle2291

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jun 30, 2018
Total posts
1,800
Awards
9
Chips
20
What kind of tournament? If a freeroll yes, sure, why not? Because if you lose you can do something else.
 
flabilim

flabilim

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Mar 29, 2023
Total posts
144
Awards
1
BR
Chips
241
If you want to continue in the tournament, don't go all-win just because you have a pair in the first leg, as you may find a pair bigger than yours, or even an AK, and the villain will want to turn around.
 
nelomec

nelomec

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Apr 15, 2021
Total posts
465
Awards
1
BR
Chips
211
No, you should play cautiously and try to see the flop and if you get a set, then you can re-raise to a high value.
 
Top