How do you decide what cards to play? (Tournaments)

D

dumpy620_84

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Total posts
168
Chips
0
In a tournament I won't play anything but the following hands (This still depends on the kind of bets that I see).

AA,AKs,AKo,AQs,AQo,AJs,AJo

KK,KQs,KQo,KJs,KJo

QQ,QJs(Love High suited connectors),QJo, JJ, and JTs ....and occasionally if I am in the big blind I splash with QTs, but try to avoid QTo situations since i've gotten in trouble.

Beyond this I will play the low pocket pairs, but if it's under JJ and I receive a hefty raise I will fold (especially when more than 2 players are in the hand).

I will definitely call the minimum bets though, and go splashing for Trips. I will admit that occasionally If I am pretty secure with an amount of chips that I will go swimming with any suited cards that show a face (ie. A5s, K3s) because I've hit my Flushes with these hands.

Does the Robotic Playing tecnique have usually promising results? I've done great when I stick to the big dog cards, but I still don't miss those suck outs...
 
Egon Towst

Egon Towst

Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2006
Total posts
6,794
Chips
0
I don`t mean to be rude, but this seems very one-dimensional.

What about position, stack size, table image, blind level, opponent`s styles, etc. etc. ?? :confused:

In tournaments, even more than in ring games, your cards are only one of the tools at your disposal, and not always the most important.
 
MuscleMan76

MuscleMan76

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Total posts
248
Chips
0
You should vary your game up, only playing these select hand will give you up to your opponents who will easily be able to read you
you should factor is other things into your game, try raising on the button more with lesser hands to try to steal the pot, espcecially when blinds and antes get big
 
Charzr

Charzr

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 16, 2009
Total posts
668
Chips
0
I'm with Egon Towst on that one: position and stack size is huge, sometimes you have to bully your opponents and sometimes you have to let them go.

Table image and opponent`s styles; you have to study your opponents, specially in online poker you find a lot of people that raise and raise with ugly hands. You check them out, study them well and steal their chips.
 
D

Duke0424

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 28, 2009
Total posts
43
Chips
0
Yup, you should open and close your game depending on the variables listed above. Which of those hands do you raise with?
 
Passion_play

Passion_play

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 19, 2007
Total posts
119
Chips
0
What poker room do you play at?
What is your nick there?

Do you find this works for you?
Do you have a good ROI if so great, more power to you.
 
B

bobboss171

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 13, 2008
Total posts
92
Chips
0
Well, in general largely depends on the type of tournament, the value of the buy in,
the position of the table and how many people have call or raise.

but in general with AA i give RAISE IN 5 times the big blind with a raise to give kk
4 times the big blind and the other hands I give a raise of 3 times the big blind, so if anyone
give raised before.
 
-foldemstupid

-foldemstupid

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 15, 2008
Total posts
68
Chips
0
Hi there!

Hi all,
I just want to say you have to consider all hands as playable at some point,watching your opponets actions will greatly enhance your play as well as proper betting which allows you to manipulate any hand.gl @ the tbls.:cool:
 
J

joe66

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
May 29, 2009
Total posts
1
Chips
0
Position and blind sizes are a big factor there, when blinds are big and I am in position, I will play any 2 cards, I preflop raise with any 2 cards.
 
J

Justin749

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Total posts
17
Chips
0
i usually play all of the big hands, suited connectors, and sometimes suited aces depending on how the table is running. position, size of the blind, and how the table is running will also leave you with more options.
 
sharkyo01

sharkyo01

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 14, 2009
Total posts
1,203
Chips
0
The other point to make it depends on the different times of the game. Early stage, Middle Stage, Late stage then the final table.

Early stage i play very tight.
Middle Stage open up to suited connecters and some drawing hands
Late stage mix it up and bit and read the table.

That was how i was taught to play MTT's anyway.
 
M

MainEventOrBust

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 16, 2009
Total posts
86
Chips
0
What about position, stack size, table image, blind level, opponent`s styles, etc. etc. ?? :confused:

This. Also pay attention to your's and villains' stack sizes relative to the pot, how close you are to the money, and any reads you have made about your opponents' likely holdings when you are entering a pot.

Also, you mention that you like high suited connects, but they are way too dangerous to play out of position, or calling a raise. With QJ suited, there aren't too many flops that can hit you without also hitting an opponent, potentially much harder than you. I.e. J73 could leave you calling off your stack to AJ. That doesn't mean you should throw them all away either. Pay attention to the game, and opportunities will present themselves where it makes sense to play those hands.
 
L

LizzyJ

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Total posts
1,165
Chips
0
That strategy will work on certain segments of the tournament. Also depends on the tournament buy-in and number of players. In a large tournament of over 1,000 people, sticking with that strategy without changing gears will eventually lead to being blinded out, especially when the antes start in. You have to be a risk taker to do well in tournaments. People like Dan Harrington who play super tight are successful in tournaments because they know how to exploit their image.

I know people who have done quite well playing that tight in 45 person SnG's.
 
Top