Hooks Under The Gun in Level 1

[Bigwig]

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I wouldn't presume to speak for Harrington, but I interpret his comments on JJ differently.

"I like a mix of 70% raises and 30% calls. When you do raise, you should raise a larger amount than with the premium pairs, since you prefer to win the pot right away. While they are probably the best hand at the table right now, they become difficult to play when they are called and overcards appear on the board."

Seems to me Harrington is saying he prefers to win the pot right away and advocates a larger than average raise to do so. Notice he is not trying to increase equity post-flop. He's trying to get the table to fold. I DID encounter an early table that tight last night at Stars, but at the low buy-ins, that's going to be the exception rather than the rule. If we assume (as is safe at low level early SNGs)that the rest of the players are NOT going to fold to our raise, he might advocate playing it differently.

I limp here because anyone that calls my raise will have an overcard to my hand, if not TWO overcards to my hand. (And raising does not guarantee that the A6s or the KQo will fold, at least not at the SNGs that I play. So I'd prefer to have the 45s along as well to increase the pot.)

Sorry to continue this thread that I can tell some of you are so frustrated with. But as a relative newbie, I found the discussion fascinating!

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Harrington's book also centers around MTT play, not STT. There's a big difference.

[Gigabet]

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Wow, I can't believe I am the first person to vote fold. Amazing.

I fold, and it isn't close.

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HeeHaw

[VoraciousReader]

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If you limp, you are making A6s and 65s pay 30 chips to see a flop. If you raise, you are making A6s alone pay 60 chips. Additionally, the only time 65s will give you any action is when the flop has helped him. That's not nearly as good for you as you think.

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I see your reasoning. I don't know if it will change my decision, but it does give me another perspective to consider.

[wdcbooks]

I often limp JJ UTG early in a Sit and Go, but that is only in the hope that I will be able to reraise. There are just too many players who are willing to make a raise with A8 or QT. These are the players that will be gone by level two and with a hand as good as JJ I am happy to go after them before they are busted by someone else.

The weak tighties are acting like your average player at the $11s or $22s needs a big hand to raise and call a reraise. Unless they flop top pair you can get a lot of chips in preflop and take it down most of the time. Even donks give you credit for a big hand on a limp reraise and are looking for an excuse to fold postflop. That's all right because if you are only up against one, or maybe two players, you are likely to still have the best hand on the flop.

I would limp about 25% of the time with the intention of reraising unless the pot is reraised when it gets back to me. 75% of the time I make my standard 55 chips bet preflop.

[iMsoLucky0]

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Wow, I can't believe I am the first person to vote fold. Amazing.

I fold, and it isn't close.

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HeeHaw

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Are you saying I am a donkey? Well..... at least I don't love queen high.