Freeroll Chip Count

Does anyone else keep track of their chips at the breaks of the freerolls.

I keep track of my chips during the Full tilt freerolls so that I have a guide to how I'm doing, and where I need to be in order to win them.

Heres what I go by

5500 by the first break
15000 by the second break
80000 by the third break
and then after that break, its pretty much winding down
and I stop keeping track - this only applies to the limit games
though - I always try to stick with this "chip schedule" because
it seems to work, and also, the times where I've gotten a lot more
than what my schedule says i need, I end up losing because I'm
playing too loose, so now i try to stick with it pretty closely

I always try my best to stay atleast 2 or 3 thousand over the average. If the average is low then i wont try to follow that as much. To me, this helps me stay in the upper half if i can. But if im not getting the cards, then i change my strategy and become more desperate which always ends in me losing. Lol

To me, it doesn't matter. It's not how you start, it's how you finish.

I am similar to jaybatesm. Other than the first five minutes, which involves about a thousand players going all in, I always try to stay above the average chip stack. The only time I don't worry about this is when the money is only a few places away, and, even though I probably shouldn't, I tighten up my play and just hold on until I've reached the money.

I always try to be at the average and as the tournie gets later i try to double the average beceause the blinds are normally going up faster then the average.

I don't get caught up in my chip count early. I feel it then
may cause me to make a bad call or even feel pressured to
get involved in a hand that i don't belong or possibly chase!

I try more to keep track of my hands seen percentage. That is where my game needs some real work. I also keep a close eye on my flops seen/won percentage just for fun. My chip count doesn't matter much to me as long as I'm playing right.

I'm curious to know how players here respond if their stack isn't at the level desired? Do you go all-in on good cards? Do you change the way you play in order to build the stack and risk going out? Do you bet more preflop or postflop? What to do when I have a small stack in a tourney has really challenged me. I usually find myself risking everything on good cards and hoping not to get drawn out.

I usually watch the average chips for the first hour or so, as long as I am close to average I feel comfortable. If I am under the average, I may play a little more aggresively to get closer. After the first hour or so is over, its all about round for round for me, how well am I playing? Am I playing too loose or too tight.

You can't make yourself get more chips. You just play each hand the best you can and let the chips fall where they may. I pay attention to my "M" and as it goes lower, I get more aggressive.

Early on in a tournament you need to be patient, 'cause you never know when that hand to double you up will come.

PokerStars Game #19414033732: Tournament #99188161, $1.00+$0.10 Hold'em No Limit
- Level II (15/30) - 2008/08/06 - 18:25:09 (ET)
Table '99188161 16' 9-max Seat #2 is the button
Seat 1: chaosystem (3105 in chips)
Seat 2: steviepea (635 in chips)
Seat 3: plourdo (2950 in chips)
Seat 4: djgolfcan (1350 in chips)
Seat 5: Jumbo-HH (2270 in chips)
Seat 6: Lukeass985 (1285 in chips)
Seat 7: BWILSONUSAF (1615 in chips)
Seat 8: coraM4 (1800 in chips)
Seat 9: 5Kingfisher5 (2090 in chips)
plourdo: posts small blind 15
djgolfcan: posts big blind 30
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to djgolfcan [3s 3c]
Jumbo-HH: calls 30
Lukeass985: calls 30
BWILSONUSAF: folds
coraM4: calls 30
5Kingfisher5: calls 30
chaosystem: calls 30
steviepea: folds
plourdo: calls 15
djgolfcan: checks
*** FLOP *** [Qc 3d Th]
plourdo: checks
djgolfcan: checks
Jumbo-HH: bets 30
Lukeass985: calls 30
coraM4: calls 30
5Kingfisher5: folds
chaosystem: calls 30
plourdo: folds
djgolfcan: raises 270 to 300
Jumbo-HH: calls 270
Lukeass985: calls 270
coraM4: calls 270
chaosystem: calls 270
*** TURN *** [Qc 3d Th] 4♣
djgolfcan: bets 1020 and is all-in
Jumbo-HH: folds
Lukeass985: calls 955 and is all-in
coraM4: folds
chaosystem: folds
Uncalled bet (65) returned to djgolfcan
*** RIVER *** [Qc 3d Th 4c] 5♥
*** SHOW DOWN ***
djgolfcan: shows [3s 3c] (three of a kind, Threes)
Lukeass985: shows [Ts Kc] (a pair of Tens)
djgolfcan collected 3620 from pot
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3620 | Rake 0
Board [Qc 3d Th 4c 5h]
Seat 1: chaosystem folded on the Turn
Seat 2: steviepea (button) folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 3: plourdo (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: djgolfcan (big blind) showed [3s 3c] and won (3620) with three of a
kind, Threes
Seat 5: Jumbo-HH folded on the Turn
Seat 6: Lukeass985 showed [Ts Kc] and lost with a pair of Tens
Seat 7: BWILSONUSAF folded before Flop (didn't bet)
Seat 8: coraM4 folded on the Turn
Seat 9: 5Kingfisher5 folded on the Flop

I tend to agree with Ron7467, but there is one other thing I have started to do.

I try to keep track of how many big blinds I have left. Knowing how many big blinds you have can inform you when you should start considering moving all in (for me, I start thinking about moving all in if I have less than 10 big blinds).

I don't know how many times I've been really low on chips (between 150-250) and come back to be competitive again. The size of my stack doesn't bother me at all (nor my girlfriend LOL couldn't resist). I do get a lot tighter when I get that low in chips and will sit as long as needed till I can get my chips in on a good pot.

Yeah, I agree that the size of my stack is not the biggest concern to me, besides obviouslly making sure I am not blinded out. But as was said earlier in this thread that it is how you finish that counts. In fact, a couple days back I was down about 10-1 in chips HU and through some good cards I managed to win that tourney!

too many people worry about having chips at certain points in the tourneys..i ahve came back with only 200 chips late in a tourney before just by doubling up and picking my spots...dont put so much emphasis on average chip count and chip leaders.....just play your game

It wasn't a tourney, but a ten man SnG the other day, I was down to 120 chips with me and four others left in the tourney. I tightened up big time and only played blinds if I had two great cards and nobody upped the bet. It took me about five rounds before I caught good enough cards to bet on. When I did, I doubled my chips. Then, I did it again about two rounds later. Next thing I know I'm heads up with a 3-1 chip lead.

I won that one and made myself 20 bucks. It just goes to show that chip stack isn't really that important. It's how you play what you have in your hand.

I always feel that it is best to try and keep up with the chip average of the tournament, this usually ensures that you will hit the money and finish strong. Just do not get out of your own rhythm to keep up with the average, pick your spots for when to make your move. This also allows you to push around smaller stacks and avoid some of the bullying that might occur at the table.