Simple MTT advices

As i see so many confused players out there i though this should be written out.

1. At the start especially first 1 - 2 hours just play poker, and in poker highest combination wins, that is so simple yet people tend to overthink themselves and lose a lot of chips because of that, do you have the best combination ? no ? then better fold.

2. If someone is super agro with highest stack, just do the 1. advice, simply play poker, you have a good combination ? play, if you have some pair or even lower pair or stupid chance of getting something, but in the end its just a dick in your hand then don't play. If you know he us bluffing most of the hands, don't try to overbluff him, don't over think it, reach good hand and look how his chips go to you, but he gets rich from players who tries to bluff him out with weak hands and then he seems to be holding pocket pair with 3rd card on table

3. Only thing you should think about bluffing out is the one guy at the table who will fold flush if he will get scared of full house, but those are not that often seen, but you can be smart and take notes of players, if there is that guy who plays 1 out of 20 hands, when he plays for real you fold for real even really good cards, but other 19 hands he is free chips for you

4. You have never lost, you started with 3000 and after 5 min you are 500 chips and less ? Very bad but not lost, not even close to lost, people have reached final table from worse situations, giving up means that you lack discipline

5. In tournament late game every hand is like all in, so maybe think harder before you go in with those cards ? you have 100k stack on average 20k stack table and after few rounds you can be with the 20k stack and the other guy gets rich because of you, i mean if you would know how many final tables i got funded by the big stacks... in tournament late game it takes 1 professional win to suddenly become to large, so don't give any chips and still keep discipline, big stack loses and that guy who barely got into money you will meet at final table, situation changes to fast in late game, always remember that

Everyone wants to be smarter and more professional, but never forget to remember the simple things about this game, that will mostly get you very far, when you beat everyone by the basics then only you can add some more complicated plays

DarkRoster33 said:

As i see so many confused players out there i though this should be written out.

1. At the start especially first 1 - 2 hours just play poker, and in poker highest combination wins, that is so simple yet people tend to overthink themselves and lose a lot of chips because of that, do you have the best combination ? no ? then better fold.

2. If someone is super agro with highest stack, just do the 1. advice, simply play poker, you have a good combination ? play, if you have some pair or even lower pair or stupid chance of getting something, but in the end its just a dick in your hand then don't play. If you know he us bluffing most of the hands, don't try to overbluff him, don't over think it, reach good hand and look how his chips go to you, but he gets rich from players who tries to bluff him out with weak hands and then he seems to be holding pocket pair with 3rd card on table

3. Only thing you should think about bluffing out is the one guy at the table who will fold flush if he will get scared of full house, but those are not that often seen, but you can be smart and take notes of players, if there is that guy who plays 1 out of 20 hands, when he plays for real you fold for real even really good cards, but other 19 hands he is free chips for you

4. You have never lost, you started with 3000 and after 5 min you are 500 chips and less ? Very bad but not lost, not even close to lost, people have reached final table from worse situations, giving up means that you lack discipline

5. In tournament late game every hand is like all in, so maybe think harder before you go in with those cards ? you have 100k stack on average 20k stack table and after few rounds you can be with the 20k stack and the other guy gets rich because of you, i mean if you would know how many final tables i got funded by the big stacks... in tournament late game it takes 1 professional win to suddenly become to large, so don't give any chips and still keep discipline, big stack loses and that guy who barely got into money you will meet at final table, situation changes to fast in late game, always remember that

Everyone wants to be smarter and more professional, but never forget to remember the simple things about this game, that will mostly get you very far, when you beat everyone by the basics then only you can add some more complicated plays

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This is so nice to read, reminds me what to do.

But anyway I get carried away so often.

How can I teach myself to keep patience?

I now I need it but anyway I do stupid things once a while(often).

Thx for sharing this with us. Very helpful.

6. If someone gets into your head, just don't play against him, avoid playing against him even with decent cards, don't ever think of out bluffing him, he is in your head not you in his, so just avoid yourself that chip lose, general rule of poker, if you don't know what is going on - fold

p.s. Discipline is the hardest thing ever, i even get carried away after 3 - 4 hours, everyone does at some point. To learn that you must always try to be serious and focus, try yourself out play only 10 cent all the time, try to be as serious as possible, why ? Because 10 cent you lose nothing and almost all the time winnings are so low that you don't care about them, and you will often lose focus and just leave poker because its only 10 cents, but if you do play them often and learn to be hard rock always, just learn the discipline, never be weak, never lose focus, even if you want to sleep and its so little left to sleep till school - work, if you learn it at lowest stakes, that will go on when its really important and when you are managing your bankroll at your important money level

Yes you will get bored, we all will get bored and so much, but is poker that important to you ? Do you dream of earning in there ? No job generally will be interesting, no job you will be wanting to be focused all the time, no usual job will give you anything to live for, but if you learn the discipline, if this thing is important to you, its worth all the boredom in the world.

