My tournament strategy. Please assess.

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Russian_Californian

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Hey there, fellows.
I have developed my own (yet it might be pretty lame) tournament strategy, which I want to implement to optimize my winnings. Can you please spare a couple of minutes to read it and give me a piece of assessment? Shall I ammend my plan in any way? I will be really grateful for any constructive criticism and assistance in general.





PREFLOP
Early position (1st, 2nd seats from the BB)
Raise – AA, AKs, KK, QQ. Action to a Reraise – AA, KK -> 4bet, AKs, QQ -> call. Action to a Reraise All-In - AKs, QQ -> fold. All other hands shall be folded from this position. Limp – AKs, QQ.
Middle position (3rd, 4th seats from the BB)
Open-Raise – AA, AKs, KK, QQ, JJ, AKo, AQs, AQo, AJs, AJo. 3bet – AA, AKs, KK, QQ, AKo, AQs. Actions to a Reraise are same as in the Early position with all Middle Position openers used. Limp - AJs, AJo.
Late position (5th, 6th seats from the BB)
Open-Raise – AA, AKs, KK, QQ, JJ, AKo, AQs, AQo, AJs, AJo, TT, ATs, ATo, KQs, KQo, QJs, QJo, 99, 88, 77. 3bet – AA, AKs, KK, QQ, AKo, AQs. Actions to a Reraise are same as in the Early position with all Middle Position openers used. Limp to an Early Raise with the Middle Limping range, Limp wider to Middle Raises - AJs, AJo, TT, ATs, ATo, KQs, KQo, QJs, QJo, 99, 88, 77. A reraise shall be considered an Early raise and therefore has to be treated accordingly.
Optimal position (Button)
Open-Raise - AA, AKs, KK, QQ, JJ, AKo, AQs, AQo, AJs, AJo, TT, ATs, ATo, KQs, KQo, QJs, QJo, KJs, KJo, JTs, JTo, KTs, KTo, QTs, QTo, 99, 88, 77, 66, 55, 44, 33, 22. 3bet – AA, AKs, KK, QQ, AKo, AQs. Actions to a Reraise are same as in the Early position with all Middle Position openers used. Limp Middle to Early Raises. Limp Late to Middle Raises. Limp Opening Range to Late Raises. A reraise shall be considered an Early raise and therefore has to be treated accordingly.
Out of position 1 (SB)
Open-Raise - AA, AKs, KK, QQ, JJ, AKo, AQs, AQo, AJs, AJo, TT, ATs, ATo, KQs, KQo, QJs, QJo, KJs, KJo, JTs, JTo, KTs, KTo, QTs, QTo, 99, 88, 77, 66, 55, 44, 33, 22. 3bet – AA, AKs, KK, QQ, AKo, AQs. Actions to a Reraise are same as in the Early position with all Middle Position openers used. Limp Middle to Early Raises. Limp Late to Middle Raises. Limp Opening Range to Late and Button Raises. A reraise shall be considered an Early raise and therefore has to be treated accordingly.
Out of position 2 (BB)
3bet – AA, AKs, KK, QQ, AKo, AQs. Limp Middle to Early Raises. Limp Late to Middle Raises. Limp Opening Range to Late, Button and SB Raises. A reraise shall be considered an Early raise and therefore has to be treated accordingly.
PREFLOP – Implied odds Hands
If and only if the effective stack exceeds 100BB, shall you be allowed to limp to a reasonable raise (up to 4BB) with an Implied Odds Hand.
An Implied Odds Hand is considered a hand that has potential to improve for a straight or a flush, as well as the smaller pocket pairs that have potential to flopping a set.
Implied odds hands to limp (do not limp if a raise is greater than 4BB, do not limp in reraised pots, do not limp if your stack is less than 100BB) – A2-A9s, K2-K9s,23s,34s,45s,56s,67s,78s,89s,9Ts, smaller pocket pairs from all positions.
POSTFLOP
First street
If you have less than TPTK. If you have less or equal than 3 limpers. If your opponents are reasonably tight and thoughtful, fire a cbet of ¾ the pot. Fold to a raise. If you get called by a tight or nitty opponent, proceed cautiously. If you get called by a
If you have a TPTK. If you have less or equal than 5 limpers. Fire a cbet of ¾ the pot. If a nitty player raises you, fold. If a loose player raises you, call. If a nitty player calls, proceed cautiously.
If you have two pairs or better. Regardless of the number of limpers, fire a cbet of ¾ the pot. If a nitty player raises you, call. If a loose player, raises you, reraise him. Unless you have the nuts, still proceed cautiously if you get called or raised by a nit.
Second street
If you are weak and there are nitty players who called you, do not proceed with another cbet. Check. If they bet, then fold. If they check, check, refrain from betting as they might be trying to induce bluff.
If you are weak and up against a loose opponent, who, you believe, might be on a draw, or very weak in general, and not a complete unbluffable fish, fire another cbet.
If you are weak and up against a fish, do not fire another cbet, as the opponent is likely to call you. Check. If he bets, fold. If he checks, check.
If you have a TPTK, there are no nitty players around, safely throw another cbet, however, fold, if somebody follows up with a wild raise.
If you have a TPTK, and you got called by nitty players, check. If you are up against a fish, value bet them strongly with another cbet.
If you are strong (2 pair or better), fire another cbet safely, call a raise made by a loose player, you can even reraise him if you have the nuts. Be extremely cautious if you get called on the turn by a nit, as it indicates a set or better. Fold to a huge turn raise by a nit unless you have the nuts. Value bet a calling station relentlessly. Reraise everybody if you know you have the nuts.
Third street
If you are weak, and somebody called you both streets, check. If they bet, fold. However, if you have a strong belief that someone was on a draw and missed and is prone to fold, you might take a risk and throw another barrel, but that shall be done if you are adequately stacked.
If you have a TPTK, and you got called by a nit, and he shows aggression on the river, fold. If unusual aggression is shown by a fish or a LAG on the river, and there is a clear possibility of a flush or straight getting there, and your reasoning suggests high likelihood of the event of them catching their hand, fold. Generally, if there is a huge river bet or raise, be inclined towards folding, unless the opponent is a habitual bluffer.
If you have 2 pair or better, throw another barrel, if the opponent of yours is loose or a fish that might have missed his draw. Don’t fire another barrel against a nit unless you have the nuts. Check and he might be likely to check behind.
If you have the nuts, bet another barrel, and reraise any raises 
 
