Playing A K or A Q in Sit n Go Tourneys

Please note that this advice is just for 9 player sit n go tourneys.

This is how I play them in the early stage of the game;

With A Q suited or unsuited, I limp in about 75% of the time.  I may put in a raise in certain cases where I’m in position (on the button) and just playing against the blinds. I usually want to keep the pot small and see the flop. This way I can get away from the hand if I miss the flop.

With A K  I usually raise, again depending on my position. My usual raise is three or four times the big blind. I don’t believe in overplaying A K. Many players bust out when the overbet their A K preflop and then can’t get away from after the flop. It is a great starting hand with just a couple callers so you do want to thin the field with a preflop raise of perhaps three times the big blind. If you go all in with A K you will only be called by the person who’s likely to beat you. You’re virtually dead against A A or K K and any pocket pair except 2 2 is a slight favorite to beat you. We call these situations (A K vs smaller pocket pairs) races because it is  almost a coin flip which hand will win. I don’t like risking all of my chips with a disadvantage or depending on luck to get me through to the later stages of the game.

Many newer players have trouble folding premium hands such as A K. I don’t. I have folded A K many times. I have even folded pocket aces. When you’re beat, you’re beat. Quit throwing away chips. Wait until you have a decided advantage.

During the final stage of the game, after I have made it to the final 3 I will play these hands hyper aggressively. They are very strong hands when playing only 1 or 2 opponents.

Now, I want you all to write 100 times;

“I will not overplay A K or A Q in the early stage of a sit n go tournament”

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