Online Tournament Poker And Small Ball

[valbizuresjr81 0]

It obvious that most online tournaments are fast pasted w/ blinds increasing every 15 minutes and despite the improvements in structure you typically find yourself w/ a stack of 20BB which according to what I've learned is to small to effectively play small ball poker. However .. you can still play a variation of small ball .. My Question is: While implementing a good small ball strategy in a tournament what % of hands would you say you play?In the past I have found that I usually play 13-15% of my hands throughout a tournament where I make a deep run.. recently I've seen a jump to 18%, but I feel like I'm playing the wrong types of hands while attempting to implement a small ball strategy ... For example I find myself raising w/ QJo KJo UTG .... should I continue to stay away from these hands? I understand that small ball requires a certain stack, and if others at the table don't have similar stacks it becomes to risky and that should play into my decisions as to whether or not play a hand but my question is more along the lines of when you do have the opportunity to play small ball ... Thanks in advance ... I really appreciate the help.

[SuperJon 175]

For example I find myself raising w/ QJo KJo UTG .... should I continue to stay away from these hands?

This is the only part I really read as it stuck out the most.It's pretty bad to be raising these hands UTG. Small ball is all about playing small pots (unless you hit big) in posistion.You definitely don't want to be playing hands (limping or raising) that are easily dominated UTG, especially when you'll be OOP post flop.

[rrumsey 0]

In the past I have found that I usually play 13-15% of my hands throughout a tournament where I make a deep run.. recently I've seen a jump to 18%, but I feel like I'm playing the wrong types of hands while attempting to implement a small ball strategy ... For example I find myself raising w/ QJo KJo UTG .... should I continue to stay away from these hands?

Opening? in what positions? with what kind of table? this is a little too general IMO it is hard to say "this is how many hands you should play" without you being a bit of a robot and not taking villains ranges and your position and table dynamic and image into account. Opening almost ATC against the right table can be profitable, it just depends on the table and how they are playing and how they view you.The attempt to play smallball is good, but it requires you to see lots of cheap flops, outplay people post flop, and know how to play weird positions by having your ranges be very accurate when reading villain and have a great idea of what you are representing against him. When in doubt, stick to TAG. Small ball when you have an idea about what is going on at the table.Remember, small ball is more about positions and ranges of villains and reading boards then it is about what hands you play. level 2 thinking at least!

[qnshustler 0]

This is the only part I really read as it stuck out the most.It's pretty bad to be raising these hands UTG. Small ball is all about playing small pots (unless you hit big) in posistion.You definitely don't want to be playing hands (limping or raising) that are easily dominated UTG, especially when you'll be OOP post flop.

+1 This is a very important concept to get a hold of. You will only get hurt playing these hands OOP.I would say if you are really going for a small ball strategy it actually involves playing more hands. With small ball you are trying to be involved in and taking down a lot of small pots, using position and good hand reading skills and bet sizing to your advantage. That being said, it is not a strategy to undertake if you are not very confident in your ability to read hands, as you would be involved in a lot of pots and those skills are crucial.You say you have been making deep runs playing a relatively tighter (13%-15%) strategy, I say don't try to change it too drastically. If you want to mix it up and be involved in more hands, do it in position and try to avoid tough situations and big pots with marginal hands until you are more confident in your abilities.

[qnshustler 0]

I also just saw rrumsey's post and that I basically just re-worded that, lol. +1 to you, rrumsey.