6 replies to this topic

[doubleatrain]

What are some situations to look for in terms of chip accumulating opportunities, especially early on, in MTTs? I'm sure there's been discussion about this, and I may have even asked about this at some point, but it's something that keeps coming up in my thoughts about my own tournament play.I play a fairly tight game early on, but will occasionally take some less than stellar hands in position to see if I can flop something wonderful, but beyond that, I play very tightly. I've made the money in a few online tourneys, but it's generally been a sneaking past the bubble kind of thing. I never feel like I'm in a position comfortable enough to make stack building plays.Any thoughts would be lovely! Thanks!

[Scott3705]

Opportunity early in a tournament: Loose aggressive person that will bluff his chips off to the river. Besides that, online blinds move up so quickly that any repeatable accumulation against solid players that you can do will be taken away once you get to level 4 or 5.

[doubleatrain]

Scott3705 said:

Besides that, online blinds move up so quickly that any repeatable accumulation against solid players that you can do will be taken away once you get to level 4 or 5.

So then do you recommend taking a few more chances with marginal hands very early on in the online tourneys? Or just kinda hope for a few good hands to hit?

[BeanGW]

doubleatrain said:

Scott3705 said:

Besides that, online blinds move up so quickly that any repeatable accumulation against solid players that you can do will be taken away once you get to level 4 or 5.

So then do you recommend taking a few more chances with marginal hands very early on in the online tourneys? Or just kinda hope for a few good hands to hit?

Absolutely. Early on, when the blinds are super low (compared to starting stacks) and players are still feeling each other out is the best time to take a FEW more chances. Note the stress on the word FEW. Never play out of position, don't play complete trash cards, and prepare yourself mentally before the flop to BAIL OUT fast if need be. I also recommend that when you decide to play a marginal hand you do it as a bluff rather than a limp. For example... you are on the button or close to it (as you should be) with Q-10d and there have been no callers or 1-2 limpers, I would say three-bet preflop from the button. This will have one of four affects that will be very good for you.1) Everyone drops out. (Although with blinds this low it's not all that likely... you'd have to at least 5X the big blind for that affect).2) You prompt a reraise from a limp-raiser... and you will know exactly where you stand.3) Will cause your opponents to check to you post flop, giving you the opportunity either for a free card, or allowing you to bet again if you flop something especially nice (Or if you are only up against the blinds and decide to push them out).4) Finally... if post flop there is betting before it hits you, you will generally know that somebody has something really solid (because in their mind you may now have a set, and they could be wasting their cash)I think that's a pretty solid play in cash games as well as tourney's, and it's worked surprisingly well for me. I've found that it minimizes losses when starting out with a marginal hand cauz you know real quick when you're beat.

[doubleatrain]

BeanGW said:

I also recommend that when you decide to play a marginal hand you do it as a bluff rather than a limp.

So you suggest doing this even very early on in the tourneys? I have trouble forcing myself to raise, even with good hands, early on in the PokerStars small buy-in tourneys, mainly because I know that early on raises get very little respect. I fail to take into account the psychological implications of a raise (i.e., fold quity on the flop).Thanks very much for the post! I'll definitely take those kinds of things into account more often.

[BeanGW]

doubleatrain said:

BeanGW said:

I also recommend that when you decide to play a marginal hand you do it as a bluff rather than a limp.

So you suggest doing this even very early on in the tourneys? I have trouble forcing myself to raise, even with good hands, early on in the PokerStars small buy-in tourneys, mainly because I know that early on raises get very little respect. I fail to take into account the psychological implications of a raise (i.e., fold quity on the flop).Thanks very much for the post! I'll definitely take those kinds of things into account more often.

Texas Dolly himself wrote in Super System that sometimes he has to force himself to make a raise when he doesn't want to but knows it's the right thing to do. It is good to wait a round or two before you try this though... because if the table is extra loose, it's a silly play that can get you burned. What I generally do is to wait for one of those huge plays where someone breaks another player early (like on the first or second hand A-A vs J-J.) From my experience, generally even a loose table tightens up for a few hands after that.The button bluff is a smart play IMHO... as you mention, raises get very little respect early , and you will likely get a caller from the blinds who can get in "cheap" hoping for a great flop. They won't hit it, they'll check to you, and you'll bet once more if you end up with top pair or a solid draw (I'd bet the pot here). You'll generally take it down. On occasion you will be check raised and be put on a tough decision... or smooth called (which can actually be more dangerous). If you call smooth called, you should try to check it out to the showdown, or fold to a reasonable bet unless your hand improves significantly.If post flop you're on the button and you've got nuttin, and there's a bet into you, I'd drop the hand like it is diseased. Ya never know what the blinds might have concealed at that point (since they just called a raise). No sense throwing good money after bad. Also, if you can check it down, and you show your crummy cards, you will give yourself a table image as a loose player. If this occurs, it is very good for you (being the solid poker player that you really are), but DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, try the button bluff again until you have shown down with a solid hand.Peace!

[doubleatrain]

Thanks again, BeanGW! Very helpful posts!