Do you usually play QKo?

[pfkaok]

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LIke someone said earlier, you have to be able to play it smartly post flop

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this is really the key. if you have a decent edge over the table your at then KQo should be profitable up front. if you're at a really tough table, or if you're not that good, then folding is better.

[ansky451]

I havent set a preflop playing standard rule for myself in quite sometime. It's all about the table dynamics.

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LIke someone said earlier, you have to be able to play it smartly post flop

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this is really the key. if you have a decent edge over the table your at then KQo should be profitable up front. if you're at a really tough table, or if you're not that good, then folding is better.

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Good point. I play AJ similarly. Usually fold to a pf raise with both hands.

[Malachii]

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I used to play a super TAG strategy all the time. Folding anything except Premium to raises. 10% of flops. It was a constant.

Then one day I began being aggressive. Not LAG. Maybe a little SLAG. But definitely playing pots. The amount of success I've had since then is absolutely unmeasurable in comparison.

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This is very interesting to me. I'm a cash game player and have a very tight, almost nut peddling strategy in the early stages of tournies. It hasn't been very successful with me (although I don't play many tournies). What sort of adjustments have you made? If you could provide some detail, I'd appreciate it.

[nath]

If you're playing too tight early in tournaments, start playing more hands with high implied odds-- small pairs and suited connectors-- and start taking more flops (and picking up pots) in position.

KQ is not a high implied odds hand, but I often play it for a limp up front anyway; you can take a lot of chips from KJ, KT, and QJ, all of which you often see in early stages.
But I still play it with a deft touch. I wouldn't commit too much of my stack without at least top two pair.

It's hard to articulate. You have to feel comfortable that you can play it profitably before it will work out for you. Of course, the best way to learn to do so is to start playing it, but you can lose money in the meantime learning.

I was in a dry spell recently and got so frustrated I started calling preflop with hands like 10-7o just trying to make something happen. It has really worked. I've been playing these cards from late position mainly. KQ is a hand I REALLY want to be in position to play. It is very difficult to play from EP. By the time you find out you're dominated, you're screwed. I will fold it from EP, especially as the blinds begin to rise.

[Malachii]

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I was in a dry spell recently and got so frustrated I started calling preflop with hands like 10-7o just trying to make something happen. It has really worked. I've been playing these cards from late position mainly

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This is interesting... my understanding of tournament philosophy is that you want to conserve your chips as much as possible for when you double up. Do other players use this strategy frequently?