need practical advice for partypoker semifinals.

[flintsword 4]

Today I have just finished beating 207 other players in the Partypoker Millions Multi-table Qualifier and made it (with three others) to the semi-finals ... AGAIN. In past years I keep qualifying for the Semifinals regularly (since the early days of partypoker) but *damn* I cannot seem to finish high enough to qualify for the boat to save my life.Any practical advice, any practical ideas, experienced-based training ideas, or "Mike Hulak style" game plays would be appreciated.I came in 3rd and had some really interesting hands during the 4 hours it took to play this tourney. I have to go over them now.If there are any players willing to give my tournament games the once-over and suggest improvements, I am also game.Humourously, I don't mind criticism. After I email the games to someone, I would appreciate suggestions, and not "Check your neck for gills" ... :shock: ... since I already know they are there, ... that's why I am asking for advice.Again, any constructive ideas are welcomed. I play on May 8th but may have to move my game to May 6th or 7th if there are not a lot of players.

[AUBrandon 0]

Well, I made it through to the PPM4 in the semis last November. One thing that will make it a little bit easier in the semis for next year's cruise is the buy-in. Although the package price will be around $17K versus this year's at $12.6K, the buy-in is around $500 for the semis instead of the old $200 something.... all this meaning, 1 of 35 get to the boat instead of the PPM4 semis, which was 1 of 60.As far as tournament strategy... first of all there are (if its like last time) NL semis and Limit semis... I qualified through the NL. I failed to benefit from having many extra starting chips, but I had a few. Started with around 1700 or so. I sat patiently and waited for the right time, playing pretty tight and not doing anything stupid. I caught a few lucky breaks and with about 400 or 500 ppl left out of the original 2000 (top 33 getting the seat), I was overall chip leader. YOU MUST BENEFIT FROM THIS. You can't sit back and get comfortable with a chip lead and expect to coast on in, especially with that much playing left. So, I was the biggest bully you could imagine, of course picking good spots and playing my position accordingly. Although I was pushing ppl around, I didnt do anything incredibly stupid... But keep in mind if you have alot of chips, u can't get too tight... simple and obvious advice I know, but that's pretty much what my gameplan was. People stall late and the blinds get rediculous and they become very very important, and stealing is absolutely necessary, IMO.So, theres a little bit of advice, (maybe helpful maybe not) for late in the tournament if you have a good stack... Get lucky once or twice and win a few coin flips, and you got it!!And if you do make it to the boat, you'll have a blast... I know I did... besides getting knocked out on day 2, 10 spots from the money by Paul Darden.. OUCH!! But hey at least theres a story to tell right?? Anyway, I'll be trying again for next year so maybe I'll see you on the boat!peace,Brandon

[LewFather 0]

I was thinking about signing up for a qualifer or a semi satellite for the PPM. I know you only have to be 18+ to play on PP but how about the PPM? Is it a 21+ tourney? Also when is the actual tourney because I'll be 21 july 11th of this year... Not to sound like a n00b but I did check this stuff on the PP website just didn't see anything... :oops:

[AUBrandon 0]

you have to be 21 to play in the event, which is next march... if you turn 21 this july you will be just fine. i was 21 when i played on the boat

[holman3rd 0]

Well, I made it through to the PPM4 in the semis last November. One thing that will make it a little bit easier in the semis for next year's cruise is the buy-in. Although the package price will be around $17K versus this year's at $12.6K, the buy-in is around $500 for the semis instead of the old $200 something.... all this meaning, 1 of 35 get to the boat instead of the PPM4 semis, which was 1 of 60.As far as tournament strategy... first of all there are (if its like last time) NL semis and Limit semis... I qualified through the NL. I failed to benefit from having many extra starting chips, but I had a few. Started with around 1700 or so. I sat patiently and waited for the right time, playing pretty tight and not doing anything stupid. I caught a few lucky breaks and with about 400 or 500 ppl left out of the original 2000 (top 33 getting the seat), I was overall chip leader. YOU MUST BENEFIT FROM THIS.  You can't sit back and get comfortable with a chip lead and expect to coast on in, especially with that much playing left. So, I was the biggest bully you could imagine, of course picking good spots and playing my position accordingly. Although I was pushing ppl around, I didnt do anything incredibly stupid... But keep in mind if you have alot of chips, u can't get too tight... simple and obvious advice I know, but that's pretty much what my gameplan was. People stall late and the blinds get rediculous and they become very very important, and stealing is absolutely necessary, IMO.So, theres a little bit of advice, (maybe helpful maybe not) for late in the tournament if you have a good stack... Get lucky once or twice and win a few coin flips, and you got it!!And if you do make it to the boat, you'll have a blast... I know I did... besides getting knocked out on day 2, 10 spots from the money by Paul Darden.. OUCH!! But hey at least theres a story to tell right?? Anyway, I'll be trying again for next year so maybe I'll see you on the boat!peace,Brandon

I was actually thinking it might be harder to win a seat this year due to the buy-in. I qualified for the semis through a $66 1-table SNG, but won't be able to play until the Sept semis. I played last year when the semis attracted 1,800+ players. It seemed that there were huge numbers of fish in those tournies. Wouldn't you think that the higher buy-ins and lower number of players would attract better players? Hopefully I'm wrong on that one.Also, does anyone know anything about a player named "Massagegirl"? She fished 2nd and 3rd (i think) in consecutive semis this month to win a spot on the boat and $17,500 cash for the second one. I was watching her play and the railbirds were saying that she's Annie Duke. Regardless, I think her performance was quite impressive. I think that was just someone trying to be funny. Anyway, I hope to have better luck this year. I have plenty of time to get extra starting chips, which is something I didn't focus on enough last year.

[AUBrandon 0]

I didn't think about that... maybe it does attract better players being a higher buy-in... my way of looking at it was that once you win a seat to the semis this time around, the higher buy-in allows a bigger percentage of ppl to make it... thats why i prefer it.