I am actually an amateur, my hobby is psychology, trying to learn to earn here same as many of you. But btw professional players who are damn rich are seen in 10 cent or 10 times lower buy in then they should be, for them discipline is so high level that every lose is big lose and every win is big win, meaning that they even staid through the whole thing and bring it down earning first place or final table, earning 50$ which actually means almost nothing to them and their Ferarri lifestyle xD but we can sure learn from that a lot, because most of the time even I would say fuk this its only 10 cents, but i want to be the guy who tries his best even then, because of the discipline, if we will learn to always have it, we will bring down mountains and live good )

p.p.s. Am i eligible to give professional advice ? No, but many people tend to forget the simplest things thinking about how to learn poker professionally, so i though it would be great to open thread like this ;P

In summary:

1. Play good hands in the first levels.
2. Omg wtf...see #1.
3. Only bluff nits.
4. Don't give up when short-stacked.
5. Think before you call all-ins with marginal hands.
6. Don't tilt.

p.s. Stay focused and disciplined.

p.p.s. Disclaimer.

I think I will make a hard copy of this tread and put it on the wall over my bed and read it trough every evening and morning.

This is so simple and so important.

Thank you both of you.

DonkeyH3AD said:

need to have motivation to game for example prices of win

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You are actually having a great point here.

But its not like I dont want to win. Simply concentration fades away.

I have just played a Premier Skill League tournament. Stackleader on table and second overall. In two hands I trow it all away. All in pocket nines against pocket tens. All in AQ loses to AJ.

This is so much how it works.

I have made 3 ft the last week.

Maybe I just suck as stackleader.

Some things are so simple, yet we can tend to over complicate them. Good reminders as I sometimes find myself overthinking hands that are easy calls or easy folds when there is usually no need for it.

Nice read, and good advices mate, thanks for sharing!

tothbopo said:

You are actually having a great point here.

But its not like I dont want to win. Simply concentration fades away.

I have just played a Premier Skill League tournament. Stackleader on table and second overall. In two hands I trow it all away. All in pocket nines against pocket tens. All in AQ loses to AJ.

This is so much how it works.

I have made 3 ft the last week.

Maybe I just suck as stackleader.

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I just remember the 3th round of Guys vs Gals again I was in the stacklead going all in and lose but somehow like a miracle going back in game with some all ins and end up winning.

At this game only playing for a T shirt, but still focused.

How do I find out wich ones a wins and wich ones are donts before making the decision?

nice advice, i been having trouble playing MTT. I think i started thinking too much and taking too much notes early on against my opponents. ill try to read through this again or keep a note of this next time i play.

rifflemao said:

In summary:

1. Play good hands in the first levels.
2. Omg wtf...see #1.
3. Only bluff nits.
4. Don't give up when short-stacked.
5. Think before you call all-ins with marginal hands.
6. Don't tilt.

p.s. Stay focused and disciplined.

p.p.s. Disclaimer.

Click to expand...

I am so loving your #2

OP has a point; staying focused and disciplined is key...i've made more than a few costly mistakes because of the long playing time...go all in with A2o at the final table for example.

My basic strategy early on in a tournament where the blinds are low is that i'll usually see more flops because there cheap and try to double up with a monster hand...not so tough as people are quite loose early on. Then I buckle down and wait till I get a good read on the table..if i can steal blinds while they go up thats great otherwise no superbluffs, usually its a semibluff. Then in the late stages I like to focus on stealing blinds and waiting out the desperadoes...i try to steal while im in the late positions and lock down on the flop when i have top pair. Im not so keen on trapping people too much even with pocket aces if there are drawing chances on the board.

Good post OP!

DarkRoster33 said:

6. If someone gets into your head, just don't play against him,

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What do I do about the demons in my head that keep on chanting "ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, ALL-IN, "

?

Great post! You nailed it. Losing concentration late in the tourney. I think the one thing I was actually doing and started doing as of late is exemplified in this post.

I play in a local free roll ( $135 for 1st normally) Sun, Mon, Wed and while there are donkeys galore and seemed to growing in number, i started devaluing my hands and chips early on. Thinking I'll play at the lower levels to try and catch. Essentially lack of discipline. I'm glad I read this post, i needed something to send me back to adhering to the fundamentals.

rifflemao said:

In summary:

1. Play good hands in the first levels.
2. Omg wtf...see #1.
3. Only bluff nits.
4. Don't give up when short-stacked.
5. Think before you call all-ins with marginal hands.
6. Don't tilt.

p.s. Stay focused and disciplined.

p.p.s. Disclaimer.

