When to go all-in preflop?

drunk7daysaweek · May 26,2005, 11:03 AM

I just started playing no-limit poker online and I noticed that many hands, people will go all-in pre-flop. Under what circumstances should people attempt this? When should I call/fold when someone before me does this?

Big E · May 26,2005, 12:23 PM

I assume you're talking about STT's or MTT's drunk? I don't play NL ring games. I'm sure everyone has a different approach but for me I usually try to avoid the people going all-in early in a tourney unless of course I find myself with AA!!!
That for me (and perhaps KK) would be the only hands I would call on, it's funny you'll get people going all-in early trying to double up, personally I fold to them and stay outta of their way. I like to go all-in on my terms and usually you will find these players out of the tourney early enough.

Flint Bones · May 26,2005, 12:28 PM

There are a lot of reasons why someone will do this. Typically on-line a lot of people will do it if they catch a Monster hand (in their mind of course) like AA, KK, QQ, AK and even lower pairs.

When is a good time? Well that is really up to the player. In a cash game I don't think you'll see this happen as often, since the person going all-in will only steal the blinds and there won't be much to brag about. In a tournament it happens to steal the blinds, overbet someone else to steal the pot and as a last desperation move to double up when you're short stacked.

If you are going to move all in pre-flop you should really have the hand to do it. It is a very risky bluff. Some players will go all-in frequently to steal pots and blinds pre-flop, but as it is written, going all in all the time may make you a few small pots when it works but it only needs to fail once to ruin you.

AcidJoe · May 26,2005, 01:37 PM

I was playing a MTT on prima the other night and one guy commented on what a crappy player he was, he was either fold or all in so he didn't have to make a decision as to what to do after the flop.