horizon12

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Very nitty style game, but with such a strategy you crushing micro buy-ins very easy, Low buy-ins or higher, regulars can exploited you sometimes. But I think it is still possible show a profitable game in low buyins too...

You should not use all the time chart of hands, you need to observe the dynamics of the table, bet sizing, showdown hands opponents depending on the position and size of the stack, factor steal blinds, and only then make the right decision..
 
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Russian_Californian

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Thank you for the feedback, horzion12. I play micro buy-ins exclusively, because my bankroll is rather shallow, and I try to adhere to proper brm to exclude risk of ruin. I would like to gradually (slowly but surely) climb up to higher buy-in tourneys. What adjustments do you think are worth implementing in my play to be at high likelihood of profitability in more expensive tourneys?
 
DonSifu

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i suppose it's good to have a basic strategy, but i think as you develop your game you'll find yourself playing more the player and less the cards you're dealt. That being said, this seems like an excellent foundation upon which to build your skills.
Crush them all sir! Except me of course.
 
Fknife

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Early position (1st, 2nd seats from the BB)
Raise – AA, AKs, KK, QQ. Action to a Reraise – AA, KK -> 4bet, AKs, QQ -> call. Action to a Reraise All-In - AKs, QQ -> fold. All other hands shall be folded from this position. Limp – AKs, QQ.
[..]

So if EP1 open-limps and you have AKs on EP2...you're limping behind?
 
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Russian_Californian

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DonSifu, thanks for your feedback, but I really find hard playing micro buy-in tourneys opponents, as a lot of them are unbluffable and won't fold Ace-rag off suit on a flop containing an Ace... That being said is just an example.
 
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Russian_Californian

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So if EP1 open-limps and you have AKs on EP2...you're limping behind?

If EP1 open-limps, I'm raising with AKs. If EP1 open-raises, I'm calling with AKs. However, if an EP1, having open-limped, 3bets my raise with AKs, I will have to fold, since, as I've noticed, many people try to open-limp early with premiums in order to trap, while it also is true that they make it look like that as they believe I might put them on AA, KK. I would say depending on the image of an opponent, I would decide whether to fold or call a reraise, or even to 4bet an early 3bet.
 
4soul

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It's a good strategy, but...for shure...you cannot follow it 100%, sometimes there are some moments that you must raise with 26o ( for example ) , and you know the next things in proportion of 95%.....But, i am pretty happy what will be your profit with this strategy after 1 month of working!
 
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Russian_Californian

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I believe that plays implementing raises with speculative hands shall pertain to higher buy-in tourneys, as people playing there will be more likely to fold to a bluff rather than a regular Joe playing 0.11$ buy-in 250$ Gtd tourney on pokerstars. That person might not fold to your bluff and win with something ludacris. That's why I think, its better to adhere to sound poker for now, and make sure to only play robust holdings while at micro buy-in level. When I participate in a tourney, even though it's extremely cheap, I focus on gaining experience and making correct plays, even if it involves folding A-4s preflop, because my stack doesn't allow me to call with implied odds hands as per my strategy, only to find out that I would have flopped nut flush if I dared calling.
 
