Starting Hand Requirements

[Sven]

If this has been covered before please excuse me! I searched for starting hand requirements but didn't find any thing.

I play mostly NL ring games which I play Tight Aggressive and seems to work for me. But I've tried some cash tournaments that paided out 1st,2nd,3rd and the best I've placed was 3rd a couple times. Just seems like the blinds are going up every 12 mins and before long I'm looking at a short stack.

Does anyone have any suggestions on any reading material for this kind of game play? I just don't think Tight Aggressive works in tournaments! I could be wrong but so far it hasn't worked for me. I see people playing any 2 cards and dragging pots. I just don't believe that style will pay off in the long run!

[PokerCat69]

There are no books written on SnG's that I'm aware of.

What is the worst starting hand you would play in early position?

[Sven]

J9 off I would guess

[tigerite]

[ QUOTE ]
J9 off I would guess

[/ QUOTE ]

My worst would be AQ, or 77 and up (dependent on table. If very aggressive, this becomes 88 or even 99)

J9 is way too loose.

Tight aggressive certainly does pay off. Over the 33 tourneys where I have posted the ridiculous ROI lately, over all blinds my seen flop % is around about 18.

[ghostface]

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...amp;PHPSESSID=

Thats a good place to start. Its only for 10+1 but I'm sure it can be adjusted to suit your buyin.

The gap concept can be found here.

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...amp;PHPSESSID=

[Sven]

Thanks Ghost Reading Them Now [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Unarmed]

tiger, where do you play? Party?
Not playing 22-66 UTG is criminal at Stars on level 1.

Also, if you're folding 22 how is 77 that much better? I don't differentiate between 77 and 22 because the only way I get past the flop with either is if I hit my set. Are you worried about set over set?

Just curious...

[tigerite]

Yes, at Party. If it's an aggressive table then there's no way to play 22 UTG, it can't withstand a raise, and my odds to play for a set are gone to whack. You are right that 77-99 is no better because I'd fold that too, but the times I get 77-99 compared to 22-66 are much less and thus I don't mind taking the chance of losing 1BB with these hands. The rest just become leaks if I'm getting re-raised all the time.

No, not worried about set over set. I believe I saw a post from someone who even advocated folding 99 from UTG, so I'm not even the tightest player [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

[Sven]

I will limp in or come in with a small raise with low pocket pairs hoping for a set and if it don't hit then I fold to a big bet.

[Sven]

In my usual NL ring games I agree with raising with AA-JJ and AK,AQ,AJs and limping in withMed Pocket Pairs ect ect. These tourneys are not very big 30 people at best and $30 buy in. In my usual ring game my stats are
Vol $ Put In Pot 17.10%
Went to ShowDown 28.63%
Won at Showdown 59.65%
PF Raise 5.4% maybe a little low

Just seems like playing Tight has gotten me know where so far and I watch these guys winning pot after pot and I was just wondering if I should lower my starting hands I play with that's all. The J9 is what I have been trying in these tourneys but I would never think about that in any of the NL ring games I play in. If this makes any sense I appreciate your help!!!