Card Dead

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tmannie

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The problem I have with tournies and , i say this after many, the first hour or two the cards run smoothish for me,thereafter I go card dead right until we are in or close to the money ,
by which time I am badly blinded down , and at this point usually recieve my first decent hand (for a long time)usually AA or KK which more often than not I lose with my allin to a big stack. I am talking of a consistent pattern over a good few thousand tournies. My observations , in spite of all the good advise about playing tight in the early phase etc, is that the wild early phase players amass many chips quickly and when they know how to put the brakes on thereafter usually make the big money.
I am wondering if that is not an approach worth trying , i.e. get knocked out early many times but when it works it is a good ticket to the final table with many chips. Although I remember one tourny where the cards worked well for me initially , in fact I was the chipleader by miles , but my best hand thereafter was J4 , I eventually got blinded out 2 spots before the money.
I actually now only play free rolls or free ticket tournies because of my tourny experience to date.
 
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ph_il

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Look up how to play different stack sizes at different stages of an MTT.
 
SydTheCat

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I won't let myself get blinded out. Be ready to push all in when your around 10bb with any decent hand, but do it when you're opening and your LP. Some times you have to do it with any two cards. Just do it.
 
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ritehere

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Play more lowball when you go card dead
 
Amanda A

Amanda A

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Yes I think you might want to take more risk in early/ mid stages to set yourself up better for the end game. I'm learning this too after being too conservative with ITM approaching and having a too small a stack at that point.
 
Bob23bk

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If you run card dead and you're getting blinded out often, you need to change it up a bit. I would guess that you are not stealing from the blinds nearly enough, it is a crucial part of surviving tourneys. If you are folded to on the button you should be attempting to steal wide (in general). Look for spots you are likely to get through, for instance- steal from players who are very nitty. Pay attention to the other players, if you see someone limping quite often and folding to cbets on the flop, they may be calling with ATC and folding unless they smash the flop. This could be a good spot to bluff.

If you're running really really card dead, and you've been folding forever (slight exaggeration :p), consider stealing from tighter players, 3bet someone who opens light and folds to 3bets, etc. Players will notice when you suddenly wake up, and will likely give you credit for a monster.

It's also important to take action before you get down to a tiny stack. As SydTheCat said, around 10BB is when you really need to shift gears. As your stack size gets smaller you lose your fold equity (who's folding their BB to a 2.5BB jam when they're likely getting ~4:1 with the antes and SB?), and you also get pot committed to any hand you play (open a min raise with 3bb behind, can you really fold if you miss the flop when almost half your stack is in the middle and you're probably getting ~4:1 or better?)

About the idea of stacking up early on, you will have to get lucky (variance) to get a very large stack size in the early stages. You should be playing conservatively while the blinds are low and there are little/no antes. You have time and will have more opportunities, so take good spots. If you do manage to chip up early, don't go crazy trying to knock everybody out! Stay conservative and let the other players stack off each other. This is a pitfall of those crazy players, they will get a huge stack by wildly gambling and then continue to gamble their way out of the tourney!

Sorry if this is overwhelming or poorly explained, hope it helps! :)
 
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Allmine79

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It sounds like you need to take more stabs at pots to maintain a stack. When I first started playing I would bleed down as well playing nothing but premiums. What you need to keep in mind is 80% of the time if you can raise it up with even the ugliest hand in the game that continuation bet usually pays off . I recommend more aggression in middle game stages to avoid the low stack bubble situations. I'm no smuck and win thousands every year playing for a living. Find your game and play the player not the cards.
 
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Allmine79

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If you run card dead and you're getting blinded out often, you need to change it up a bit. I would guess that you are not stealing from the blinds nearly enough, it is a crucial part of surviving tourneys. If you are folded to on the button you should be attempting to steal wide (in general). Look for spots you are likely to get through, for instance- steal from players who are very nitty. Pay attention to the other players, if you see someone limping quite often and folding to cbets on the flop, they may be calling with ATC and folding unless they smash the flop. This could be a good spot to bluff.

If you're running really really card dead, and you've been folding forever (slight exaggeration :p), consider stealing from tighter players, 3bet someone who opens light and folds to 3bets, etc. Players will notice when you suddenly wake up, and will likely give you credit for a monster.

It's also important to take action before you get down to a tiny stack. As SydTheCat said, around 10BB is when you really need to shift gears. As your stack size gets smaller you lose your fold equity (who's folding their BB to a 2.5BB jam when they're likely getting ~4:1 with the antes and SB?), and you also get pot committed to any hand you play (open a min raise with 3bb behind, can you really fold if you miss the flop when almost half your stack is in the middle and you're probably getting ~4:1 or better?)

