My Local Game: Need Suggestions.

Four times a week my local live Poker provider holds a freeroll.

There are usually about 50 people in them.

At the start of the tournament you receive 1000 chips and can add-on twice ($10 per addon) for 2000 more per add-on. So for $20 you can start with 5000 chips or for free you can start with 1000.

Blinds are 15 minutes starting at 25/50. You can also rebuy if you bust out for $10 (2000) or $20 (4000) up until the first break (1 hour into tourney)

What is a good strategy for starting this tournament if you start with only the 1000 chips?

Would you rebuy thirty minutes in if you lose that 1000? (There are other SnGs going on as well, which may be a better investment.)

Payouts are usually around $450ish for first, $200ish for second, and maybe a third place.


Just looking for strategy when starting almost shortstacked. (20 Big Blinds) against others who start with pretty large stacks (100 BB)

Ive noticed a lot of players on pokerstars microstakes buy into .01/.02 and .02/.05 games short with around 50 BB's or so, so the comparison of strategy should be pretty similar. Play real tight and essentially play 2 street poker. Either all your moneys in after the flop or get out of the hand. If theres action before the flop and you got a monster thats also a good time to get it all in. If a lot of people buy in for the full 5000 you might get some loose action as calling your all in would only be 20% of their stack. Basically wait for premium hands or a spot where you can steal the blinds because without those steals and a double up or two youre stack is gonna get eaten by the blinds real quick.

chillinmayne said:

Ive noticed a lot of players on pokerstars microstakes buy into .01/.02 and .02/.05 games short with around 50 BB's or so, so the comparison of strategy should be pretty similar.

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He is referring to a tournament.
You are referring to a ring, which have no blind increases, and don't require that most people bust out before you to cash.

Having only $1,000 when other people have $5,000 is a big disadvantage.
I assume the beginning of these tournaments are pretty wild, so if you're not looking to put $ in, I think your best bet is to play tight and then try to get a lot of chips in when you have a good hand. I'd be looking to shove pre-flop with T/T+ and A/Q+ to hopefully double or triple up early.


If the next wave of blinds is 50/100, well, by then the right move will probably be to muck or shove anyway.


Basically, you *need* chips fast. People will play really loose, so try to wait and jam when you have a better hand. You want to win or bust. If you get a decent stack, tighten up some and play your regular game.


Now, if you are willing to put $ in you can play closer to a normal game. Avoid playing against big stacks, and be a little mor eager to play against the desperate short stacks. If you know someone is going to rebuy and they are short, call them lighter than you would normally because they're likely to make a hail-Mary play before rebuying.

SavagePenguin said:

He is referring to a tournament.
You are referring to a ring, which have no blind increases, and don't require that most people bust out before you to cash.

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Sorry if I didn't make that clear, I was just making a comparison to the stack sizes, not ring vs. tourney.

SavagePenguin said:

Having only $1,000 when other people have $5,000 is a big disadvantage.
I assume the beginning of these tournaments are pretty wild, so if you're not looking to put $ in, I think your best bet is to play tight and then try to get a lot of chips in when you have a good hand. I'd be looking to shove pre-flop with T/T+ and A/Q+ to hopefully double or triple up early.

If the next wave of blinds is 50/100, well, by then the right move will probably be to muck or shove anyway.

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Definitely agree, but depending on how long it takes for the blinds to increase, you might have to get even more aggressive and maybe shove with some smaller pairs and AJ/AT because if the levels are short theres a possibility you just might not get any of those premium hands in time. If the blinds are both other shortstacks who are playin tight, if your on the button or CO and you got an ace or two broadway cards definitely try and make some moves. Worst case your beat, or you coinflip and you double up, or maybe they fold and you pick up a few blinds. Obviously, don't go overboard with it and push A4o UTG, but it might even help your image because if someone sees you raise or shove in late position with ace rag, next time you push and you do have a premium hand theres a better chance you might get paid off. Basically, with such a short stack the odds are against you so any edge you can get you gotta push and push hard.

My strategy would be to not start out with 1000 chips. I've done it for fun just to see if I could make it through, but the odds are just too long to make it worth the time put in.

You'd play it pretty much the same as being short stacked late in a tournament. Maybe limp in with strong speculative hands (suited ace, suited connectors, any pocket pair) early if you can or simply push all in with a premium hand or any pocket pair in late position with nobody else in. Once the blinds hit 50-100 you can't really play a normal game - 3x preflop raise plus continuation bet is almost your whole stack.