Is sitting out a strategy?

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DawgBones

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Is there any advantage to sitting out the first part of a tournament say until the bb's are 100. I've seen this more than a few times and wonder what is up? Are they in another tourney, are they studying the table, are they waiting until Oprah is over? What's the scoop?:confused:
 
SystEmsuX

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You hit it right on the head--they're watching Oprah. That's what I'm doing, anyway, and I'd assume it holds true for most others, as well. All the self-help stuff you see on her show has vastly improved my poker game. If you're not tuning in, you're missing out.
 
CAPT. ZIGZAG

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Actually, this is a known strategy for re-buy tourneys.

Some folks like to load up on duckets, and wait for the donkfest to end (first break). :icon_sant


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RickH2005

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Actually, this is a known strategy for re-buy tourneys.

Some folks like to load up on duckets, and wait for the donkfest to end (first break). :icon_sant


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What ZZ said--and it's about the same thing as folding every hand until the fest is done--alot of people just fold UNLESS the get a monster!
 
ROYALKNIGHT

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I do sit out occasionally til 1st break. But If I have high pp like JJ to AA ill hurry and sit in the hand.
 
zachvac

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Actually, this is a known strategy for re-buy tourneys.

Some folks like to load up on duckets, and wait for the donkfest to end (first break). :icon_sant


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lol you mean they like to throw away money? When people are getting in with all sorts of crap, NOT calling with TT to a shove can be very -ev. Also note that this "strategy" is exactly the same as just check-folding every hand. It's a "strategy" for people that don't know how to play poker, don't like money, and just in geneal aren't taking it seriously. It's bad enough to check-fold every hand (especially if it's a donk-fest, you should WANT to get in hands like 99+/AJ+), but to let everyone KNOW you're check-folding every hand? What happens if you sit out and then sit back in just to play your AA? You think they think you just sat in because you saw 38o?
 
OzExorcist

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Zachvac's got it.

I guess you can call it a strategy, if you're justifying it some way. "I'm gonna sit out because X, Y and Z".

The real question though is whether it's a good strategy - I suggest it probably isn't.
 
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I sit out a lot because i know if i play too many hands, im eventually going to make a mistake... the only disadvantage is that when you come back, the chip leaders are way ahead
 
CAPT. ZIGZAG

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Zachvac's got it.

I guess you can call it a strategy, if you're justifying it some way. "I'm gonna sit out because X, Y and Z".

The real question though is whether it's a good strategy - I suggest it probably isn't.

Never said it was good, or my preferred strategy.

But I see a lot of empty seats in the casino with chips in front of them. And they seem to fill after the first break. It is used a lot.

I prefer to sit and cherry pick.


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TPC

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If I win a big pot or two early in a tournament, I will sit out for fifteen to twenty minutes or so. I don't want to lose my stack and I wait for things to calm down a little.
 
aquadad

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I you have a reason for sitting out, then it's a stategy. It doesn't really matter what the reason is. That's my 2 cents.
 
Worak

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I play a lot of freerolls and use the time until the first break to cherry-pick and tag the players I see for later.
It's not sitting out but playing tight.
I usually don't play the first 5 hands unless I have a monster because someone is sure to shove (...and get multiple callers).
I often don't play the last hand before and after the break either because someone will pull out something crazy here, too.
 
Crystal Blue

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I dont know about online poker but in big live games thats what Hellmuth seems to do. Mind you, he does like to make a grand entrance so I dont know if its a strategy thing with him or just a big ego trip lol. Its been working out pretty well for him though so I guess it cant be all bad.
 
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if you try VC poker, they have double up sng's for top 50% of the sng's - a gem for slowly building a small roll. Just playing these I have built up from $28 to $100 in a week playing PLO $2.20 sng's

I see people sitting out that I win money for by knocking people out for them. It seems their strategy works cos they make top 50% every tme
 
zachvac

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I you have a reason for sitting out, then it's a stategy. It doesn't really matter what the reason is. That's my 2 cents.

ok well then sitting out is a strategy like getting all your chips in an 80-20 dog is a strategy.
 
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i have noticed to that a ton of people sit out....and in truth i have thought about doing it in some freerolls myself cause of the donks...but instead i play and just be cautios until things settle down
 
Dorkus Malorkus

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lol at this thread
 
skoldpadda

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You guys need to listen to zach, imo.

Basically it comes down to this: If you are playing in the tourney, it should be because you feel you have an edge/+EV to be in it. If you're in it, then you maximize that edge by actually playing, not sitting out. Especially in a rebuy, when you can either build a large stack early or take chips later from those who win them early. I see no way that sitting out is +EV in a rebuy tourney. And if it's a freeze out and you don't have the smarts and/or discipline not to stack off early, then you need to be working on your game more.
 
ratmantoo

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Sitting out is used alot but is it a good strategy?

Only if it works for you!!!!!

I prefer to play tight, observe what the other players are doing and try and tag them. In a rebuy so what if you loose a couple of chips early on to a donk... the wealth of knowledge you are gaining by seeing what they are playing will make up for it later on. As Zac said cherry pick.
 
GordonStr222

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I like to sit out and observe the other players to see how there playing............ If there is too many donks going all in with 72o i will sit out until they are all gone..........
 
blankoblanco

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I like to sit out and observe the other players to see how there playing............ If there is too many donks going all in with 72o i will sit out until they are all gone..........

*groan*
 
CAPT. ZIGZAG

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You know.... They try to tell you guys.

They know what they're talking about. The reason they groan is because it seems like they're words are falling on deaf ears.

Jus Sayin....


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zachvac

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I like to sit out and observe the other players to see how there playing............ If there is too many donks going all in with 72o i will sit out until they are all gone..........

Yeah and when the guy on the corner tries to hand me a $20 bill I just avoid it and run away too. Good strategy.
 
Pillshark

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I can see,and have seen,sitting out being used as a strategy,near the end of a game.
If you are safely in the money,and are waiting for the bubble player to lose,or are close to making a final table,then sitting out can be used as a strategy,so that you don,t play any marginal hands,and risk losing any chips to the lower stacks,who are going to be pushing with any half chance hand.
So yes,sitting out can be used as a strategy.
 
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lol they are watching oprah!!!! na i think its just because they haven't got home yet or w.e. maybe they dont like to play the small blinds becuase the way ppl limp in and call when the pots are tiny....thats what i think....:icon_sant
 
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