3 replies to this topic

[nell789]

Last weekend I hosted a tournament with a very slow blind schedule. It's kind of an annual thing, and we call it the WSOP (Winnipeg Series of Poker) It's nothin huge, just about 18 friends, and a $25 buy in. Anyways, I was the defending champion (and have the cheap-*ss bracelet to prove it), and ended up getting second.Looking back on it now, I think I played the head's up very poorly, and could've done alot better. My opponent wasn't a very skilled player, didn't know any real strategy, and basically played like a complete beginner, even though he plays somewhat regularly. All day long I'd seen him be super unpredictable, moving in with junk hands (ie: Q5, K10) and pushing at any point during the hand, some bluffs and some good hands.Because of this unpredictablity, I decided to play mostly a pre-flop game, and just get my money in with the best hand, as I knew I easily could because he would call with crap. Anyways, after raising and re-raising him for the first 10ish hands, he finally got tired of it, and went all in with K5s, and I called with A3s. Needless to say, he won the hand, crippling me, and then finished me off a few hands later. Now that I think about it, I'm sure I could've dominated him if I had played a post-flop type of game, but I guess Hindsight is 20/20.What do you guys think?

[exdubliner]

yes. but there's always next year.

[Tateisgo]

nell789 said:

Because of this unpredictablity, I decided to play mostly a pre-flop game, and just get my money in with the best hand

I used to think this in these situations until I went all-in for 3100 with AJ and got called (IN THE DARK) by a player with K9 (Blinds 250/500). He flopped a 9 and I got alot smarter that day.By putting too much money in pre-flop you're taking away the skill factor and leaving too much up to chance (basically playing his game). You're better off using your reads (of the board alone if you can't get one on the player) and skills to chip away small pots, while waiting to trap him with a big hand. Tighten up to big raises, get into cheap flops when possible, Don't bluff as much, semi-bluff alot more, and don't get caught up in calling his bluffs.Basically push your small edges alot more (TPTK), play your monsters (flopped sets/fullhouse/flush/nut straight) harder if he's a calling station, and slow play your monsters if he's aggressive.Most importantly, don't get caught up in trying to prove your a better player/he's a worse player. Just play your "A" game and don't let the bad beats tilt you (there'll be alot).

[copernicus]

Tateisgo said:

nell789 said:

Because of this unpredictablity, I decided to play mostly a pre-flop game, and just get my money in with the best hand

I used to think this in these situations until I went all-in for 3100 with AJ and got called (IN THE DARK) by a player with K9 (Blinds 250/500). He flopped a 9 and I got alot smarter that day.By putting too much money in pre-flop you're taking away the skill factor and leaving too much up to chance (basically playing his game). You're better off using your reads (of the board alone if you can't get one on the player) and skills to chip away small pots, while waiting to trap him with a big hand. Tighten up to big raises, get into cheap flops when possible, Don't bluff as much, semi-bluff alot more, and don't get caught up in calling his bluffs.Basically push your small edges alot more (TPTK), play your monsters (flopped sets/fullhouse/flush/nut straight) harder if he's a calling station, and slow play your monsters if he's aggressive.Most importantly, don't get caught up in trying to prove your a better player/he's a worse player. Just play your "A" game and don't let the bad beats tilt you (there'll be alot).

until it gets shorthanded this is the way to play any MTT imo