MTT's - Where should I start?

GDBPoker

GDBPoker

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Hey community. I'm going to give tournament poker a start after having a go at cash games, where should I begin?

Lets say hypothetically I have a totally free week (some weeks I wont but I will keep a similar ratio to play vs training). SO how long should I be training and how many tourneys should I be playing?

Any recommended good sites for training? And what should I start learning first, opening range, session review, note taking, early vs middle vs late play?

Also where should I start? I had a session of 5 MTT's yesterday over about 4 hours, I netted $18 with buyins from $3.30 to $5.50, but it still didnt seem like I played enough. I made a fair bit of $$ recently playing Spin & Go's (couldnt help myself) so I have a total roll of $700. Should I keep to these buyin levels or go lower? Also should I focus on lower number SnG's or capped, or also go for the big field MTT's?

Thanks for any help given, much appreciated
 
tARsh

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Well with MTTs obviously are you going to have a lot more variance and they are extremely top heavy.
This is two fold, you need more buyins to safely play them vs SnGs but also you can still net decent profits at those lower buyins.
Depending on the site you are playing I would suggest staying at $5.5 and under by and large with perhaps some exclusions given for $11s with huge guarantees.

In regards to strategy I would focus on pot control via bet sizing and patience. I find that ranging of opponents isn't much different than in a standard 9 handed format but remember you are full ring much longer in an MTT than in a SnG, so if you are deep yet still 9 handed ranges generally dont open up as far as they would in the sit and go.

As I re-read your post I see the spin and goes which I believe are on Stars only, that said I would constrict your play to standard non turbo preferably deepstacks MTTs.
This will give you a lot more experience for your $ and a lot more time to find out what makes them tick so to speak.
Tight is right especially before antes kick in, when they do 3 betting to steal vs the LAG players becomes hugely viable if you are deep enough to fold to a 4 bet and pick good spots. This approach can help reduce variance a great deal.
All poker is situational so getting max iterations/cost in especially when starting is of premium importance.
Good luck!
 
GDBPoker

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Thanks tARsh. The turbo vs normal/slow speed was another question I had. I've never been a fan of turbos anyway so its good you said to keep clear of them for now.
 
ghOst

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I'll say start off with SnG's! Great way to practice for MTT's. Cash out on majority of your games and you'll do great in regular tournaments. It's ok to fold ;)
 
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Samweis3

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If you are on PS there is a great way to learn about Mtts play the pokerstars league games huge fields, no buy inn and you can cash some money if you run deep several times. Also play low buy inn mtts to learn more, only start to play 3,30 or 5,50 when yoou feel totaly comfortable there
 
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wowasenotrusov

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first is better to start with the CNG tournament in 5-10 dollars. then move on MTT tournaments with the same buy-in. well then in the cash game with a $ 25 buy-in.
 
thetick33

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you can play americas cardroom or black chip has guaranteed events fields are not huge I would start with some 3 and 5 dollar events I would take notes interesting thing is going to be same groups of guys daily so you will learn them and their strength and weaknesses.

I am playing up to 1.00 events I am breaking about even playing a few a day.
Mine are like 100 guarantees though

with 700 roll I would be playing 1000 and more guarantees I would start small though only 5.00 pay attention take notes do same things events for a few months figure it out grind it out than go to work.

Move up to the 20 and 25k events etc.. maybe satellite in but is gonna be mostly those you know already? Upi\\\

You have done the work by than so yes that is my plan but im behind you to start grinding from pennies up lol.

Good luck !!
 
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cotta777

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I would say sit and go 9 maxing is a great way to get to grips with all areas of a tournament since you simulate early middle and late over and over.

For me personally I had a huge shock I underestimated the difference in turbo mtts
and standard mtts.
quality and solid strategy will reflect alot more in longer minute levels.
building a big stack and getting deep is going to go hand in hand with longer blind levels.

There are and always will be alot of players losing discipline going in tilt and being tempted to gamble call off or play too tight, that's the beautiful thing about poker that aspect will never change in tournaments no matter how tough the field gets - human nature
 
GDBPoker

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Thanks for all the advice everyone.

I grinded low stakes SnG's back in 2010, so I have some experience with them, and didnt take too long to get accustomed to them. My thing is that I like the larger starting stacks, 1500 to start doesnt feel right to me. I believe I have enough of a handle on things to go for larger fields.

