Mastered Early Tournament Play but......

shanebob123

shanebob123

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I have pretty much mastered my early tournament play. I can build a nice stack by middle stage and then nothing. I do tend to tighten up a great deal as the blinds increase, then before I know it I'm getting eaten alive by blinds. What is a good strategy for middle stage with a healthy stack?
 
mbrenneman0

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google: jennifear push/fold chart
 
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karl coakley

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You really have to start loosening up and taking chances as the blinds go up. It is extremely rare to lead a tournament from beginning to end, you may run great early and go dead, you could start dead and catch on fire in the middle or end, but it all evens out.

What you really want to be doing is stay ahead of the blinds and wait for good hands to play big pots. When I start getting around 15BB I'm looking for hands to shove with.
 
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ZaXXoR

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Study push-fold, and keep in mind the blind structure. Adjust your opening ranges based on BB stack and make sure you're not making too many post-flop errors. Post hands on forums asking for advice
 
akmost

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Try to open in LP more often and if you are not a 3bet-lover you can at least limp but always in position[hands like Axs , suited connectors which have a tone of plyability postflop] against the initial opener. When 10-20 bbs you mustn't be afraid of the resteal concept.

Opening only with your strongest hands would be a disadvantage for you because your opponents will easily put you in a range.
I used to do the exact same thing I used to open very tight,when deep in a MTT, and they always folded to me and I didn't get any action!
 
Acesinthebig

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Every stage of the tournament requires different strategy. Beginning, Middle, Bubble, Bubble FT, and finally FT. I see so many times people get to final table, and squander their chips because of the pure inexperience of actually making it that far. It holds true for even earlier stages of the tournament. So many variables go into every decision.
 
akmost

akmost

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Every stage of the tournament requires different strategy. Beginning, Middle, Bubble, Bubble FT, and finally FT. I see so many times people get to final table, and squander their chips because of the pure inexperience of actually making it that far. It holds true for even earlier stages of the tournament. So many variables go into every decision.

Yeah you are so right man. It's different even in the final table when you are 9handed - 8handed and so on. It's needed for the player to adjust his strategy!
 
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PKRNRS

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I have pretty much mastered my early tournament play. I can build a nice stack by middle stage and then nothing. I do tend to tighten up a great deal as the blinds increase, then before I know it I'm getting eaten alive by blinds. What is a good strategy for middle stage with a healthy stack?

If you mastered the early part then you shouldn't have much problem with the middle stage. Most will tell you that you should be tight in the beginning and looser as the tournament drags on. What exactly are you doing different in the middle stages? Are your opponents picking up on your tight play? The deeper one gets in a tournament then the better the players. a lot of the bad players get knocked out in the early stage.
 
scorpi224

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I think you should keep folding until you get a good hand , like AK-AQ-AJ , or any pair that you may like to play ... dont call every hand and wait for the opportunity to win the bing blinds from the other person beside you , but if you're playing good in the beginning you should continue till the end like that to win something for sure!
 
Acesinthebig

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Also one more thing, if OP is still reading. Keep in mind the later in tournaments you get the better the player field may be. This is just common sense. Sure a few got by on luck but a majority will have some skills and overall it will be a better field compared to the start of the tournament.
 
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stokedog4

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Middle Stage of tournament you should be loosing up, especially if you have built up a good image. Look for spots to steal or re-steal with marginal hands. You need to maintain a 25-40BB stack! You can't get out of line doing so, just look for the "weak" spots or those more aggressive players that are getting out of line.

Keep stacking your chips, no matter the stage of tournament!
 
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Urii

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my opinion and the professionals of poker .first tournament you can play loose but in the end only tight otherwise .....
 
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Urii

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but there are people who are lucky and all:p
 
trippin

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Agreed, early I can make the correct play 9/10. But when it comes to deeper play I start to think my luck has ran out, and I fold more often than I should.
 
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euro fish

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is this loosen up strategy also good for freerools? Also if i loosen up and miss ever flop what then ? I have the same problem as the original poster , but i am only playing freerools for now
 
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Weee3eee

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As you progress in mid to late stages in the tournament, the field is now tougher. Your edge is play pots in position. Widen your range in position in CO, button especially. Aggression in preflop is your secret sauce. 20 bb is a soft spot. Steal blinds and antes at every opportunity. Avoid open folds. If you feel you want to open, always think if someone jams on your open will I fold? That should be a jam hand if first to act or fold. This is a typical feeling in mid late stages in MTTs. Play to win these games not to min. ThiNkBiNk!!!!
 
James_Moria

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I agree that you need to loose up and take chances as the blinds go up. It's realy hard to lead a tournament from beginning to end.
 
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I believe in the middle of the tournament when you have a chip lead or a nice stack in front of you you need to be making more late position calls expecially if you've been playing very tight early on maybe need to switch it up and call more hands to throw off the other players that might have put you on a range
 
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