Hey guys, feel free to post a link if this topic has been covered (I'm sure it has but I couldn't find anything on it), but I was wondering what people's thoughts are on preflop play in tourneys where you start with 3k in chips vs. tourneys where you start with just 1.5k. For the sake of keeping talent levels equal let's say we're talking about two 5 dollar tourneys, one with 3k starting chips and one with 1.5k, along with similar 9 minute blind levels. Personally, in tourneys where I'm starting with 3k, I will open raise in early position with hands like 78s along with my normal range and I will also call raises with these hands. I am really looking to find as many opportunities as possible to play these hands and bust someone early when they hit top pair and stack off. I feel as though I have the chips to do this for 2 or 3 levels to make it profitable. However, in tourneys where I'm starting with just 1500 chips, I am a lot stingier about what I'll play in the early levels. I'm obviously half as deep, so I'm not going to be playing drawing hands unless I have position and there are limpers before me. Otherwise I'm playing my usual ranges. So that is pretty much how I play early. I'm hoping to hear other people's ideas on this.

pretty much that....small pairs and SCs can call raises easier and we can splash a bit more multiway with 3K...with 1500 we need to be more conservative with our decisions early

outside of just raising from EP with drawing hands early (3000sc), you can call EP raises in position to try and flop a monster, set mine and trip mine (<--- go to love this) etc.

i personally like the flexibility of 3K sc and do not play much 1.5k sc b/c it tends to turn into push/fold pokers faster.

^Those answers seem good to me. Does anyone have much experience playing the new SNG on Stars?... I think they are like 90 man, 2K starting chips, and 10 minute levels. I think this might be a structure I like but haven't tried them much yet.

For how many levels will you guys raise from ep with drawing hands/call raises in position with them when starting with 3k in chips? (assuming you don't win a huge pot early)

as always in poker

it depends.

i usually try to play small ball. so if some maniac is raising 5x-10x the bb then i am obv folding.

as far as not winning a pot early on and assuming i only have played small - I guess it depends on what the table will let me get away with.

also, how comfortable you are playing a small stack as your chips dwindle and the blinds start increasing. obv you want to avoid this, but it does happen and I think you have to be comfortable with you ss game.