KQo early in tourney?

[luvrhino]

I've been troubled by what to do with KQo early in a tourney. It's a good hand, i think, but it's dominated by both AK and AQ. I'm fairly conservative early in a SnG, so i currently limp in with it in Limit SnGs and fold it for NL. The theory being that my maximum loss is capped in Limit if i *am* dominated, however usually it's good if i flop Top Pair. In NL, the risk of losing many chips if dominated is too high for me.

Later in a tourney, i usually raise with KQo. What do you people do? What about Level 2 in Party/Empire?

[Benholio]

I don't play KQo early in SnG's either, unless there are extreme circumstances.

[stripsqueez]

i think limping in at the back in a limit SNG isnt the worst thing

in a NL game i think its complete garbage - if i had to guess the hand that has cost my opponents the most money in the early rounds of a NL SNG it would be KQ

stripsqueez - chickenhawk

[Dominic]

I mostly agree with everyone saying KQ is not a great hand in NL...but nothing wrong with limping with suited KQ as long as there are no raises...you flop top pair, you're going to have the best kicker almost everytime...

[Unarmed]

Agreed. KQs in late position is definitely a playable hand early in the low buying SNGs. Obviously, you're chucking it to any raise.

[hectorjelly]

I would normally limp in with KQ in Mp or LP, Im surprised that people would fold preflop to no raise, AQ or AK hands tend to raise, and you get a lot of limpers with KJ or QJ which can make it profitable.

[luvrhino]

If there was a min raise, i wouldn't necessarily chuck KQs in NL, especially in late position. Sure, if there's only one opp, then the risk/reward ratio isn't in your favor. Otherwise, i think KQs is worth seeing a Flop for a smallish raise, even in higher buy-in games. Hell, KQs is one of the few hands with which i'll cold call a raise in ring games.

[Unarmed]

I disagree.
A PF raise kills the high card value of KQs as you can't assume you have TPTK now if a K or Q falls.
Sure, you an still play it for straight/flush value but KQ only makes 2 straights and just generally, I'm not playing any SC to a raise in a SNG because stacks aren't deep enough.

My opinion...

[TheGremlin]

NL - early position I fold KQ.
Late position - I will call as long as no rais or rais <= X3 blind and I am good on stack
I dont play limit so I dont know much about it, but I think I would see the flop with KQ on limit hand.

When I play this in NL, I remind myself that the power of this hand is in 2 pair str8 or 3 of a kind. and I will fold if I got nothing or there is a big bet to call.

[AA suited]

if co/button in early rounds of a nl sng and noone raises, i call w/KQo, else muck.