Mid-MTT strategy

In the past few months, I've been playing a lot of NLHE on Full Tilt, buying in for about $5 for SNG's and $2 for MTT's. In the SNG's, I have been successful just by getting my money in the pot with good hands and trying not to chase too often. In the SNG's the blinds stay relatively low for about 25 minutes, so I have been able to play patiently, increase my stack quickly, and just like that I'm in the money and in position for the win.

This style works well in MTT's until the ante's kick in-- then playing patiently causes too much bleeding and I end up on the short stack, get into race situations, and I find myself just hoping to get lucky. I feel a little more comfortable in steal situations than I did before, and I usually stay afloat and not lose my stack to the blinds. This strategy, however, is not really condusive to stack building.

Obviously, I can't play like a NIT forever in MTT's, and I need to learn how continue winning pots without monster hands. What kind of situations should I look for to build my stack deep in tournaments? For example, how often should I play a suited ace, and from what position? When are good times to play QJ or KTs? When is a hand like 87s and other group 5 hands appropriate to play??

Thanks for the help...

In mid stages of mtt play,I usually play alot of position poker.
Of course it depends what your chip stack looks like,your table image,the way the rest of your table has been playing.
But again as I have stated in other threads I just tend to pick my spots to make a move.
If you are card dead you still need to pick up some blinds,especially when the antes kick into place.

I can steal the blinds & antes, but if I'm trying to actually move up the leaderboard and not just stay alive, I can't wait for AA or KK all day, and set hunting is usually too expensive at that point in the tournament. I guess what I'm trying to figure out is when you're not grossly short stacked, when is it okay to try to see a flop?

You can't really force it. Steal blinds & antes to stay afloat until you get a rush of cards. Then make your run. In some tourney's the 'rush' never gets there.....then it wasn't your tournament. If you can score 15% ITM with MTT's you are doing good!!!!

If there was a way to build your stack at will, we would all be doing it. Stay alive and attack when the opportunity presents itself.

I suppose you have a point, lol. I guess poker is a game of variance as much as anything else, after all. I'll just keep trying to play my game while doing my best to stay alive in MTT's.

Any other mid-MTT advice?

Have you read the Harrington books? those should really help you out.

I always like defending my blinds more during mid-mtt games. Everyone tries to steal blinds and its sometimes a good way to make money off their c-bets. I've had numerous times where I hit a flop and double up from the the BB position or SB position

yeah I I like this way, position poker works well, especially when card dead. Although, position poker has changed, as there are plenty more spots to steal from.

Although I disagree with the whole stack size thing. You can steal play position poker and make solid steals and bluffs, it just varies...

small stack: push with a wider range but good enough to steal blinds

mid stack: play tight wait longer, pick your spots and make good decisions, don't panic. A lot of people panic with this stack but really you are in better shape then you think, especially if you double.

big stack: take advantage of stealing more, and the soon to be bubble.

You really don't have to let yourself dwindle down to a small stack, the only way you should get to that point is if you lose a hand, again not from just waiting. I have gotten so much farther so many more time just by growing some balls and not worrying about just min cashing and going for the win. Many are doing the same thing, waiting, so take advantage of that and be aggressive, steal, but don't make yourself readable or obvious. Best thing to do is switch it up, change gears and eventually you'll wake up wiht a good hand and you'll get looked up by a weak hand....man I could go on forever lol

I guess your chip stack wouldn't be shrinking, but the stack of those around you are growing, so your stack relative to those around you is getting smaller. But you're right, you wouldn't be losing anything. I really like what you said though, that most people around me will be playing tight as well and I can take advantage of that. Then, they'll think I'm just a LAG idiot and when I turn up with a monster I'll actually get action and crush them :-D

look for times you can win the pot without a showdown. you will notice when the blinds get higher there are less and less showdowns. this is where you can make your money. as far as medium strengh hands i would look to open pots w/them in LP for 2.5x the blind hoping to pick up the blinds right there. there are signs as to when to start stealing. if you see everyone fold and the big blind just pick up the pot(a walk) its time to start stealing. also when the pots start getting big i will often throw in a big bluff w/a scary turn card. i know this puts a lot of my chips at risk but it can be worth it if it works. another thing i do later in a tourney is a never open/limp(a may do it very early on) if i want to play i hand i make it 2.5x to go. i will do this w/56s UTG if i really just want to see a flop. you will be surprised how much respect an UTG raise gets late in a tourney.

IMO if your grossly short stacked(13BB's or less) any hand you want to see a flop w/make sure your going to see a turn and river also. in other words 13BB or less its allin or fold. i will shove with lots of hands too. the only exception i make here is if i got a hand the flops well(eg JTs) and there are limpers i may just complete when i'm in the small blind.

Yeah, with apx. 10 BB left if I open I've already committed 1/3 of my stack to the pot, so I better be ready to go bust.

