Recently cashed out most of my BR and I am now playing the 18 person 1.50+0.25 Turbo SNGs on PStars.

I need some help with how I should play the early levels. About 50% of the time I donk off my chips before the final table, the other 50% I luckbox my way there about average in chips. In these cases I am able to outplay the table as everyone plays way too tight as the bubble approaches. My problem is just making the FT.

Should I be playing most flops early on and hoping to hit a big one because I will usually get paid off? Should I play super tight? Somewhere in between?

Also should I avoid playing aggressive because there are alot of calling stations who play A or K high to showdown?

Very simple: play tight until blinds reach at least 3rd level. Play strong hands, and play them harder if they hit. Watch the calling stations for redraws. Loosen up when avg. stack is around 10-15 bb's. Also, if you hit it big early on, chances are you can play that table image(solid) for most of the tournament as these players have little or no idea how to identify player types.

naver played 18 ppl before, but I would image the same rules apply as to 27 turbs:

1. you play absurdly tight early on. Save your chips for the end game. (first level i lay down 1010 in middle positon... sometimes JJ)
2. come level 3-4 you can start opening it up.
3. see many very very very cheap flops in good position early on. you don't want to dedicate chips to pots preflop with marginal hands.
4. As the blinds get bigger you need to open up your play... play push pot poker.

I am tired, but do these not contradict each other?

my strategy in the 1 tables is play pretty tight unless i have a monser
as the tourney goes on it gets very crazy and marginal hands increase in value as it becomes a crapshoot a lot of the time

Ugh, god. such grossness.


anyways, Play tight, but dont be affraid to see flops early.

dont get caught up in big pots if you dont hold a big hand. (Top pair is not big)

Try to control your pots, no need to make really big raises with AK early etc...

if and when you build up some chips, dont take unecessary risks with sub-par hands to knock out short stacks, unless you have a dominating lead over them.

Make sure you followed the play at the table to know who was agressive and who was tight.

stay agressive as you approach the money.

if blinds are high as in 150/300 etc.. dont limp early lookin for cheap flops

dont try and steal pots from desperate players

and if you make it to heads up, be sure to dominate

Sounds good. Seems everyone has advised about the same strat.

For the last part Im working on it. Usually is uck a crap shoot by this point but atleast the payouts are flat.

My strategy is too see many flops when the blinds are really small and ppl are playing conservatively. Thats what seems to work for me you should try it out.

sw? plz

Nope. Very early you're looking to play hands that can flop big - especially in position and especially if there are numerous limpers in front of you. Mid pocket pairs and suited connectors are ideal here. There's no point in stealing blinds early so big pocket pairs lose some of their value - especially out of position.

Put Madden in your Playstation and start a franchise. Occasionally glance at your computer screen. Anytime you see 88, AJs +, push preflop.