Playing KK late in a tournament.

[Tennex]

Many times I have been knocked out just inside or outside the money with KK. Assuming an average to below average chip stack vs a similar or larger chip stack.

Any thoughts on playing this hand?

I have tried several methods. Just call a raise and go hard if no ace shows or reraise all in preflop?

Either method seems to lose way too often.

By going all in you are going to be called by AK or AQ therefore giving them 5 cards to hit an Ace. If no Ace shows on the flop AK or AQ could not call an all in or big bet and you take down the pot. Even though you have a clear advatage against all but AA is it worth getting all in pre flop?

By just calling you are giving a possible stealer the opportunity to make a hand on the flop and knocking you out anyway. Or the chance of a smaller PP to hit a set.

I would appreciate others thoughts on the optimum way to play that hand.

Tennex

[stragf]

Not eough info here. Tourney buy-in/position/stack size/table image/blind size...etc, etc.

I may get disagreement, but in early position, one strategy is to limp and pop a raiser all-in. In mid position/late position, go with a hard raise. K's are a solid, solid hand, and losing to AA can't be foreseen. If you hit an AA, so be it. Nothing wrong with busting that way.
If you get a raiser, re-raise, don't smooth call. If he pushes call. Push the flop if no ace hits.
JMO

[skiier04]

Get as much money in preflop as possible, you want hands like AK AQ calling.

[Oatmeal]

But then he gets 5 shots to hit an ace... [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[kayfish77]

obvioulsy putting yourself all in on the bubble may not be the most optimal play sometimes, but if ur reluctant to put money in as a 2:1 favorite you're not going to win very many of these things.

[stragf]

[ QUOTE ]
But then he gets 5 shots to hit an ace... [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

It's that two shoe hold-em that's all the craze

[Oatmeal]

Putting yourself all-in on the bubble is the optimal play here. I'd love to see someone argue it isn't.

[burningyen]

OP, read Harrington's books and keep reading this forum. You want to get KK all-in pre-flop in almost every situation. You should not be concerned with getting in the money. If you are, then you need to move down in stakes.

[Shocker101]

All you want is them to make the mistake against you with 3 cards to hit. If you get beat with KK then u are unlucky. Go all in.

[THEOSU]

advice: run better.