Depends on the game? Fast format/short stack games like spins or blasts it's 'standard' and theory approved.
Games where you have 20bb+ it seems like a bingo approach and not the highest EV, but never say never! If you are in the small blind and know big blind calls anything why not shove 50bb with AA/KK into them?
Games where you have 20bb+ it seems like a bingo approach and not the highest EV, but never say never! If you are in the small blind and know big blind calls anything why not shove 50bb with AA/KK into them?
with KK, I would probably flat a 5-bet if I am still not yet all-in that that point, and will definitely fold (in a tournament) when 3 or more other people have shoved. When people knock each other out, some of their EV will be distributed to us eating peanuts and watching.veszmo said:
Going all-in at the start of a poker game is an extremely risky move. At the beginning, you have no information about how your opponents are playing or the dynamics of the table, so you're essentially betting your entire stack without a solid foundation. It might surprise and scare inexperienced players, but in most cases, the risk outweighs the reward: if someone has a strong hand and calls, you could be out immediately. Generally, poker is based on patience, calculation, and observation, so going all-in from the start is usually a weak strategy.
1. With AA/KK I am always willing to put all my chips in the middle
2. Sometimes the time of the tournament is not the best for me, but it is a freeroll / I have the ticket anyway. So I can make a decission with a speculative hands like lower pairs or Ax to go agressively all in (or call after the player going agressively all in) - either to double and increase my chances for a good result and so, making spending more time in the tournament more worth it or to be knocked out and go for other things.
2. Sometimes the time of the tournament is not the best for me, but it is a freeroll / I have the ticket anyway. So I can make a decission with a speculative hands like lower pairs or Ax to go agressively all in (or call after the player going agressively all in) - either to double and increase my chances for a good result and so, making spending more time in the tournament more worth it or to be knocked out and go for other things.
It's usually not a very smart move, but like everything in life and poker, it depends.
Type of tournament, buy-in, prior knowledge about the opponent, etc... In freerolls we see many all-ins at the beginning because they don't have much to lose, but this usually happens less frequently as the average buy-in goes up (or not, haha).
Type of tournament, buy-in, prior knowledge about the opponent, etc... In freerolls we see many all-ins at the beginning because they don't have much to lose, but this usually happens less frequently as the average buy-in goes up (or not, haha).
its never smart to risk your entire stack (which is probably at least 50 to 100 BBs or more) at the start of a tournament pre flop.
make a healthy raise for sure... every time... but risk the whole thing, regardless of what hand you have, not wise
make a healthy raise for sure... every time... but risk the whole thing, regardless of what hand you have, not wise
I don't think going all-in on the first hand of a tournament is the best idea. Maybe when it's free, but when it has an entry fee, you should be more careful. You should always have a solid strategy for the different stages of a tournament.
Many years ago, on William Hill, I think, the old Crypto-Logic Network anyway, I was in late position with aces first hand. Someone in front of me went all-in. I called. He had AQ and flopped two queens. That's poker, that''s life.
I don't think I have much to say, but if I go all-in from the start, it's for a reason, and it could be that I have some really strong cards. There are people who bet everything from the beginning with any cards: 23, 67... They don't see the flop, they don't wait for anything, they just bet on the first hand they get. What are they thinking? I don't know, but it can't be anything good.
I agree that it is generally a bad idea. At the start of a tournament, the blinds are very low compared to the stacks, so you are risking your entire tournament life for a tiny reward. Unless you have pocket Aces or Kings, it is almost always better to see a flop and try to outplay your opponents with skill rather than just relying on luck in the first few minutes.
Honestly, I think it’s a terrible strategy. That said, I have to admit I’ve done it a couple of times when I had something more important to do at the same time as the tournament. I would shove all in hoping for a quick double up, so when I came back I’d still be alive. But that’s more about convenience than good poker.
If you actually have time to play, the correct approach is to play normally. The good thing is that many players go all in on the first hand, which creates great opportunities. Hands like AJ can feel almost like AA when facing opponents who shove with any random offsuit hand. Still, it’s always a risk, because you can lose even when you’re ahead.
So my advice is: don’t do it yourself, but take advantage of the players who shove 60 big blinds or more with hands like A8 offsuit or worse. In those spots, strong pairs and solid hands are very profitable against bad players.
If you actually have time to play, the correct approach is to play normally. The good thing is that many players go all in on the first hand, which creates great opportunities. Hands like AJ can feel almost like AA when facing opponents who shove with any random offsuit hand. Still, it’s always a risk, because you can lose even when you’re ahead.
So my advice is: don’t do it yourself, but take advantage of the players who shove 60 big blinds or more with hands like A8 offsuit or worse. In those spots, strong pairs and solid hands are very profitable against bad players.
Honestly, going all-in on the very first hand is almost always extremely risky and unjustified. That move is more like a lottery than real poker. You haven’t had a chance to read the table, understand your opponents’ styles, or build a stack — and you’re already putting everything on the line.
Sometimes it can work, especially if your opponents are weak or you’re playing micro-stakes and just hoping for a lucky hit. But most of the time, it’s an easy way to lose everything in a minute and get knocked out of the tournament.
Sometimes it can work, especially if your opponents are weak or you’re playing micro-stakes and just hoping for a lucky hit. But most of the time, it’s an easy way to lose everything in a minute and get knocked out of the tournament.