A kind of random but related question: say you're pretty deep stacked, say 70-80 BB's, and you're OTB, SB or BB when a small stack, around 8-10 BB's shoves all-in. With what range would you suggest calling the all-in?

if you put in 1/3 of their stack call with any two cards. the thing i try not to do is get pot comitted vs a small stack. so OTB i tighten up vs small stacks. what do i call w/77+ AJ+ but someone else may have a better range for you. for the most part if folded to OTB i make it 2.5xBB if 10BB shoves i fold. then make it 2.5xBB from CO if folded to.

Something I've been thinking about for the past couple days is the squeeze play, where someone opens and one or two, sometimes three players call cold, so you shove in hopes of taking it down right there. In a deep tournament, especially around bubble time against medium stacks, this seems like a really effective play. Does anyone have a recommendation on how to pull this off? i.e. how big of a bet is good (obviously it varies) or what cards play well when you get caught, etc...

i like to know that the 1st limper can fold. if i see him limp then fold to a raise in the past then i may try a steal. this doesnt have to work alot to be profitable. i like to do this play in the blinds as i'm out of position. i do like to have something as far as cards go. pending on the table i may do this with as little as AJo or 66+. i also want to again make sure someone isnt commited to the pot already(1/3 thier stack already in). this is a play that only works once if if works. so after doing this make sure you got a big hand before doing it again. its a great way to get big hands paid later on.

UTG is the 'new button'. You can get alot of respect with an UTG raise. They tend to believe more, so you get more respect with your c-bet.

hehe the squeeze play can be tricky, and try not to do it with completely raggy hands, always have a hand that can somewhat take a call. Here is a good example. I was in a live tourney last weekend, around 100 entries and top 10 made ITM (final table). There was 17 left and I had about 14-15k and blinds were 400-800 and 100 antes and about to go up to 500-1k (like 2 min). A guy in mid position with about 20k raised to 3BBs, a guy with 9k flat called, and I looked into 99. I could of just called for set value but the one with 20k had been raising about 2-3 times a round (so there was def some stealing going on, i was counting his raises). so i shoved at this point sort of a semi squeeze expecting to take it down right there. But timing is everything and unfortunately for me the 20k guy called and so did the 9k guy, first had KK and second had AQ. needless to say i lost and was out in 17th place (well tied with the other guy who was also knocked out). So be very careful when using the squeeze play and always make sure u have a decent holding where ur atleast a coin flip or 60-40% if ur called. Remember, it only takes one mistake to be knocked out of a tourney and u def dont want that one to be a squeeze. GL on the felts!

Well, in tournement poker you have to get more agressiv if he blinds increase and the antes kick in....
Try to use your image and play your position!
Then you should be able to collect chips.
It will not work all the time.....

Damn, that really stinks. I don't disagree with that play at all there, but like you said, you were just the victim of unfortunate circumstances. I think if you have to live cards in that spot, and your squeeze bet is making it really tough for your opponents to call, it's probably the right move (unless they've caught on to you).

Hahah, I just tried this at a table, probably not the best situation: $3 KO SNG on Full Tilt, blinds are 60/120, a guy raises from early position and two players flat call. I'm on the button with A2, which to be honest, I probably should have mucked since it's so likely that I'm dominated, but I had them all covered and I was curious to see what happened. So I go all-in, and the first two players fold, but the third guy calls for his tournament life with A5. I guess he had me beat, but that's not a call I make even to the first raise. So I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm learning where to make my moves, and one of those places is definitely not fairly early in a KO tourney with A2, lol.

haha ya u def want to make these moves later on in a tourney when u have some chips behind u, the squeeze play should be used mid to late in the tourney and prob best around the bubble since ur tourney life counts for so much more, def not at the beginnning. And when u make the squeeze play u dont want to use ace rag, its better to have a medium pocket pair like 77-JJ or two suited connectors like 78-910. the reason u dont want to make this play with cards such as k 10 or A9 that if ur called ur likely always going to be over a 70% dog (ish). while if u have a pocket pair u could be a slight favorite vs AK or AQ, or with two live cards u have some outs depending on what the flop brings. For example, if u have 78 suited and u squeeze and the guy calls u with AK its ok cuz ther are plenty of outs and im prty sure ur about a 60% dog. the flop is either going to hit him hard or completely miss him and prob hit u (since any low cards help give u a straight, any cards under their ak also helps give u a straight and any of ur suits will give u a flush draw). Gl using this squeeze play. and played another tourney yesterday (live) 170 ppl, got knocked out when i had 77 flopped top set 7 5 2, guy had pckt 10s and it was all in on the flop, came runner runner diamonds for him to make a four flush... sigh.

Its also very important to realise that at low levels, sophisticated plays are wasted on a lot of players. Most of your opponents have not moved beyond thinking about their own cards, so if you shove on a player because you think he's weak, he is not going to be wondering much about your hand, he's only concerned with "is my hand good enough to win" and you will get called by a lot of Ax, small pairs and broadway combination cards. Against these players best thing is to play pretty much straight forward poker and steal a lot.

