Tournament play - Stealing Blinds & Bluffing

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DrSparky

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Hi all,

I was playing a tournament last night (10 players most/all better than me most TAG some LAG) that I play every week.
I've never yet been able to get higher than third and I think I know why but need some input as I'm quite inexperienced.

I think I'm not stealing the blinds or bluffing enough. This is mainly since I'm trying to play TAG ABC poker and not play beyond my skill level, but I think it's holding me back from getting any further.

Last night I wasn't catching many cards, and when I did and played a 3BB raise pre-flop I didn't get any action, therefore I ended up being blinded out (Which I've read means I wasn't trying hard enough).

My question is over the course of a tournament (Single table) how many of your plays should be an attempt to steal the blinds or a bluff or a semi-bluff - I'm thinking it's somewhere around 10% of your total plays, am I anywhere close?

Although I understand the basic principles of each play, when I do try to play them I either get called and flop nothing, do a C-bet (When appropriate) then get called and then have to consider firing the 2nd and 3rd barrel...

Any thoughts are very welcome,
DrSparky
 
snklzona

snklzona

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Hopefully for your sake the wiser members will be along shortly to answer you...meanwhile IMO it is not a set % or number but more the right position CO or button and table set up...i.e. little or no action from early pos. players or just limps...knowing something about the people to your left helps as well...as to the good hands you got no action on sometimes I will change things up...min raise or limp and wait for others to raise for me then strike...
 
frozensprx

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just imagine you had a premium hand late in the tourney, and play your bluff exactly the same way. Many players give up on their bluffs in tourneys at exactly the wrong times. But also be aware of stack sizes. If you are under 20bb, then when you try to steal blinds you should consider just shipping all in preflop. You will get a lot of respect from people if you don't do it too often, and even if you get called you can still suckout.
 
Tropwen

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Its because ur not adjusting ur play when appropriate, playing a good TAG ABC game is good early because of low blinds and getting reads on the other players but when u get short handed (around 4) your starting hand requirements need to be lowered because with the smaller field of players left a lot of marginal hands become favorites and it doesn't seem to use ur position as much as u should stealing blinds is a situational play usually in position/on the button and if u ever want to win a SnG you have to be able to take a shot and risk going out before the money to set yourself up to be in a good position to take 1st . If your goal is to cash it will be much harder to win once you cash compared to taking shots to win the whole thing. Look up articles about playing more aggressive late in a tournament
Good luck and I hope this helps
 
BlackMoth5

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How much you bluff depends on the style of your opponents. If you have a lot of "calling stations" and/or loose players then it's not a good idea to bluff very often. However, if you have a lot of tight players then it is an ideal opportunity to bluff more frequently.
 
duggs

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you are over thinking it mate, as our position becomes later, the number of hands we should open becomes wider, and as the effective stack becomes shorter the smaller our opening size should be (until we are open shoving)
 
BLACKSTACK

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Sadly you say most are better players than you, On the other hand atleast you are honest, I believe in the ft you are playing really tight and others know that so its very easy for others to fold preflop when you make a bet.Try lowering your play hands mix it up and steal from position and fish/scared money hopefully theres one or two other than just you, Play the opposite style, If you see the table playing very tight get into a steal mode but if the table is LAG make them bite the hook when you get premium hands,most LAGS will do the beting for you trying to steal the pot or thinking 10's are good with a flop such as 10,J,Q, Also since others think you are playing really tight and or scared, You will see them raising your blinds almost every time, Next time that happen try bluffing with a reraise and they will fold the trash they raised with and will respect your blinds a little little more,Unless they really got a strong hand lol,Good luxk bud and hope my words of wisdom help you.
 
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DrSparky

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Thanks for all the replies - very helpful. By the sound of it I need to be concentrating more on my opponents, the table, my position and my image and not so much on my cards...

Thanks again,
DrSparks
 
Blobweird123

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Thanks for all the replies - very helpful. By the sound of it I need to be concentrating more on my opponents, the table, my position and my image and not so much on my cards...

Thanks again,
DrSparks

You can be dealt 72o 90% of the time and still win a SnG. Just matters what opponents think you have.
 
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kwhilborn

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First never (COUGH COUGH) bluff in 10 player tables. Someone always has a good hand.

Now if you have a flush or straight draw then of course you are not really bluffing as much if you bet.

If you end up heads up or in a position you think the other player has notta then this is how bluffing kinda works.

The flop is Q 10 7, and you have the 10. Is it bluffing if you bet the 10 as if it is top pair. What are the odds they have the queen or better. In a five hour tourney though this kind of bluffing will bite hard when they show AA, KK , etc

If you have A 10 or better in a position to steal large blinds why not bet 3X BB and hope they fold. They will fold more often than not.

I probably am not explaining it well, but sometimes you are betting against what they may have as well as what you have.

Try to call a lot less and sit out more. If you dont make a flop fold. Try to not bet top or second pair unless you think you are bluffing.

If you get low stacked you should try to double up by pushing all in before your stack is 4-5X BB or everyone will call you. You stand a 33% chance against AA, but if you are up against 3 people your odds are much, much less. Try pushing (means all-in) with ANY pair (22 beats AK more often than not) or Ace-rag (preferably above 8), and you might double up.

No matter how low your chips go you are likely onl 3-4 double ups away from chip leader position so don't worry if your pot sags a little.

Only play good cards. Limp in with suited connected cards (8-9 diamonds) or small pairs, and if you don't make a cheap drawing hand or set then fold. If you are aiming for a high pair and have AA, KK, JJ or whatever, bet high before flop to eliminate competition. You don't want someone calling in with 7-2 and getting a boat on flop. Protect your hand.

If you want to draw but are afraid villain may bet too high control betting by betting low. Bet 40 or something and put them in a calling position. This is a good strategy to keep the pot affordable when drawing (i.e. attempting to get a flush, or straight).

Fold Fold, Fold, Fold. Do not accept or play trash cards fro the dealer. Trash them.

Newbs don't often realize the importance of the button, but simply calling in when the button is yours then you can bet if everyone checks and often steal the pot. Position can be as important as cards in many cases. You will realize this when you don't make your hand you called in on from early position and make a poor bet or check to the button who may really have a hand. Position can be as important as the cards.

As I am typing this I just finished 4th in a 27 player. I was first place, but flopped a 10 high pair and lost half my chips to someone with bullets. Least it was in the bubble/ITM.

When you get to top three (OP professed problem area) the game changes. Blinds are sometimes so high that all-ins are almost mandatory when you get pairs, or Ace-J or better. Do not be afraid of all-ins and maybe even practice by playing a few tournaments where you
a) Always go all-in preflop (you can score well in tourneys sometimes if you choose wisely.)
b) Be overly aggressive
c) Be overly tight
d) Fold good hands and bluff a few games.
Try different methods of play. We can tell you what works, but try to get experience. i.e. drawing on a straight sounds good in theory, but it is a statistical nightmare.

If people try to steal your blinds. Let them, but if you have a good hand or think they tried it too many times lately then push back.

One thing is also to look at the pot. dont bet $400 to make $60 if your hand is iffy. There is something called pot odds which is an advance guide for calling rules. It is sometimes worth limping with a 7-2 into a pot if 6 others have gone in before you. If you do make your hand you will get a great payday.

Patience is the name of the game. Great hands will find you.
 
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