Middle tournament strategy

P

politude

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 24, 2010
Total posts
149
Chips
0
I have started playing tournaments religiously again and I am having a bit of trouble in the middle stages.

The CC freeroll taught me a lot about how to play tighter than I did and succeed. I have started playing tighter in regular tournies but in the middle stages my stack that is usually top 20 coming into the middle depletes either during the stage or right when I get to the money.

Are there any tips you guys can give me as far as what is playable, if there are books I should be reading, etc.
 
E

Eclipsenz

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 18, 2009
Total posts
185
Chips
0
Me personally I make moves, with my cards or even against the player, the latter is what most people will tell you is more important, you gotta be prepared to risk, thats poker... I try avoid having a stack where its shove or fold even though I find it a very strong part of my game, I just hate having to go up continuous coinflips or being sucked out on just cause you don't have enough chips to induce a fold from a big stack that would call you on a wide range of hands.

Aggression is key imo could be wrong

Gotta have the right image also, the fact that you could have a TAG image could go a long way in semi bluffing pots etc in the later stages.

Theres a few things more I could say but I'm sure someone else will fill in the blanks on what I have missed/notmentioned at all, but yeah this concept seems to be working for me at the mo.
 
lektrikguy

lektrikguy

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Total posts
1,559
Chips
0
Don't take chances OOP. If you have a great hand,play it. Try to take the blinds at least once per round, especially when antes start. If you don't have a hand to do it don't push it. By now you have a good read on the people at your table. Use your instincts and turn it up when you can.
 
straytfrush

straytfrush

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Total posts
487
Chips
0
As lektrik said this is where you start to steal. If you steal in the right positions often enough you can often times coast between decent hands and play normally. Then you can begin to loosen up a llittle bit as the game progresses towards the bubble.
 
M

malevol

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 3, 2010
Total posts
25
Chips
0
I think that in when the antes start you should steal more in position + c betting if someone calls any ace suited or suited connectors are good to play but if you get reraised just let go of the hand. I once watched a good tournament player from my contry playing on full tilt. He would start stealing as soon as the antes start, really agresivelly but when he went all-in he would always have a hand. If you play tight you will mostly get into the money and even reach 20-30th place but no further, unless hands start hitting you like magic. Gus Hansen said that in a tourney you need to double up 12-13 times to reach the first paying positions, but if you start stealing and succed you will need only 7-8 double ups. Hope i've been of some help. Good luck
 
N

needdiapermoney

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Total posts
2
Chips
0
Best kept secret in poker: Steal relentlessly on the button and CO when fisrt in, but don't get out of line ealier than the HJ. Example: 74s good enough for a RFI in CO or BTN, but A9o easy fold UTG or UTG1.
 
womackcali02

womackcali02

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Total posts
102
Chips
0
Eclipsenz said:
Me personally I make moves, with my cards or even against the player, the latter is what most people will tell you is more important, you gotta be prepared to risk, thats poker... I try avoid having a stack where its shove or fold even though I find it a very strong part of my game, I just hate having to go up continuous coinflips or being sucked out on just cause you don't have enough chips to induce a fold from a big stack that would call you on a wide range of hands.

Aggression is key imo could be wrong

Gotta have the right image also, the fact that you could have a TAG image could go a long way in semi bluffing pots etc in the later stages.

Theres a few things more I could say but I'm sure someone else will fill in the blanks on what I have missed/notmentioned at all, but yeah this concept seems to be working for me at the mo.
Click to expand...


I agree with this... Aggression is key! I had a two hour online coaching session from a very sucessful player. After reviewing the HH's he kept telling me I was playing way two tight in the middle to late stages. Basically when you think you are in a plus ev decision or you just think you have the best hand isolate the player raising and try to get all the chips in the middle preflop (if his stack is alot smaller than yours). Obviously if he has a huge stack and is throwing them around you want to be causious. Basically be super aggressive when you think you are ahead. The goal is to have a big stack rather than a small one and just fizzle away towards the end of the tournament and bubble the final table.
 
CopyCat

CopyCat

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 22, 2010
Total posts
47
Chips
0
Follow your instincts.Agress your favourite cards
 
robhimself

robhimself

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Total posts
197
Awards
1
Chips
4
At the middle of the tourney I find a solid strategy is to play poker well. This works pretty well at the start and end of tourneys as well!
 
womackcali02

womackcali02

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Total posts
102
Chips
0
robhimself said:
At the middle of the tourney I find a solid strategy is to play poker well. This works pretty well at the start and end of tourneys as well!
Click to expand...

Easier said than done lol! But yeah PLAY POKER WELL
 
H

HomeBrewer

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Total posts
997
Chips
0
robhimself said:
At the middle of the tourney I find a solid strategy is to play poker well. This works pretty well at the start and end of tourneys as well!
Click to expand...

Very insightful! I bet everyone reading this will now make it to the final table in all of there tournaments from here on out...... :confused::rolleyes::eek::eek::eek::withstupi
 
robhimself

robhimself

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Total posts
197
Awards
1
Chips
4
That's okay, I wouldn't expect a Gators fan to understand my advanced brand of poker strategery.
 
Pokerstudent

Pokerstudent

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 17, 2009
Total posts
729
Chips
0
HomeBrewer said:
Very insightful! I bet everyone reading this will now make it to the final table in all of there tournaments from here on out...... :confused::rolleyes::eek::eek::eek::withstupi
Click to expand...

I get your point HB, but MAN are you sarcastic! :rolleyes:
 
Top