Assuming you have your own personal hand requirements and that in general they loosen up with position.

i.e. to open UTG, you need a high pair, mp u need a mid pair, and in the action seats (C.O.,Button, SB, BB) you're fine with any pair. <<< Just an example !!!

As the tourney progresses, and again assuming you're not shortstacked and acting desperate, a way that tends to work for me is to theoretically move my position-o-meter one seat to the left. Near the bubble, that may change to 2 seats left of actual.

I've seen this more on FT than on PS, but I don't like the squeeze at micro levels. Especially at FT. Too many donks call all in or 3/4 stack with ACE RAG offsuit and ALWAYS hits some crap against my med pp.

Also, I too have the same problem as cjatud. I get to a point in the trny where I know that I need to be stealing blinds, but I alway seem to get the 10 2 or q 5 type hands that I don't feel comfortable raising with. It also seems like every time I want to steal, there is a raise infront of me or a loose meathead behind me. Any suggestions?

Mid-stage MTT's after the antes kick in, you can profitably open-shove a wide range at 16 BB's or less. Anything less than 15 BB's I will be looking to shove at least 1 time every orbit as long as I have some fold equity with weak hands. You wont move up the leaderboards just by stealing without at least 1 double up at less than 20 BB's. If your table is playing tight, shove more and with a wider range, and if they are playing loose shove with premium hands or hands that you believe to be live, not marginal hands like KJ- or A9-. The time you want to be seeing flops is when you have 25+ BB's agains someone with roughly the same stack as you IN POSITION. Be careful when you choose to play a pot with someone that has you covered. One mistake and they can bust you. Hope this helps.

the point about stealing blinds has nothing to do with your hand strength. In fact the weaker your hand, the better, because these hands have very little flop value. So if u steal blinds with Q5os, you have just made a profit from a hand that has none. Keep in mind when stealing the following considerations:

1. Your table image. If you have been able to establish a tight image, your opponents are more likely to give u credit for a good hand.
2. Are the blinds tight or aggressive players? If you have seen them play tight, you can steal often knowing that if they call or play back at u then they have a hand. Even if you see a flop all is not lost. You might actually hit the flop and your hand then becomes incredibly well concealed. If you miss the flop, you still have position allowing you to c-bet and attempt to take it down.
3. Your stack size. If you have 20BB or less, then make sure to steal with hands that have some flop potential such as suited connectors. At 20BB or less you should really be concerned about stack protection.
4. The blind's stack sizes. If they are short stacked, chances are they might push against you with any marginal hand so best to be sure you can make a call if this happens. If they are big stacks, they may just call hoping to hit the flop or try and take the pot away, so again be careful of stealing here. Best targets are average size stacks, they can afford to fold.
5. Position and frequency. Don't steal too often, it becomes obvious and then you lose your tight image. Sometimes a steal from the cut off is better than the button, where blinds will expect you to steal. An occasional UTG raise with suited connectors is also worth a try but u have to be careful what happens if u get a caller.

i actually disagree with johnnyfronts. looks like he is advocating harringtons position on shoving but i personally believe this is incorrect. Y rish your stack of 16BB with a wide range? u have time to wait and patience at this stage, although more difficult to manage, is still essential

at 20BB i am looking to maximise my strong hands and to steal where the opportunity is available nd the conditions are right.

once i reach 15BB, i am looking for an opportunity to re-raise all in after seeing an aggressive player raise and get called. i want to do this from late position, ideally with the blinds, with a hand that is unlikely to be dominated, such as 87s. This is a tactic suggested by Phil Gordon.

11 - 7 BB I am playing only premium hands: TT - AA, AK, AQ and possibly AJ and I am pushing all in. Even A5 on the button i am likely to fold unless the conditions regarding the blinds are right (stack size and tight players)

7 - 4 BB i am pushing any Ace, pairs and suited connectors, preferably first in the pot, if there is a raise in front of me, it depends on what my hand is and where i am in the 7 - 4 range.

I used to follow harringtons strategy of pushing with any cards if your stack has an M of 10-12BB, but i now believe that waiting for better hands is more advantageous. I will even let the blinds pass through me if I am not getting strong hands, but with antes, this becomes much more difficult to do because the pot is generally offering too much for u to fold. Of course less than 4 BB and its pretty much push.

I'll open-raise from the CO or button with any of those hands after antes kick in. If anyone else has opened the pot, easy muck. Should pick up the blinds and antes often enough, and if anyone else limps you have position throughout the hand. If the SB or BB 3-bet, I'm usually done, unless I know they can make that play with a wide range from past play.

A few caveats--if any of the players left to act are super-aggressive, I won't play these hands--instead I'm waiting for a slightly bigger hand to trap with of course, unless they are completely wild, then I might open with the intention of a 4-bet shove.

As the antes kick in during the middle levels of tournaments, you need ratchet up the aggression, raise more in position and try and pick out the players at the table that are also raising and throw in an occasional three-bet preflop.