Top tips for live tourney play
 

I'm heading to the Borgata in AC next Thursday for a tourney. It's a sponsored by a local radio show (based out of DC). So there should be a lot of donkey action (although I'm sure there will be plenty of decent players as well - Lee Childs played in the last one to name one). Last year's winner took over 30k.

This will be my first live tourney outside of home tournies I've played. Any thoughts or tips anyone can share?

Starting stacks are 6500 with 30 minute levels.

Blind schedule should be the following:

LEVEL ANTE BLINDS

1st - $25 - $50

2nd - $50 - $100

3rd - $100 - $200

4th $25 $100 - $200

5th $50 $200 - $400

6th $75 $300 - $600

7th $100 $400 - $800

8th $200 $600 - $1,200

9th $300 $800 - $1,600

10th $300 $1,000 - $2,000

11th $500 $1,500 - $3,000

12th $500 $2,000 - $4,000

13th $1,000 $3,000 - $6,000

14th $1,000 $4,000 - $8,000

15th $2,000 $6,000 - $12,000

16th $3,000 $8,000 - $16,000

17th $3,000 $10,000 - $20,000

18th $5,000 $15,000 - $30,000

Bring some headphones so you don't go insane listening to imbeciles talk.

A brief look at the structure tells me this is a faster (shorter stack) structure than a normal 'Stars tourney, but after the antes kick in it will get as fast as a turbo.

Play aggro with position. Go pushbot at ~5 M for the NEXT level. (e.g. at 200/400/a50, you are push/fold with <10,000.)

go with earbuds. That way you don't have to have them on, but others don't know if you are listening. ;)

Also, don't assume people are better than you. Anyone can win if they play right. Let the actions of others determine your evaluation of them.

Kurn, can you please explain "M"?
i'll dig through the forum looking for it while I wait, but I doubt i'll find the answer.

A link would be nice if its already been posted.

M = Blinds + antes or. the cost of one orbit at a full table

If you're looking for individual live play things

- Don't string bet. Either announce your bet (preferred) or make sure to grab all your chips in one motion/count them behind your cards

- You cant see the pot size by putting the mouse clicker above it -- so try and calculate it in your head at all times so you can act and bet accordingly

- Always know players stack sizes, frequently ask as is necessary.

- Look for obvious weak means strong strong means weak type tells, you'll find a lot of them

- Look for discrepancies in players actions, i.e used large denomination of chips sometimes and small denomination other times, announces raise while throwing in a call first vs just raising all in one shot etc

- Rather than look at the flop when it comes out, (especially if u r last to act) instead look at your opponent and see if you can tell if he liked it. Similarly don't check your hole cards immediately, watch your opponents as they check theirs.

- Be friendly at the table --- it'll make everyone want to keep you around for longer :D