Small buy-in specialists needed

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do you change your definition of 'strong holding' when playing a possible donk?

[/ QUOTE ]Three of a kind beats two pair, even in the low buy-in events.

[Jbrochu]

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Right - that makes a lot of sense...but I guess maybe my question SHOULD HAVE been - do you change your definition of 'strong holding' when playing a possible donk?

(Early w/no reads yet.) is TP good enough? TPTK? bottom two? etc...

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Early on, even at small buy-ins, I'm not usually risking significant chips with TP weak K. I probably take a shot at the pot and if called, go into check calling mode (depending on the texture of the flop, possible draws, betting to that point, yada yada yada) if I think there is a reasonable chance I have the best hand. This is where learning to control the size of the pot can really help.

Conversly, I will often get all my chips in with TPTK at low buy-in SnG events and require a very strong read to lay it down. Not enough time in these events to throw away strong hands.

[kevstreet]

I don't think you need to get tricky at this level. Play ABC poker and take advantage of the donks at bubble time.

If you're playing a lot of games, I'd move up from the $5s as soon as possible.