About the idea of stacking up early on, you will have to get lucky (variance) to get a very large stack size in the early stages. You should be playing conservatively while the blinds are low and there are little/no antes. You have time and will have more opportunities, so take good spots. If you do manage to chip up early, don't go crazy trying to knock everybody out! Stay conservative and let the other players stack off each other. This is a pitfall of those crazy players, they will get a huge stack by wildly gambling and then continue to gamble their way out of the tourney!

Sorry if this is overwhelming or poorly explained, hope it helps! :)
Bob is on the money. Always look for opportunity to steal pots. Understand the players weakness and use it against them. Like I always say if you go to a dance don't sit out or stand against the wall. You need to go out and dance and give it you're best shot. Sometimes in position you need to look at that 8 5 os and represent the Ace. Poker is about feeling people out and timing. Those crucial steals determine the weak players from the strong. Best of luck!
 
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tmannie

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Hi
thanks for all the advise. I will try stealing more Blinds and taking more stabs at the pot etc. and keep you good people updated.
Thanks very much I appreciate your help
 
T

tmannie

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If you run card dead and you're getting blinded out often, you need to change it up a bit. I would guess that you are not stealing from the blinds nearly enough, it is a crucial part of surviving tourneys. If you are folded to on the button you should be attempting to steal wide (in general). Look for spots you are likely to get through, for instance- steal from players who are very nitty. Pay attention to the other players, if you see someone limping quite often and folding to cbets on the flop, they may be calling with ATC and folding unless they smash the flop. This could be a good spot to bluff.

If you're running really really card dead, and you've been folding forever (slight exaggeration :p), consider stealing from tighter players, 3bet someone who opens light and folds to 3bets, etc. Players will notice when you suddenly wake up, and will likely give you credit for a monster.

It's also important to take action before you get down to a tiny stack. As SydTheCat said, around 10BB is when you really need to shift gears. As your stack size gets smaller you lose your fold equity (who's folding their BB to a 2.5BB jam when they're likely getting ~4:1 with the antes and SB?), and you also get pot committed to any hand you play (open a min raise with 3bb behind, can you really fold if you miss the flop when almost half your stack is in the middle and you're probably getting ~4:1 or better?)

About the idea of stacking up early on, you will have to get lucky (variance) to get a very large stack size in the early stages. You should be playing conservatively while the blinds are low and there are little/no antes. You have time and will have more opportunities, so take good spots. If you do manage to chip up early, don't go crazy trying to knock everybody out! Stay conservative and let the other players stack off each other. This is a pitfall of those crazy players, they will get a huge stack by wildly gambling and then continue to gamble their way out of the tourney!

Sorry if this is overwhelming or poorly explained, hope it helps! :)
Thanks your message is very helpfull
 
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tmannie

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Bob is on the money. Always look for opportunity to steal pots. Understand the players weakness and use it against them. Like I always say if you go to a dance don't sit out or stand against the wall. You need to go out and dance and give it you're best shot. Sometimes in position you need to look at that 8 5 os and represent the Ace. Poker is about feeling people out and timing. Those crucial steals determine the weak players from the strong. Best of luck!
Thanks your advise is also very helpful
 
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tmannie

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I won't let myself get blinded out. Be ready to push all in when your around 10bb with any decent hand, but do it when you're opening and your LP. Some times you have to do it with any two cards. Just do it.
Hi also helpful advise , I do this with 50 50 success. You are right ,those computer chess games don't know their Mawashi from their Yoko Gery
 
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tmannie

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Thanks your message is very helpfull
Not overwhelming at all, thanks very much, I do generally what you recommend except for the blind stealing and your the advise in your second last paragraph .
 
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Fastone2

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I experience the same situation by playing tight. I learned that I need to be more aggressive to steal or bluff, before things get worse. It pays to bluff at the right point to place...
 
paipingprung

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Flat defending makes the blood flow faster.
 
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mr_poker

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In the early stage of the tournament I play tight until I look at the players and then just adjust to the apon's game.
 
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Mauno

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Sounds very familiar. Study your opponents and try to bluff sometimes... not too much.
 
DougPkrMonsta

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There is a lot of good advice here, I would add to be mindful of your image and use it to your advantage.

If you just folded for 4 orbits and then come in for a re-raise you are going to get respect and don't necessarily need a great hand.

Or if you are raising every hand and feel like the table is getting fed up with it, tighten up and have it the next couple of times.

A lot of players naturally tighten up as they get closer to the money so practice identifying who is looking to chip up during this time and who is happy to just fold and use this knowledge accordingly.

Good luck to you! :D
 
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clayvision

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Stealing wider is one of the most important things you can do in a tourney stealing one pot per rotation is enough to cover your blinds and antes! and staying afloat is how you make the money
 
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Allmine79

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Dougpokermonster is right because the bubble is the best time to steal. I hope the advice given helps your game.
 
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