How should I play late in an MTT?

M

MiddlePair

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Total posts
270
Chips
0
I'm fairly confident in my MTT play in the EARLY stages of a tourney but always, always end up resorting to shove/fold-ing when the blinds get higher. I get very passive after the first break but don't realize it until its too late. I know that if I figure out how to play in the mid/late stages, I can become a profitable player. Not sure if any of this makes sense but you should get the idea haha
Thanks all,
Scotty:)
 
Gorblid

Gorblid

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 17, 2008
Total posts
171
Awards
1
Chips
6
It really depends of the tourney type, structure, field size, buy-in(R/A?), how much BI do you have..... and then its best to learn how to play the players at the tables instead playing your cards..
 
Daniel72

Daniel72

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Aug 10, 2010
Total posts
2,284
Awards
2
Chips
18
The second volume of "Winning Poker Tournaments - One Hand at a Time" by Rizen/Pearljammer/Apestyles is a good source for this ....
 
M

MiddlePair

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Total posts
270
Chips
0
The second volume of "Winning Poker Tournaments - One Hand at a Time" by Rizen/Pearljammer/Apestyles is a good source for this ....

sounds good, thanks! And I only play freezeouts because my bankroll is tiny. i only play w/ freeroll winnings haha. I normally play .25 or .50cent games.
 
M

MiddlePair

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Total posts
270
Chips
0
i try and avoid turbos just because I usually put myself in bad situations in them ( when blinds get too high)
 
G

GWU73

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 18, 2012
Total posts
785
Chips
0
Late stage tournament play is quite complicated because the payouts impact every decision. My usual strategy is to play position, cultivate a tight image, pick on players who have medium size stacks and avoid tournament risking confrontations unless I have a very short stack or a near nut hand. I try to avoid the better players and play POKER against the ones I can manipulate into giving me their chips. Finally, I play agressively; I almost never call.
Specific advice:
When you get near the final couple of tables many players will be playing with less than 15 BB, so expect a shove fest. Try to stay out of the action in this stage unless you have a very good hand, especially if you are not in late position.
Pay attention to the payout structure. Do not risk your stack at a payout change without a very big hand; somebody will likely go out in 2 or 3 hands anyway.
Avoid calling with speculative hands unkess you have very good implied odds and position.
When you do play a hand play it carefully but agressively.
Continue to steal blinds. Using the smallest bet that will induce a fold from the players behind you. (sometimes that is a shove)
 
KingCurtis

KingCurtis

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 24, 2007
Total posts
9,946
Awards
1
Chips
1
The late part of a tournament is by far the most important part of the tournament. It really is a time when you can control your table and set yourself apart. This all of course depends on the structure of the tournament and most importantly what kind of stack you are sitting on as well. I always like to say that I never want to min cash and just make the money so my strategy works well and I do not worry about making moves in order to build a nice stack off of others who are just hoping to make the money and get blinded away. I could go into greater detail if you gave me a good scenario!
 
M

MiddlePair

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Total posts
270
Chips
0
The second volume of "Winning Poker Tournaments - One Hand at a Time" by Rizen/Pearljammer/Apestyles is a good source for this ....

Thanks, I'll give it a look!
 
M

MiddlePair

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Total posts
270
Chips
0
Do the complete opposite. Do not fear losing - it's part of the game.

Yeah I know it sucks because I'm very competitive (and prone to tilt). I need to face the fact that you cannot win everytime haha
 
Arjonius

Arjonius

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Total posts
3,167
Chips
0
Yeah I know it sucks because I'm very competitive (and prone to tilt). I need to face the fact that you cannot win everytime haha
Tournament poker isn't about cashing every time or even most of the time. Over a large number of tournaments, it unlikely that you'll be in the money more than about 15%.

This means a few things. An important one is that you shouldn't expect more. Mentally and emotionally, you need to accept that you'll lose the large majority of the time, and that this is okay.

The other is that because your ITM will be low, playing conservative in order to increase your chances of min-cashing isn't optimal. This is because doing so decreases your chances of going deep, which is where the large prizes are.
 
moemtg

moemtg

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 20, 2009
Total posts
529
Chips
0
sounds good, thanks! And I only play freezeouts because my bankroll is tiny. i only play w/ freeroll winnings haha. I normally play .25 or .50cent games.

Save your FR winnings and build it up to a suitable amount via winning more free rolls.... Unless you are winning at these micro events?

My two cents,
Moe:cool:
 
M

MiddlePair

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Total posts
270
Chips
0
Late stage tournament play is quite complicated because the payouts impact every decision. My usual strategy is to play position, cultivate a tight image, pick on players who have medium size stacks and avoid tournament risking confrontations unless I have a very short stack or a near nut hand. I try to avoid the better players and play POKER against the ones I can manipulate into giving me their chips. Finally, I play agressively; I almost never call.
Specific advice:
When you get near the final couple of tables many players will be playing with less than 15 BB, so expect a shove fest. Try to stay out of the action in this stage unless you have a very good hand, especially if you are not in late position.
Pay attention to the payout structure. Do not risk your stack at a payout change without a very big hand; somebody will likely go out in 2 or 3 hands anyway.
Avoid calling with speculative hands unkess you have very good implied odds and position.
When you do play a hand play it carefully but agressively.
Continue to steal blinds. Using the smallest bet that will induce a fold from the players behind you. (sometimes that is a shove)

wow this has to be some of the best advice ive ever received. Thank you so much!:D
 
M

MiddlePair

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Total posts
270
Chips
0
Save your FR winnings and build it up to a suitable amount via winning more free rolls.... Unless you are winning at these micro events?

My two cents,
Moe:cool:

Back in November I accumulated $10 in various BetOnline freerolls and worked my way up to over $200 in a few months!....But BetOnline's selection stinks so now I'm on Carbon/Hero. I win a $2.20satellites one every few weeks or so in PLO/NHLE freerolls, and use those to get $11coupons. Ive won those a few times but have never cashed in an $11 before ( closest was 20th when 18th got paid). I do in fact cash in the Sixth Cent tourney every so often however.
 
JDAWG5

JDAWG5

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 14, 2011
Total posts
499
Chips
0
Back in November I accumulated $10 in various BetOnline freerolls and worked my way up to over $200 in a few months!....But BetOnline's selection stinks so now I'm on Carbon/Hero. I win a $2.20satellites one every few weeks or so in PLO/NHLE freerolls, and use those to get $11coupons. Ive won those a few times but have never cashed in an $11 before ( closest was 20th when 18th got paid). I do in fact cash in the Sixth Cent tourney every so often however.


If your playign hero check out the daily $99 freeroll at 7:00.

I also like the $.33 buy in event, but $30 is guaranteed. So the top 10 all get paid, and 1st gets $9.

They also have a $100 freeroll at 10:00.

I'm just like you man, I haven't deposited, I use my freeroll winnings to play small buy-in tournaments, and of course keep playing freerolls.

Once you get into the freeroll club, that will help you out a lot too.:)
 
Top