How to survive until ITM of a regular tournament?

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bkokin

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I can come up with some ITM's but its not enough and I'm busting with many bad beats lately.
 
taban13

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Patience and luck. This is the only way.
 
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SickPuppy26

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hey :)

I am by any means an exper ton the subject, and i still have huge amounts of my own game to sort out. but i play in the freerolls on pokerstars fairly often and i regularly hit mid/late-late game simply by understanding the dynamics of the game at various points.

Most of the freerolls are 5k+ entrants and the first 10-15 hands are generally for the donkeys.. i tighten up alot around this point.

As the tournament progresses into the 2nd quarter i open up a little and look for the opportunity to multiply my stack... if people have multiplied up then they are only looking for an increase or two when they have the hands. not many will risk losing half a stack to a semi decent hand.

When it comes to the bubble if you have chips you can play aggressively... if not i generally shove when i have the cards.

seems to work alot for me, but being new myself this is probably common knowledge.

I like to mess with peoples heads as well as play my cards... my added flair to the game ^_^

hope this helps.

SP
 
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Wickedestjr

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Here are a few tips on how to play before the money;

-Play small ball. Practice pot control. Try to avoid situations where you put your entire chip stack at risk. It is still possible to accumulate a decent/big stack in this way.

-Play solid poker. The occasional bluff is fine, but you want to stay away from huge/risky bluffs. Overly aggressive play also seems unnecessary before the money. Remember you want to preserve your chip stack. Just be patient, pick up strong hands, and wait for your opponents to give their money away.

-When the money bubble is still far away: 10-12 big blinds is a good stack to shove all in with.

-Figure out how many players cash and then watch the # of remaining players closely. When it looks like the bubble is getting close, your decision making will take one of two styles;
a. You have a big stack. - If you have a better than average chip stack and the money bubble is closing in, then you should pay attention to who's trying to make the money. There will be a few short stacks at your table that fold every single hand. It's usually safe to raise their blinds, they won't want to play with you. Widen your opening range, play carefully aggressive against the medium stacks that aren't necessarily worried about busting and could put a dent in your stack.
b. You have a short stack. - Figure out where you rank. If 200 people cash and you rank 230th out of 240, then you probably need to find a double up. Wait very patiently for a strong hand and then shove with it. If 200 people cash and you rank 190th out of 240, you're probably still below 10-12 big blinds, but you just need to fold every single hand (barring aces and kings) until you've cashed. This strategy works in the micro stakes.


By following these tips and playing intelligently, you should cash 20-40% of the time...
 
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joe31705

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reply

I can come up with some ITM's but its not enough and I'm busting with many bad beats lately.

You just have to deal with the occasional bad beats. It is about decisions and not results
 
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joe31705

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You just have to deal with the occasional bad beats. It is about decisions and not results

Are you all in with cards to come. At that point you are left at the mercy of the cards
 
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separatist

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here you have to solve for yourself what do you want from a tournament to get to ITM or you play for the sake of 1 place... personally I play on a victory and a maximum that I can make for the sake of hit in ITM its use all my time from time bank
 
TheKAAHK

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Lots of good pointers so far. I find the biggest asset in mtt is patience. and not just patience in each game, but for long stretches of games. You will go many, many tournaments without getting itm or deep itm, suffering bad beats and suckouts along the way. It's just the nature of the game.

Try to keep shipping up slowly at first, but don't let any opportunity to get an early double-up pass by. As you reach the mid stages, don't be afraid to open up your range and call shoves by smaller stacks as this is the time to build your stack to have a solid chance to get not only itm, but more than a min-cash. But always have patience and take your time with any decision. Try o think a few steps ahead and have a plan for the hand. Also pay attention to blind jumps as 2 jumps while card dead can put you from comfy to critical. Keep one eye on the lobby and keep timing in consideration.

Bad beats happen, and its always the ones that knock you out that hurt the most. Don't let them get to you. Keep grinding and playing your game. Check out my stake rail thread if you want to see some beats at bad times. Might make you feel a little better :)
 
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assafyer

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I can come up with some ITM's but its not enough and I'm busting with many bad beats lately.

Patience is the key i am sometimes folds hand you want believe :rolleyes:
 
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joe777

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Pay attention on the lobby and also keep track of your position would help with the situation when nearing or on the bubble.
 
