Long Draughts

NCfoldem

NCfoldem

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Often in a tournament I may get to roughly twice the chip average let's say. Sometimes I'll go a long period of time where, for 1 reason or another, I don't get a hand that I can commit to - usually bad hands, but could be in bad position, you get the idea. I find myself at half the chip average or even worse when I finally get a hand I can play. This seems wrong somehow. I really don't want to watch my chip stack shrink relative to the tourney, yet I know that I'm getting hands that I probably can't win with. What to do?
 
wislim

wislim

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Not much you can due when you hit a drought other than be patient or try to steal with any two now and then. Sometimes you have to make your own luck and not let the cards dictate your play.
 
tomh7795

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try stealing from the btn and co a lot more. Only when the blinds are fairly high though. Some people steal when everyone has really deep stacks.
 
NCfoldem

NCfoldem

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stealing ... yes ... need much improvement there ... uhhh ... unless we're in the same tourney together, then <cough> my stealing is great ... <dang>
 
Egon Towst

Egon Towst

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Often in a tournament I may get to roughly twice the chip average let's say. Sometimes I'll go a long period of time where, for 1 reason or another, I don't get a hand that I can commit to - usually bad hands, but could be in bad position, you get the idea. I find myself at half the chip average or even worse when I finally get a hand I can play.


This is a common experience for most solid tournament players. Some suggestions:

Check that you are not being overly nitty. Even a TAG player should have a VPIP of approximately 17-19%. If you are consistently less than this over several tournaments, widen your range of opening hands somewhat, especially from late position.

Assuming that your playing style is not at fault and you genuinely are card-dead, steal as others have suggested. Study the opponents in the four seats to your left and target any who seem weak-tight.

You should also think in terms of restealing from any players to your right who appear to be more than averagely aggressive.

Study the squeeze-play tactic (too complex to explain here, don`t want to hijack the thread - try a search, or I might write a piece if there isn`t an explanation already on CC) and look for opportunities to apply this, especially against tight opponents.

Finally, watch that stack size and don`t allow it to get much below half of average stack. Better to make a move in a marginal situation, a coinflip or a draw, and look to double up or bust out. Short-stacks don`t win tournaments and it`s better to save your time and move on. There is always another tourney to play, and you should be playing well within your bankroll, such that the loss of one buyin is not a concern.
 
NCfoldem

NCfoldem

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Excellent advice! I don't use tracking software, but I can tell you that I know I'm less than 17% - heck maybe under 10%, and have been trying to widen my opening hand selection as you said. All of your suggestions were helpful to me (don't let it go to your head!).
 
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