Hello, everybody.

Every Saturday night I attend a local poker tournament. There's anywhere from 24-32 players.

We start out with $4,300 in chips.
Blinds increase every 20 minutes.
50/100
100/200
200/400
400/800
500/1,000
1,000/2,000
2,000/4,000
5,000/10,000

The players limp in, chase everything, and play any Ace, or probably any face card for that matter. Any time any of these players raise, I put them on something. I would say that I am a beginner, but I've at least read books on poker strategy. So I feel like I have an advantage, however these players seem to have no fundamentals whatsoever, and get lucky all of the time.

What is your strategy going into this game. If I'm leaving any information out, please let me know, and I will answer it to the best of my ability.

Thanks for your thoughts, suggestions, and opinions.

-Don

P.S. I've played for 5 weeks now (this tournament), and have only placed in the money (2nd place) once. I want to be more consistant.

You need to have a strong hand (preflop or on the flop) and then try to get as many chips in as you can. You know they are going to chase with a lot of bad hands so you need to give them the rope to do so. They will still get lucky sometimes but that's the best approach to play it. I would suggest playing very tight but with that structure and 20 minute levels this will be a shove fest after the first hour. You won't have a choice but to gamble some, just try to get yourself in the best spot possible.

IMO, if you only have been playing for 5 weeks and have one tournament cash, you are doing pretty good. Reading the books, developing and implementing a basic strategy based upon that, and getting experience will take you furter down the road than chasing everything to the river. From the books you have read you should be aware that most of the time, you end up being a percentage favorite to win. Doesn't mean you will win all the hands.

I would suggest working on how you play the other players in position. If the table habit is to limp in, work on situations where a raise with a good hand might thin the field a bit. Also, resist the temptation to join the herd of donkeys and become a calling station.

Also, there is a YouTube video from the WSOP that I like to watch from time to time. Quad A's cracked by a royal flush. I doubt the loser even saw it coming. Just remember, bad beats happen but consistent good play will add more to your success than anything else.

It seems that's exactly what I've had to do so far. I play very tight. Wait for hands I can go to war with, and have only enough chips to make a move for all of them. My preflop raises have to be so high to get everyone to fold, that I almost have to have a hand that plays well hot or cold in case some crazy maniac decides to call me. I almost wish there were less players in these games, because trying to survive against 3-4 tables of calling stations, and only one place per table for the money, seems damn near impossible. Which is why I'm looking for suggestions. I've read Phil Gordon's, "No Fold'em Hold'em" article, and it seems to work well, but I want to win more consistantly. There's a lot of work I need to do, to be a "good" poker player. However, these local games seem like a good way to get some affordable consistant rhythm to my game, along with the online play money, but then again... That's "play" money, LOL!

Well, thanks for your comments. : ) I appreciate it.

Thank you for your comments.

-Don

With many players going to a flop with marginal hands certain hands gain in value and other go down in value. You need to play the "No Fold'em Hold'em Package" small pairs and suited aces.

Big pairs go down in value and small pairs and suited aces go up. The reason being that with a big pair you really only want one opponent (maybe two) hoping to get all of their chips. With many people seeing the flop your % chance at winning goes down (obvious right?). Use a hold'em calculator and plug in TT-AA with 3, 4, 5, etc.. people with random hands and you will see what I mean.

With the small pairs you are hoping to flop a set and get all you money in by the river. You are getting good odds preflop with many people limping in and you get to see the flop cheaply. The odds of flopping a set are 7.5 to 1, you probably aren't getting that preflop (if you are that's fantastic) but if you hit your set, the implied odds make up for it, ie winning your opponents stack.

Suited aces, similar idea. More opponents preflop = better odds of getting paid off properly when you get a flush.

With any tournament with a fast structure you are going to have to take some chances though and gamble.

Hope this helps and good luck .


p.s. There actually is a good book called, "No Fold'em Hold'em" by D.R. Sherer, one of the first that I bought. See my sig.

Thank you, I think I'll give it a shot.

Wheres this game lol, one thing i suggest is play for some real money online. Like in the micro stakes to get more experience faster, Because i personally think the play money games are a bunch of idiots tryin to get lucky cause they dont care. Thats just my opinion hope it was helpfull and correct if i'm wrong someone please correct me seriously, because im new to poker also and if my way of thinking is wrong then i need to change it thanks