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ph_il

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-stop limping in so much.
-stop playing weak hands out of position.
-stop calling raises/3bets light out of position

-raise/3bet your big hands more for value
-steal/resteal blinds more often
-understand the gap theory (you need a stronger hand to call a raise with than you would need to raise with). Ex: You wouldn't call a raise with J9o from the CO facing a MP raise, but you can open up the pot with J9o in the CO if it's folded to you.
-when in doubt, raise.

-call less. raise more. fold most.
 
smallfrie

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-stop limping in so much.
-stop playing weak hands out of position.
-stop calling raises/3bets light out of position

-raise/3bet your big hands more for value
-steal/resteal blinds more often
-understand the gap theory (you need a stronger hand to call a raise with than you would need to raise with). Ex: You wouldn't call a raise with J9o from the CO facing a MP raise, but you can open up the pot with J9o in the CO if it's folded to you.
-when in doubt, raise.

-call less. raise more. fold most.

I agree. If you follow this advice and Cbet and.... I think you will notice you are building your stack more from blinds and antes and post flop bets than allin doubles or bust and you will not suffer so many bad beats, however in MTT's you are going to be allin and at risk sometimes.
 
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R_dj

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Here are a few tips on how to play before the money;

-Play small ball. Practice pot control. Try to avoid situations where you put your entire chip stack at risk. It is still possible to accumulate a decent/big stack in this way.

-Play solid poker. The occasional bluff is fine, but you want to stay away from huge/risky bluffs. Overly aggressive play also seems unnecessary before the money. Remember you want to preserve your chip stack. Just be patient, pick up strong hands, and wait for your opponents to give their money away.

-When the money bubble is still far away: 10-12 big blinds is a good stack to shove all in with.

-Figure out how many players cash and then watch the # of remaining players closely. When it looks like the bubble is getting close, your decision making will take one of two styles;
a. You have a big stack. - If you have a better than average chip stack and the money bubble is closing in, then you should pay attention to who's trying to make the money. There will be a few short stacks at your table that fold every single hand. It's usually safe to raise their blinds, they won't want to play with you. Widen your opening range, play carefully aggressive against the medium stacks that aren't necessarily worried about busting and could put a dent in your stack.
b. You have a short stack. - Figure out where you rank. If 200 people cash and you rank 230th out of 240, then you probably need to find a double up. Wait very patiently for a strong hand and then shove with it. If 200 people cash and you rank 190th out of 240, you're probably still below 10-12 big blinds, but you just need to fold every single hand (barring aces and kings) until you've cashed. This strategy works in the micro stakes.


By following these tips and playing intelligently, you should cash 20-40% of the time...
I'll try your strategy.... thnx
 
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ph_il

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I think watching the bubble too closely could have a negative affect on your decision making.

You might be folding hands you should be getting it all in and looking to double up with. Instead, you give up a lot of good potential double-up spots because you see there are 2 short stacks right before the bubble and you feel like you can fold your way into the money.

Instead, pay more attention to your stack size in relation to the blinds, pay attention to your stack compared to the other stack sizes at the table, and play accordingly.
 
smallfrie

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The money bubble is a strategic attack spot, close to the bubble you will get way more folds than you deserve so don't fear the bubble use others fear of it and attack then tighten back up after it burst. Then look for any large pay jump bubbles and attack there again. Before long you will be attacking the final table bubble with the stack you built from your previous bubble attacks :)
 
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ph_il

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The money bubble is a strategic attack spot, close to the bubble you will get way more folds than you deserve so don't fear the bubble use others fear of it and attack then tighten back up after it burst. Then look for any large pay jump bubbles and attack there again. Before long you will be attacking the final table bubble with the stack you built from your previous bubble attacks :)
If this is a reply to my post, I think you may have misunderstood.

I said that paying too close attention to the bubble might cause a player to tighten up and, therefore, give up a lot of potential spots to get your money in to double up. I think it's a problem a lot of new players, and some regular players struggle with at times because no one wants to leave empty handed when they're so close to at least making some type of profit.

The best way to avoid second guessing or giving up good spots to get your money in is to avoid watching the bubble so closely and play accordingly.
 
Poker Orifice

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I disagree with the 'when in doubt > raise'... we should be 'raising with a plan'

"when in doubt > Don't!" (< comment from Oprah show)
 
bullishwwd

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Here are a few tips on how to play before the money;

-Play small ball. Practice pot control. Try to avoid situations where you put your entire chip stack at risk. It is still possible to accumulate a decent/big stack in this way.

