How to play the first three levels on Party $20

[leeroy]

Hi,

I've been reading this forum for a while and I thought I would ask for advice on how to play the first three levels on the Party $20 SnGs.

I seem to find then when I do have a big hand then a raise does nothing to protect it. i.e. if I have AK in late position and 4 people have limped I've tried raising different amounts and I can't find any to be beneficial in the long run. Obviously I don't want to limp here but when I raise 3x the BB most people still call, even if if I've raised another 6x the BB I usually get at least 2 callers. If the flop comes rags then I have no idea where I stand.

Last time I tried this 1 limper had called the, what I consider to be a large, raise with 24 and the other called with 25!

Should I just limp here as well and see how things develop after the flop or should I be raising even more?

This is a big leak in my game at the moment as PT shows that I'm basically breaking even over the first three levels.

Your advice is appreciated.
Leeroy

[tommyhawk]

Hi Leeroy,

If it is real early you want to have a good pot to take it down.

I think that there is two ways to play it. Either way you want to hit on the flop

1. You BET THE POT or very close to it. This way if you get callers you got a good pot if you hit and often you take someones stack if they want to continue playing because they also like the pot.

2. You just limp leaving the others guessing what you have and disguising your hand. You are last to act evrey time and with AK that is like sitting in the drivers seat. You decide where they all go.

If you don't hit on the flop You still get a chance of seeing the turn cheaply so that is why I would raise 80% and call 20%. On party you don't have to worrie on getting paid off and people knowing your play.
When others still seem very eager to play I would lay it down after the flop. It is only AK and nothing but high card if you don't flop.


On sites where you play with regulars more I would make it 70-30.

[leeroy]

Hi Tommy,

Thanks for your reply.

What you say makes sense.

My problem is if I do make a raise in late position with AK and get 2 callers I still can't narrow the range of hands they could have. What would you then do if the flop comes Axx, it ic checked to you, you bet the pot and then get mini-raised from one of the limpers?

This happens me quite a lot and usually means either they have hit their ace with a bad kicker and think they have an unbeatable hand or they have hit two pair or trips. I'm having a lot of trouble telling the difference.

Thanks
Leeroy

[tommyhawk]

Yes, that is an eyebrow lifter.

Now you rewind the hand and look at the board what are the xx with the A.

How big was the bet he had to call after you raised it preflop. Usually it is big enough to let people lay down small pairs 77 or lower. So if the board XX are those lower cards I would not be that concerned about trips. A made str8 is also very unlikely.

So only thing you have to worrie about is when those XX are pairs or J or Q. If you have any read at all let that be the deciding factor.

But most of the time you just have to push here. You will show the winner 75% of the time.
If it is still to hard for you now you should reraise more preflop like 1.5 to 2 times the pot.

They made a mistake preflop and are likely to make more mistakes. You want to double early thru these players.

[leeroy]

Hi Tommy,

Thanks again for your reply.

I know what you are saying but I really cannot put these players on any sort of raise.

As I said in my initial post in a SnG I played a few days ago I had AK on the button. Got 5 limpers and I raised 6x the BB. I got two callers. The flop came 357. The first limper bet and the second limper went all in, first limper called. First guy had 52 for middle pair no kicker and the second bloke had 24 for an OESD. These are probably the last 2 hands I could put these limpers on.

I also find that when a player checks and then mini-raises then they usually have a big hand. Of course they have have top pair with no kicker but these players think it is a great hand and will play it like the nuts so it is hard to put them on it.

I know I'm playing tight the first rounds but it is costing me about 1/4 of my stack everytime I get AK and don't hit the flop.

Thanks

[tommyhawk]