help with pre-flop hands

Hi,

I mostly play $5 SnG and I would like some advice on pre-flop strategy for these hands: KQ,KJ, QJ. Suited or unsuited. These are the lowest I typically play from any position, and will go to the flop limping or calling 2X BB early, more than this pre-flop I usually fold -with position and a stack to back me up I will go to the flop later on in the tourny.

How are the above mentioned played pre-flop typically...fold to raises, raise if you have postion, etc....? and then the obvious post-flop questions, mostly dealing with top pair flops. It seems I either get into big trouble with these hands or fold them when I have the best hand, as at the $5 SnGs people play a lot things they shouldn't.

Thanks for any help

KQ = limp from EP. Raise from LP (if not raised before). Fold to a raise.
KJ/QJ = limped from LP (or raised if i have a good chance of stealing).
Folded otherwise.

With all of these hands I try to be careful with TP. If im being raised im just as worried with KQ as with AQ. In a tournament especially id be wary of sets and 2 pairs, but once the blinds get high id also be careful of semi-bluffs.

You are already paying attention to kickers which 90% of $5 SnG players wont so dont worry about being outkicked by AK when you hold KQ on a K92 flop. Be far more wary of K9 and K2 from the guys who dont understand kickers.

Once the blinds get higher you are going to want to raise any hands that you play since fold equity and blind stealing gets important. Once the blinds are big compared to your stack (but your stack is big compared to other stacks and there arent any short stacks waiting to push over the top of you etc etc etc) then Id even raise QJ from MP-LP.

Preflop strategy in SnGs is very complicated though since there is always
alot more to consider than ring. e.g. You are a fairly big stack with QJ but theres a short stack who will go allin on any PP/Ax etc so do you play it/ raise it/ fold it etc. Theres also a big stack bully actinig after you.
SnG is alot less straightforward than ring so I suggest you read SnG hand histories until your eyes bleed.

Disclaimer: Neither Pelion, Nor his real life name can be held acountable for anyones eyes bleading after following this advice.
thats my $0.10

Thanks, that was helpful. It is pretty much how I play them, though I should be raising more with them later on under the circumstances you outlined. Also I was wondering what is fold equity? Thanks

There are a lot of factors to determine how to play those hands - stack size, table image, blinds etc...

If I would try to put down general rules that will ignore stack sizes, reads and table image.

Early stages (7-9 players, low blinds):
Fold to any raise
Eealy position: I fold those unless the table is readlly really tight
Middle position: Limp KQ, KJs, QJs, fold the rest
Late position: Unless the blinds are agressive I raise KQ and limp QJ, KJ.

Middle stages (5-7 players, medium blinds)
Fold to any raise
EP: Fold
MP:Limp KQ, KJs, QJs, fold the rest

Late stages (3-5 players, high blinds)
Raise KQ, KJ to any unraised pot from any position, push over spotted blind steals.
QJ I would limp if I can see the flop for cheap

Headsup:
play as it is the best hand unless reads tell you otherwise
LP: Raise any unraised pot

Fold equity is the amount of the pot you expect to win when the other players fold.

In the early stages of the tournament the blinds are low so you play good hands and hope to stack someone.
In the later stages of the tournament the blinds get huge so you cant afford to wait for a monster hand. Blind stealing can keep you afloat.

e.g. You are delt QJ in the CO.
The blinds are medium stacks but smaller stacks than you. You notice that they seem to be playing very tight at the moment, as though they are scared of not finishing in the money. There are 2 shortstacks at the table (acting before you) who are just waiting for a hand to go allin with.
It is folded to you, and you decide you have a good chance to steal the large blinds (your folding equity is high) so you raise with QJ even though you might just limp/fold when the blinds are small.