Hitting The Wall

I wish I knew where I'm going wrong. I really enjoy tournament play and because my funds are limited freerolls are where I play. Actually that's beside the point because my problem exists pretty much the same no matter whether I'm buying in or not. The thing is, is that regardless of the amount of registered players in a tournament I usually make into the final ten to twenty percentile. And it's not because I'm just sitting back waiting for others to be eliminated. I mean I'm a rookie and all but I'd like to think that I'm giving it my all whenever I'm at the table. I'm also usually in pretty good shape chip wise. The thing is that while I understand to have a sporting shot at beating the bubble your stack has to continually grow, when I'm getting close to that point I'm blowing it. It's really starting to get frustrating especially considering the amount of time and effort it takes to get to the level I'm getting blown out at. Any ideas or input would be greatly appreciated.
_________________
Best Regards and Good Luck!...J.Bagadonuts

Sounds exactly like me. I go into many many freerolls at FullTiltPoker for the Aussie ticket. get to the final two tables or even the final and find my chip stack gets targeted by someone obviously better than me (not that hard to do) and drops the curtain on me. I think its because I don't study the flop well enought to avoid traps. I just started the online poker in August 07 and it is addictive.

Tournament strategy can be a very tricky concept. There are places and times when it's strategically correct to "sit back and wait" for others to eliminate themselves. But, that doesn't mean folding strong hands, just don't go wild with iffy play.

Near the bubble of any tournament is a good place to pick up some easy, albeit small, pots. Position is critical in these situatios, use it to your advantage. Be selective, be wary, be selectively aggressive, and you'll get there.

Sounds like good advice reglardave -- early in tourneys it is krazy and one has to be careful not to be carried away by the rush to all-in. Since chip stack becomes very important a certain amount of going all-in is important but must be done with really strong cards and I like to do it in the late positions. I'd surely like to win one of these tourneys and get into an Aussie game and eventually win some M-o-n-e-y!!!

FYI Perry, the only way you'll win money in the Aussie freerolls is if you win your way through three satellites (Rounds 2 and 3 have bigger fields, BTW), then get a ticket to Australia, then beat some of the best players in the world at the actual Aussie Millions tournament. They're a laugh, but if you're looking to make money, it's the long way around. The Round 1 satellites alone take three hours or more to finish.

A CardsChat game will serve you a lot better if you're just looking to make a couple of bucks in a freeroll

OzExorcist you speak from experience -- I respect what you say too. But, I have an ego that wants me to try anyway. No guts, no glory; Isn't that what it's all about. I have won afew bucks playing in short tourneys but not at FTP. I have a decent chance of winning small tounaments with a couple hundred players. I'll be the first to admit that I do lose my good judgement some times at the end of a game and it has cost me dearly. That's my single biggest problem. I could win more if I didn't let some smarter player trap me and give me the ticket to Goodbyesville.

The key to ultimately winning online tourneys and consistantly making final tables is card management. It can be easy to build a big stack with low blinds in the early rounds to set up a few moves in the middle portions of tourneys. The challenge begins when the stacks aren't as deep as the blinds and management comes into play. This is where reading players tendencies becomes key and examining your own table image as well. Ultimately, it takes discipline and concentration to consistantly cash and be in the position to win, regardless of how good you think you are.

Nothing wrong with that, it's costing you nothing but time

Just saying, there's similar games where you'll have an easier time winning actual money. But if you do win an Aussie Millions ticket, drop me a PM and I'll come rail you at Crown

It just takes patience and practice. It can be very exhausting playing MTTs so sometimes you just have to take a break. Read some more poker books and pay close attention to the details about a tourny in the field range that you are busting out. Plus sometimes you have to losen up more than you would play normally and just tell yourself....it's now or never...I either need to build up now or bust out. Sometimes I think it's better to bust out 3/4 of the way through a tourney trying to build for a shot at the final table then get run over and blinded out only to make a few more bucks than the buy in.

Thanks for your post Sonic X Preducer : I have one good book by Sklansky and have ordered another by Miller(?name). I have pretty much backed off most freerolls and now play at Absolute Poker with money. I've got alittle ahead playing small tourneys and sng games -- to make my life interesting I have had a week now of the raggiest cards I've seen online poker. I mean an endless pocket of 2's - 6's. If I get an A or K the other card is 2, 3, etc. I'm getting the feeling the poker gods have it in for me. I may develope a facial tick from these crummy cards. If I go in with a pair of, say 3's, I get beat by a pair of 4's. I hope others have had this experience where nothing works for you. I need some reinforcement that better cards will be coming - what a revolting developement.

It is possible that "ego" may be part of your problem. In poker, as in life "ego" will kill you more that it will cure you.

You know, I assume, that those freerolls have very little in common with real tournaments.

Abso-friggin-lutely! I know what you're saying about an endless stream of garbage. And then, when you do finally hit a decent hand you turn into a lesbian in a fish market. I guess you just have to keep the faith that things WILL turn around.

First off, i not fond of a gun pointed in my face via your profile pic.

Secondly, you seem to be too loose of a player. You need to play tighter,
esecally after you get a good chip stack. and early in a mtt. Hand selection is key; use it to your advantadge. if your opponets are playing you as a honest player, use c-bets to steal big pots, or just pots in general. keeping your opponets off balence in there assement of your game is key; they will get frustrated and you will be able to destroy them with a monster hand when they feel you are c-betting again.

I am forced to agree with you Mississ8ppiMud, my ego has gotten in my way at times. Most of my eyeball to eyeball was way back then and the play could get really hairy. I have an urge to get even with players who enter "hahahahahahaaa" when they take me down. Or worse, when they do it to some other player who is minding his/her own business. Anymore the only thing I do is mute their chat. But, if truth be known I'm looking for a chance to give them some humble pie. This latter crapola is a distraction and I know it and conciously trying to put is aside . . . my own worst enemy is me.