Ive had some good results this week, after I get more tournaments under my belt how can I determine if Im good or just lucky? How should I factor in one off big pay days into determining if I have beaten that level?
 
tARsh

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Thanks for all the advice everyone.

I grinded low stakes SnG's back in 2010, so I have some experience with them, and didnt take too long to get accustomed to them. My thing is that I like the larger starting stacks, 1500 to start doesnt feel right to me. I believe I have enough of a handle on things to go for larger fields.

Ive had some good results this week, after I get more tournaments under my belt how can I determine if Im good or just lucky? How should I factor in one off big pay days into determining if I have beaten that level?

Thousands of MTTs are required, even if you keep your ABI realistic can still easily be a false representation of your long term statistical potential.
IE you satty into a $55 and win for 10k but usually play $5... etc etc
I have seen peoples stats who started off up $50,000 plus and went "pro" a year later stuck five figures.

Lots of other important factors to consider as well, ITM % isnt a good indicator either.
Top finishes etc you need to paint an entire picture not just look at individual elements.
PM me if you want to talk sometime.


*Edit - I do not agree that STTs are a good spot to hone MTT game AT ALL. Your relative depth and mindset are nothing alike. Plus antes etc are completely skewed. You are generally 5-6 handed at most by the time antes kick in with STTs dont train for an MTT in an STT you are gonna screw your poker brain training up.
 
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micalupagoo

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stars has great 90and 180 man SnGs at all levels and speeds
as well as look into capped games- like 500ppl max
they are easier to regularly cash in:)
big filled mtts always my fav, but some games Im up til morning (13 hrs later) and late for work...so your time is a factor
I mix in all sorts of games depending on my time avail.
gl
 
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joe777

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Whatever game you play just remember to stick to this rule of thumb BRM that is 150 Buy-in for Mtts and 100 Buy-in for sngs below 45 players.
 
Farseer

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I would certainly skip the Sit&Go's. Go and play some soft 100-200 players MTTs that are suitable for you, like some 5$ freezeouts in Party or if you live in non-regulated ETA country then some .fr that accepts European players.
 
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11012015

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Practice for the beginning of 0,01-0,10 $ MTT.
 
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RicsiSpy

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0.25c 45-90 regular speed MTSnGs @Pokerstars
 
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NeoCrowy23

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I got 100+ hours of content from DeucesCracked and has been a massive help for me in poker, maybe check it out.

I supposed it depends on your bankroll but if I have $100 in my account I tend to play $1 tournaments/SnG's and sometimes mix it up with slightly bigger buy ins. Good luck!
 
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JamesMoroski

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Hey GDP

YOU NEED TO PICK ONE AND PLAY IT EXCLUSIVELY there are very few players that can play mtts and cash games and be successful at both it just doesnt happen. Tournies are small risk HUGE REWARD. So you can play 25 mtts lose 24 win one and you have a crapload of profit. That is why most mtts pros play 5 or 6 or 15 at a time it increases their hourly wage they make.
 
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hffjd2000

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With $700, $5.50 and below would be fine for me.

Just remember, playing MTT takes a lot of time.

Agree, stay away from Spin&Go.
 
thetick33

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YOU NEED TO PICK ONE AND PLAY IT EXCLUSIVELY there are very few players that can play mtts and cash games and be successful at both it just doesnt happen. Tournies are small risk HUGE REWARD. So you can play 25 mtts lose 24 win one and you have a crapload of profit. That is why most mtts pros play 5 or 6 or 15 at a time it increases their hourly wage they make.

Disagree I play everything. I play 6 sites now a day try to maintain 4 rooms at a time depending on leagues freerolls events etc..

I play sng's mtt's freerolls, leagues ring etc.. Different times different events events so that really never lose much per day make it up and constantly grinding up from scratch.

Depends on your comfort level. Op has to establish his. Right now playing pennies for ring arghhhhhh but if lose 2.00 two times would walk away if losing in buy ins only play freerolls etc.. how cards are working etc..

My thing is I am comfortable with whatever I do but if not having success have no problem walking lol.

I wish already had my banks up and was playing 10cent 25 cent in two rooms and two 5.00 mtts at a time. Late hours I play differently or would.

Do some sng's and mtt's that make sense small field bigger payouts etc..

Is some events I just do better at daily so far so will get rid of ones I do not do so well in etc..

Yet I love the mixture myself of multiple games styles etc..
 
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