How often should you raise all in during tournaments?

[Bawse]

I was talking with another member, and this discussion came up. I think if you can lure a player to calling with the worst hand, you should always try to get the most value. My mindset is always play to win, outcome of hands don't matter to me, if I'm all in with a dominating hand.

Ideally you don't want to be involved in big pots without the nuts as your goal is to survive until the end. Tournaments are a marathon, you can't win a tournament with one hand. I'm not a fan of risking my tournament life on coinflip situations, but sometimes I do like being the aggressor with small pairs, especially when the blinds get high.

How often do you think players should raise all in with the best hand in tourneys for value?

 

[Daedalus]

I think it depends on how confident you are in your hand and/or your reads of other's tells.

 

[Bawse]

I think it depends on how confident you are in your hand and/or your reads of other's tells.

I think it depends on levels/chip stacks. You shouldn't be raising all in preflop when the blinds are low. I do make exceptions when I try to catch players that are more loose.

 

[Kross]

I am a conservative poker player and I don't feel right going all in for value with the best hand especially when it is the early stages of a poker tournament. I would rather make calculated raises bit by bit. I won't want to risk my whole stack on one hand. Anything can happen in poker. A little luck might shine on the opponent.

 

[Naza]

It’s all about timing and stack sizes. Early in tournaments, I usually avoid getting it all in for value unless I’m way ahead. As stacks get shorter, shoving for value becomes more sensible. Sometimes the right move is protecting your stack, even with a strong hand, because the risk could cost you more in chips than it’s worth in equity.