General Tourney Strategy

[bdawg31]

I used to play the basic by-the-book strategy and early on (like 3-4 years ago) it worked pretty well in tourneys. But, over the last year - and TP can attest to this - i found myself getting low-cashes or being semi-short-stacked late in a tourney and losing a coinflip. Over and over - this is for like the last year now. Even in my local games i play for basic fun stakes, i used to always cash, now i finish late but dont win any money.

I thought (and still believe) that part of my problem was a weak middle game, but i found that almost always half-way through a tourney - i was always at the avg stack or just below it. well, 90% of the time. the other 10% i was low or out. Rarely, if ever, a big stack.

Then i noticed how a lot of accomplished tourney players (and Hersh mentioned this in one of his backing strings) either finish early or accumulate chips. So I am now thinking that i do need to gamble more, be a little more unorthodox early on. Take that 7,8 hand you mentioned. Before i would have thought like you say - dont get tied up in a mess with that hand early on. Wait for a better spot. But, the problem i am finding is that sometimes the better spot does not come along quick enough. Now, I think if i can get all my chips in on that flop vs someone with an ace-big-kicker or a str8/flush draw - so be it. Double up early - then i can do some real playing and splashing around, or be done with it and go see a movie (or fire up another tourney).

I have just started playing around with this - at some very low stakes and at a home tourney - so its early on. But, this has lead to me getting chips early in the tournament - which has allowed me to play a completely different middle game.

I dont know - there are so many different types of tournament strategies. just watching on television - you can see all kinds of different strategies get deep. But, think about how many times you have seen people kind of fumble and stumble their way deep getting lucky. I am thinking that maybe sometimes you have to force that luck. Play draws super-aggressive. If they fold, you take a small pot. If they call - okay - lets see if we can get lucky and double up early.

[Talking Poker]

Brian - Care to share those tourney results of yours and let them "speak for themselves?" I for one would love to see them. I know you didn't used to keep records, so I'm glad to see you've changed your tune on that.

And wow - your new and improved tourney strategy has come SO FAR from . I'm so proud of our little Brian. He's all growed up!

And thank you so much for the offer to teach me basic beginning tournament poker tips via PM. I really do appreciate that. pshabi's 6 year old made me the same offer first though, so I will probably end up taking him up on it.


{Am I being a dick right now? Maybe. Meh.}


In all seriousness, please don't get me wrong, Brian - I'm glad you started this thread. I'm sure there are indeed people who are benefitting from it, and that's great.

[stormswa]

in red.

[PShabi]

LOLMFAO, he's 4.

[Talking Poker]

Wow. Based on his poker lingo and his tourney ROI, I figured him for at least 6!

[PShabi]

I sent him to Lederer's Poker Camp as soon as he was potty trained.

[eejit101]

rofl @ all that.

And chip, i meant 88, god knows why i typed AA.