when to pay, when to fold?

[Ronnie Blimey]

On friday night i am playing a live texas holdem tournament with 4 other players. I am a beginner, two of the players have been playing occasionaly for 6 months, one is fairly experienced and the other guy seems very experienced, apparently having played in the WSOP. Someone said to me that i should probaly fold unless i get delt a 10/Jack. What are peoples opinions on this? any other advice on the game?

[Claw75]

When you say you are playing a live tournament with 4 other players, do you mean you are going to a small home game or you are all going along to a casino?  Presuming the latter, then the only thing I'd suggest is make sure you are comfortable with the buy in, and just sit back and try to enjoy it.  Don't worry too much about what hands you should and shouldn't be playing, but it might be better to stick to premium hands only while you get a feel for playing live, and watching what the other players are doing.

If it is just a small home game, same thing, don't go out of your depth.  Main thing - have fun, and good luck.

[kinboshi]

On friday night i am playing a live texas holdem tournament with 4 other players. I am a beginner, two of the players have been playing occasionaly for 6 months, one is fairly experienced and the other guy seems very experienced, apparently having played in the WSOP. Someone said to me that i should probaly fold unless i get delt a 10/Jack. What are peoples opinions on this? any other advice on the game?

You really need to read some of the books that people advised you to have a look at on the other thread - or to read some articles online. 

The answer you'll soon find is usually 'it depends'.  Most situations are unique, and where it might be correct to fold a hand in one situation, it might be correct to re-raise all-in at another time.

[MKKfish]

Folding unless you are holding TJ puts you on a very tight range... just for the hell of it include AA and KK as starting hand possibles....

[boldie]

Folding unless you are holding TJ puts you on a very tight range... just for the hell of it include AA and KK as starting hand possibles....

lol


Ronnie, where exactly are you going to ? As Claw said; if it's a home game with 4 others it's a different game a game at the casino.

My advice..have fun..try to relax and pay attention t what others do.

Don't both with a "sticking to TJ" thing.
I would say play; AA/KK/ and AK hard. you bet with it and your chips go in the middle with it pre-flop. Be somewhat carefull with QQ/JJ...they are dangerous hands. If on a full table at the casino..if you can limp with any pocket pair below 10's you should..and lead out when you hit your set...fold if you don't.
Play the low-midrange suited connectors like 7-9 6-7 6-8 5-6 5-7 and 4-5 (anything one gapped or linked between 4 and 9)if you can..these are the hands that if they hit they can hit hard and you can get paid off big...but only play them if you can get in relatively cheap and the reward could be there at the other end. (In other words..against a guy with a big stack or loads of people in the pot who get attached to a big pair.)

the main thing is..don't be over awed and don't spend too much dosh..try to become comfortable where you are...you don't have to win the tourney the first time you pay it..it's supposed to be fun.

[Ronnie Blimey]

Thanks for the advice, i finnished second and took home a bit of hard cash. Maybe it was beginners look though

[MikeyMash]

Second sounds good. Did you win a lot? what happened at the end?

[Ronnie Blimey]

I won £20. Really good as they put me on a freeroll.

i have   

he raised me all in

i was lower than him so i'm all in

the flop is     

the turn is 

then  on the river

he had