Click to expand...

Thanks, saved me some time.
No, but really, the OP is saying these exact things, just in a very long way.

Some good advice here!

Thought I'd try and contribute and its a little tip somone told me that can be very useful at any point in an MTT but even more so at the business end. I call it the "10 second rule". Its basically my way of forcing myself to take time to consider all options before I make my decision.

After 4 hours of playing poker its easy to just make a rash move that can cost you your tournament life. So for every decision in every hand I play I force myself (with the aid of a little postit note reminder) to take 10 seconds to consider my best move - fold, call, bet, raise, shove.

Obv u can fold junk without taking the time but if you're in a hand, there's nothing worse than instacalling and then regretting the move because you didn't consider other options

rifflemao said:

In summary:

1. Play good hands in the first levels.
2. Omg wtf...see #1.
3. Only bluff nits.
4. Don't give up when short-stacked.
5. Think before you call all-ins with marginal hands.
6. Don't tilt.

p.s. Stay focused and disciplined.

p.p.s. Disclaimer.

Click to expand...

Nits. . .lol
also, Dont get ****y just because you're the chipleader.
Nothing worse than doubling up a short-stacked player.

For me these advice worth nothing... I think there no sense to read advices or books about poker, main is experience witch you got playing poker.
I'm not talking for everybody, it's just my opinion.

Good advice, I feel especially early in the tournament's people tend to over think.. play solid hands and build a stack!!

This is a great thread. It reminds me that we always have something to learn even from tournaments or players or posters that we deem to be "beneath" our level of poker sophistication (I really DO NOT mean that in a condescending way. I realize it sounds like it, but just trust me it is a form of reverence ).

It's kind of like being a parent. To be a great parent you don't just impart lessons to your child, but you also learn lessons from your child. Sometimes they are really quite simple but important lessons that you THINK you already know but your child just shines a new light on the whole concept and drives the point home for you and you find out that one of the biggest things you've been doing wrong in your life was something you were supposed to master in kindergarten.

example: I'm trying to teach my child about controlling his temper and his rage. it can seem so "cute" the things that he freaks out about (breaks an arm on his Lego guy) and I think "awwww....that's such a silly thing to get all upset about. it's just a toy. he has lots of them. it shouldn't ruin his day" But then a few hours later I'll be in a poker tourney and I'll get my aces cracked by a gutshot and I'll be upset....

good thread. good reminders. good solid advice.

I prefer not to bluff at turn, and put all-in preflop to steal SS/BB in earlier period.
In mid - period, try to play some good pairs or A J suited or higher to double up your stack. At final, if you have enough pot size, try to steal the pot when the hand-to-hand period. Coz no1 wanna lose at that moment to get at least payout to cover the entry fees!

Early stages play like invisible , just watch and note opponents play. If u have premium hand try play check/call, blinds are small u will had many calls , even if u raise. With low pairs try make traps. In the middle stage turnament start for real. Just watch on your position and play the best u can. Watch opponents , be focus and try play more aggressive . Late stage depends what stack u have , if is small play like the begin tur. ,big stack ...be aggressive and bluff if u have good position. GL

at 1st hr try to play TAG and save your chips and try to double up with good hands, while so many will go all in.
Try to read few articles from CC strategy articles and make urself better, follow those advices....

missjacki said:

This is a great thread. It reminds me that we always have something to learn even from tournaments or players or posters that we deem to be "beneath" our level of poker sophistication (I really DO NOT mean that in a condescending way. I realize it sounds like it, but just trust me it is a form of reverence ).

It's kind of like being a parent. To be a great parent you don't just impart lessons to your child, but you also learn lessons from your child. Sometimes they are really quite simple but important lessons that you THINK you already know but your child just shines a new light on the whole concept and drives the point home for you and you find out that one of the biggest things you've been doing wrong in your life was something you were supposed to master in kindergarten.

example: I'm trying to teach my child about controlling his temper and his rage. it can seem so "cute" the things that he freaks out about (breaks an arm on his Lego guy) and I think "awwww....that's such a silly thing to get all upset about. it's just a toy. he has lots of them. it shouldn't ruin his day" But then a few hours later I'll be in a poker tourney and I'll get my aces cracked by a gutshot and I'll be upset....

good thread. good reminders. good solid advice.

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+1

well said. Y took words out of my mouth.
I was about to skip this read, then I did it. Worth my time
@OP thanks for sharing