Tournament Mentality

It seems over the summer, my tournament game had really stepped up. First of all, I got coaching from CC's own Bob Tiger. After that I started thinking about the game more and more and thought I was playing very well. After a few smaller buy-in/field wins, I started playing on Stars with the really large fields. I haven't been doing as well and am trying to figure out what's different, so here's the question. When playing with such a large field, (3-4k), should your mentality be to cash first and then start working toward winning the tournament? I feel like lately I've been just focused on what 1st place or the final table pays and thinking about making there the entire time, forgetting there's still another thousand players left. I'm just trying to figure out the right way to approach this part of the tournament game..

I think you'll get several opinions on this one. The most obvious being "I play to WIN". Sure, playing to win and getting into the bigger paydays is the overall objective. Fact is, FEW will make it that often in large MTT's.

Mine is a two-step approach, much like what you are asking about. Before I can make FT, I have to make it ITM. Driving along the 'highway of poker' on busy roads (an MTT) I have a destination in mind. If I don't suffer a breakdown (bad beat) I will flow with traffic in that direction. I'll move in and out of traffic along the way when the road allows. Once in a while I look a little ahead (and the cards/competition are running right) and the fast lane is wide open, I'll get in it. If not, I'll flow with 'closing the mileage' to the destination.

I try to stay above average in chip accumulation. That insures I seldom have to take an 'all-in' risk as a shorty to survive. I know where the ITM cutoff is and keep that in mind. Being within the reach of ITM, it opens up the range of hands I can play and the risks I will take to improve my position.

Think about it from another perspective. Good BR management says I shouldn't invest more than 3-5% of my BR in an MTT. That gives me some 25-30 or so shots at making a big payday. Along the way, some ITM wins allow me to extend that range considerably. Taking into account skill, variance, luck (or lack of it), bad beats and the 30% of the time my 70% odds don't hold up, I need as many buy-ins as I can maintain in order to hit that right table, right situation, +variance, etc, to get that big payday.

If being 'good' and making the bigger payday were all that easy, why not take 25% of a BR and play 'to win' every time? I'll take all the ITM's I can get, and watch for the few and best opportunities to reach for the brass ring.

That's 'my' take on it. An old time conservative player who believes that old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill. ...

Nice post nick and I agree 100% espically on the larger fields, sometimes its better to get in the money first before dreaming of that big win and going out trying to be accumalating as much chips in the first few hours.

I find sometimes the cards come early, then dissapear and you get caught stealing/ or trying to bully too much. I guess knowing when to change gears is what makes a major difference in what I see in the consistant winners in tourneys.

I have tried various ways to play a MTT, from the super aggressive accumulate chips as fast as you can right from the start, to the super tight, wait for premimum hands only, style of play.

I can say that I cash more with tighter play but need some good luck to go deeper into the tournament due to being a shorter stack.

I think the optimal play changes throughout a tournament. You need to take advantage of good breaks and good cards when they come but protect you chips at all costs. Don't risk you tournament life on a flip of the coin, try to go after smaller stacks rather than those that can bust you out.

Try to accumulate chips slowly and steadily. Don't wait for the "big score" as it may not come and you'll be blinded out before you know it. Playing tight for long periods will help you when the blinds and antes get higher and are worth stealing. Do not try this when you get to a new table, you need to establish your image all over again.

Take notes like crazy. The reads you get will help you later, you never know when you are going to be seated with that player again.

Playing in position can not be over emphasized. Playing AJ UTG is not the same as playing it from the button. Don't be afraid of laying down a good hand to aggression. Better to live to fight another day than to let your pride and ego bust you out. Listen to you gut, it knows when you are beat and when you are ahead.

And once in a while you get into what is called "The Zone", you know what cards everyone is playing, you can even lay down AA after the flop. You make amazing plays, amazing reads and you feel on top of your game. Those are the days you will get to the final table and take it down.