-Play solid poker. The occasional bluff is fine, but you want to stay away from huge/risky bluffs. Overly aggressive play also seems unnecessary before the money. Remember you want to preserve your chip stack. Just be patient, pick up strong hands, and wait for your opponents to give their money away.

-When the money bubble is still far away: 10-12 big blinds is a good stack to shove all in with.

-Figure out how many players cash and then watch the # of remaining players closely. When it looks like the bubble is getting close, your decision making will take one of two styles;
a. You have a big stack. - If you have a better than average chip stack and the money bubble is closing in, then you should pay attention to who's trying to make the money. There will be a few short stacks at your table that fold every single hand. It's usually safe to raise their blinds, they won't want to play with you. Widen your opening range, play carefully aggressive against the medium stacks that aren't necessarily worried about busting and could put a dent in your stack.
b. You have a short stack. - Figure out where you rank. If 200 people cash and you rank 230th out of 240, then you probably need to find a double up. Wait very patiently for a strong hand and then shove with it. If 200 people cash and you rank 190th out of 240, you're probably still below 10-12 big blinds, but you just need to fold every single hand (barring aces and kings) until you've cashed. This strategy works in the micro stakes.


By following these tips and playing intelligently, you should cash 20-40% of the time...
I like this advice and endorse it ... game is not won during first hour or second ... usually only 'starts' around the 'bubble' so be there when the real game starts.
Wally
 
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hffjd2000

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Just maximize whats in you.

It sums up with many factors like good play, patience, good luck, good cards, etc.

Just play your game and let the rankings find its way.
 
mariel619

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as many people have stated the number one thing is Patience.
think about how you lose, or what decision you made right before you lost.
was it a wth lets flip, did you do ANY math first, were you chasing a flush or a str8 without any other outs besides those.
also folding is very important when you have any pocket pair and someone shoves, sometimes you may win but the keyword is sometimes
 
tagece

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Sometimes what you call bad beats is just a bad decision.

It hapenned whith me this weekend. I was in 12 in a tournament that starts with 2500 players and had 35 left in that moment. I was ITM yet, but the really good prizes was in the final table. Then I receive QQ in the UTG1. I just raise. Everybody folds, except the CO, with a larger stack than mine. He pays. The flop opens with 955. I checked, and he raises. I just payed, maybe he has another 5, but I really needed to see the turn. Another 5. I raise, he just pays. And the river bring a 3. I raise. He puts AI.

Ok, in this moment, I had about 60% of my stack in the table. I was very concerned about loosing that amount. And before I think in odds and outs, and without much reflexion, I changed the strategy I had in all tournament before and call. Ha has A5. So I finish in 35 position.

In the next hours I stayed very upset about my bad lucky, how in the hell that bastart received three fives?

But after some time, I really use my brain. His raises was showing a strong hand. And in fact, he could win with AA, KK, 99, 33 and one 5. But in that moment, I just thinked "No, he doesn't have a four".

I just lost for the 5, but it isn't bad lucky. It was a bad decision. The correct play was fold.

Learning with the mistakes, the better way to improve your game. :)
 
Panamajoe

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here you have to solve for yourself what do you want from a tournament to get to ITM or you play for the sake of 1 place... personally I play on a victory and a maximum that I can make for the sake of hit in ITM its use all my time from time bank

I played a lot in the beginning to get ITM, which is really the wrong thing to have in your head! Listen to seperatist here, play to WIN, and it will help your game entirely.
 
smallfrie

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If this is a reply to my post, I think you may have misunderstood.

I said that paying too close attention to the bubble might cause a player to tighten up and, therefore, give up a lot of potential spots to get your money in to double up. I think it's a problem a lot of new players, and some regular players struggle with at times because no one wants to leave empty handed when they're so close to at least making some type of profit.

The best way to avoid second guessing or giving up good spots to get your money in is to avoid watching the bubble so closely and play accordingly.

Was not replying to you specifically there. A couple post mentioned bubble play and I just thought I would put in my 2 cents.... Specifically that there are usually multiple bubbles in tournaments and that they all should be attacked. I agree with what your post said, however I would not worry too much about double up spots I would keep the objective to picking up pots without having to fade. Even with 10bb I would be looking for spots were I have or think I have fold equity and moving in. I would suggest double up spots are going to happen naturally as part of the game when you are playing small ball poker, you are going to actually have a monster sometimes but it is more important to win the small pots that's how you should be building the majority of your stack and when the doubles happen take them.
 
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