Tournament Strategies
After receiving pocket cards, you are immediately faced with a choice: play your cards and either raise or call the blinds, or fold.
Practice Matters
A pair of aces or any two pairs
A pair of aces or any two pairs are always worth opening with, regardless of position. At times, with a big pot and six or more players, and if you speak first or second, it's a good bet to pass with aces or two pairs for strategic purposes, then to come in and raise if anyone opens. But, I must warn you, it's not smart to do this with tight players.
Value of Hands to Stay in With
Value of Hands to Stay in With With a pair of kings you have a reasonable chance of holding the high hand in any game, and in an eight-handed game you can expect to be second or third best, which may be profitable if there were several pass hands, antes, and if the pot is big. A lower pair should usually be folded.