Strategy Changes

[Zybomb]

First off -- congrats TP on Aruba -- you are on a sick rush as of late and are probably playing the best poker of your life.....I hope it keeps up -- and if you make it to AC for the USPC I will definately be buying you a beer (you can pay me back when you win the M.E)

This brings up a question regarding strategy

What is your (your as in YOU reading this, not just TP) strategy for MTTs. How do you play in the Early, Middle, and Late stages of the tournament. How is this adjusted based on the blind structure (i.e how fast the blinds go up and the amount of starting chips in relation to the blinds)

In addition in a large MTT (several 100 +) how is the percent split between luck (both catching cards,catching cards at the same time someone else does and winning preflop all in situations, whether it be a coin flip, domination or a 4 to 1) and skill/strategy

Im hopin for a lot of (preferably detailed) responses here

[Aequitas58]

*Yawn*

It depends.

Cya tomorrow.

[Zybomb]

[Talking Poker]

LOL

What he said. I'm beat.

(I'll reply tomorrow too)

[BrianSwa]

well this is very individual question. In my experience, as little as it may be I look to make the next bubble each time. I do not have the bankroll to play to win so I'am trying to make the most before I bust out. Once I make the money bubble I look at the next money bubble and try to make it there. Once I make that bubble I try for the next one. I'am guessing people like TP are playing to position themselves to win the whole thing. But as for me I'am playing to make as much as possible before I bust out (bad strategy I know but hey I take what I can get)

[Zybomb]

Brian of course you play to win -- naturally earlier on survival is more important than accumulating chips, but at some point the latter takes over as far as importance. You dont have the bankroll ro play to win? It cost the same entry fee if you win or lose -- so if you can get in you can play to win........playing as much as you can before you bust out? What the hell kind of confidence is that?

What I was more looking for was tightness/looseness in the different stages of the tournament, hand selections, how strong you'll play draws on the flop, low pairs preflop etc during the early, middle and late stages....when you would start blind stealing in position, how often you put your chips at risk etc... and how that would all change depending on the structure of the blinds and the amount of starting chips in relation to the blinds

[Talking Poker]

These are all good, yet complicated questions. I know how I play, but I don't know how easy it will be for me to describe it.

In a typical MTT........

The opportunity rarely presents itself, but when it does, I'm willing to take some fairly big risks in the first orbit or so of the tourney (I realize this goes against standard advice - but it's how I play). This doesn't mean I play garbage - it means I am ultra-aggressive when I do play a hand. People make some crazy calls early on when the fish are all still alive, and I try to exploit that, just like I owuld in a rebuy tourney. If I end up losing with a monster, so be it. At least I didn't waste hours and hours to finish on the bubble (I am not a believer in Brian's strategy of trying to get a lot of play time in, regardless of not making any money - that's what the play money tables are for). Conversly, if you take down a big pot early, it's really nice. When that happens, I IMMEDIATELY tighten up. BTW, no way would I play in the WSOP like this. This is more for smaller online tourneys, where it's not a huge deal if I'm the first one to bust out. In a big tourney, the early stages are all about survival. Survival just happens to be a lot easier when you start off with twice as many chips as everyone else. I also find it's good for your table image, and then you can immediately change gears.

Most of how I play the middle parts of the tournament has to do with my stack size in relation to the rest of my table. With a big stack, I'll push people around. With a small stack, I become extremely patient and look to double up. Overall though, I'm trying to accumulate chips, hoping to end each level with more than I started with. I find that if you are patient and don't force it, this isn't all that hard to do. The winning hands will come.

In the later stages, things start to get interesting. Approaching the bubble, you can accumulate a LOT of chips by being the aggressive guy. Don't be reckless, of course, but do be aggressive.

Generally speaking............

Make big laydowns. Especially preflop. You have a slightly below average stack and are dealt 88. An EP player raises. Push in and make your stand? Hell no. Why risk your entire tourney on a coindlip (if you are lucky)? Just throw it away. You've got time. This is one of the biggest mistakes I see people make. They are willing to risk all of their chips when they don't need to. Wait for a better spot. BE the aggressor.

Make continuation bets. You can't win a tourney if you only bet when the flop helps you. Continuation bets are crucial.

Change gears. Play fast. Play slow. Mix it up depending on your table conditions and especially your table image. Generally, you want to play opposite the rest of the table.

For your specific scenarios, "it depends." Typically, I like to see a lot of cheap flops. I also like to be the aggressor in almost every hand I play. First one in, raise. Limpers in front of you, call. Raise in front of you - be very careful... Reraise with monsters, fold trouble hands (AJ), and call with anything you will be comfortable playing after the flop (wired pairs are extremely easy to play after the flop, for example). Position is crucial, obviously. I won't even go into all of that.

I see no sense in trying to steal blinds early on. People won't fold. But later on, when your raise becomes a more significant portion of the blinds' stacks, you can steal a LOT more... Know your opponents though, and don't try it every time. Let them know you are capable of folding on the button or the SB with no one in front of you. This will give you a little more respect with your steals. You don't HAVE to try to win them all. I think it's better to let a few go if it lowers your chances of resistance later on. Plus, when someone does come over the top of one of your steal attempts later, there's a good chance they have a big hand and aren't just playing back at you.

I know this was very general, but there are entire books written to discuss this. A guy can only do so much with one post. Very specific question probably each deserve their own thread.

[BrianSwa]

guess I didnt explain too well, Yes I play to win but if im not in great shape once I reach the 1st bubble meaning at least double the average then I'am playing to reach the next bubble.

as for youre 2nd part of this it all depends how many chips you have if you are playing tight or loose, If im shortstacked then im pretty tight waiting for the perfect time to risk all my chips. If I have alot of chips im much looser looking to catch a flop and eliminate people.

Like in the torney I placed 6th when I reached the bubble I was one of the little stacks and kept playing to just reach the next bubble. That super tightness served me well because it made me make real good laydowns and make final table.

[Zybomb]

well since it doesnt appear im going to be getting anymore responses , I break down this into a few seperate threads which r more specific