Yeh, I would limp to complicate things and get more value from the strength of your hand. You see more flops. Also, you can often get more of a read based on the action if you get raised, and push or fold for 1xBB less. For example, there will be times when it is an easy fold due to a lot of action. I didn't want to be the first to suggest it, as I didn't want to be called an old school donk.

kjs, kqs, kqo are not completely trashed to 20bb calling ranges like 99? when? if villains behind show us 10 10 pre?

having an open shoving ranging here doesnt seem too good

Yes 99 is like 18-19% vs higher pairs but say KJs vs QQ,JJ,TT even is still 32% a big difference. KJs vs AA is not far from where 99 is as well at 17.5%

But KJs has such a significant removal effect on hands like KK,AK,JJ,AJs (if AJs was in anyone's range to matter). The combination of these 2 things make Kjs superior hand in this situation that the calling range is that tight. In other cases of course 99 will be better.


Bottom line what matters is the avg equity the hand has vs the calling range and what removal effect it has on that range that improves fold equity. 99 comes a bit higher in equity but the effect k,j has on removing many calling hands is more important overall so it passes the test as pushing hand. Of course nobody good at poker will push KJs utg at 20bb if they are better than the others at the table. Its kind of a waste of chips for such marginal push, a raise may be better unless they are very loose where being out of position may be tricky and facing a reraise is also problem. In that case the push eliminates all these concerns but still maybe a fold is better for KJs in EP if the table is weak because you save chips for a better situation that will easily happen soon instead of introducing volatility with marginal ideas that deplete stack. Thats where a limp option for such hands weak as it is usually seen may be better or less risky than the other choices.