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.
Full Version: need practical advice for partypoker semifinals.
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
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 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:
:oops:
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 
QUOTE (AUBrandon)
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
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.
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.
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