ZekeRam

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Playing with a hard and fast strategy will extremely limit your pivotability (I don't think that's a word) in a tournament. Early stages of a tournament is the best time to actually test out your table, with stack sizes being so deep.

The strategy itself is very prone to aggressive players. You'll find yourself folding to most bets on the flop and floats on the turn. Also, you'll get trapped on your 3/4 pot bets cause aggressors tend to slow play monsters.

But the overall take on it is as you find yourself becoming more profitable, you'll be unable to adjust as you move up in stakes. Above average skilled poker players will be able to sniff this out in a heartbeat.
 
najisami

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Yeah, and I also think that predetermined strategy almost never work in poker generally. The dynamics of every table are different from any other. Adapting and improvising are what make the greatness of poker.
 
jayrock334

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yeah i like to adjust my strategy every tourney every table according to how the players at my table are playing but it is nice to have a strategy going in but
 
A

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Just wondering how you're doing. Has your strategy been profitable? Are there friends around who are helping you review your session or are you doing it yourself? Have you found out any leaks? Have you found how to fix those?

I too started out on the similar lines and I found there were a lot of leaks in my game and had to fix it myself (videos, blogs, forums and my own conviction), none of my friends are into poker.
 
pigpen02

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Did you leave an incomplete sentence in the middle of your strategy to see if anybody read the whole thing?
 
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bbiase

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Why call to 3-bet from early position? They are very difficult to play post flop out of position, specially with overcards to your QQ and if AK miss. You should be 4-betting here.

If I'm you I'd actually consider slowplaying AA, AK and KK from the CO/BU, something like 50% of the time or even more if people aren't giving you enough action pre flop. Position is very powerful.
 
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bbiase

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Also, I'd adjust your c-bet sizing. 3/4 is way too much. It might cripple you by the turn, and if you show weakness on the turn, the raiser's edge you got pre flop goes away and you either turn into calling station, or will have to fold your best hand. TPTK isn't something you want to commit yourself by the turn (what you're porbably getting with this c-bet sizing). Smaller c-bets, more fish with air trying to float you. Some will float even with 3/4 pot c-bets, and will make it impossible for you to call later streets bets if the pot grow big enough, even on scenarios with you think you have the best hand.

Loose players will call you, with big bet or small bet. Loose players will float you and river, doesn't matter how hard you try to get them off hands. Avoid short term variance by making smaller bets.

Also, I don't think it is a great measure to wheight if it's a good or bad spot to c-bet judging by how strong you are. You should c-bet as a combo of your strenght and the board texture. You can flop the most insane flush, straight or combo draw, you should still check out of position (and raise afterwards). You can miss heavily the flop, but it's dry as ****, fire a c-bet out of position. Your strenght is imo, just subsidial factor into c-betting or not. This spot (to decide "c-bet or no c-bet" based on your own strenght) is a spot where fish will call your c-bets and make you go into a tournament pitfall. Remember you'll hardly have TPTK. You'll have online levels and levels of an MTT without hitting a single TPTK. You should bet judging by how ugly does the board looks to your opponent's perceived range.

Also, just like you'll fire c-bet TPTK, loose players won't just fold top pair against your c-bet. It's wishful thinking expect that they should fold their pair of aces to a double c-bet. This is where you should focus post-flop more on playing boards, players, position, and much less the connection of your hole cards with the board, specially paying attention to how many rounds of betting can you sustain. You can't just be agressor pre flop, put a big c-bet on flop, expect villain to fold his ace rag on the flop, feel without ammo to fire another c-bet, check the turn and still win the pot.

Also, hands like 22-66 should be viewed as implied odds type of hands. Nitty as you are, you are not probably continuing if you don't hit a set. To you, those are the same if not weaker than a hand like 78s.
 
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xOneCoolHandx

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I agree with the players who are telling you to not 100% adhere to this style. In a perfect world where all the players play like they should this would be a great style. But there are people who will be reading you and watching to see what you play and what you will fold to and exploit your style. So mix it up a little, especially if your in a tournament where players aren't going out fast. If they are going out fast, this strategy is great because the others players will have a lot of difficulty getting a solid read on you. The most important part of poker is reading other players so you can put them on a range. This enables you to predict what they are going to do, what they will bet, what they will call, what they will fold to, and most critically, when they have a monster and have you crushed. I like your approach early because it keeps you disciplined and your stack is safe while you learn the tendencies of the other players.
 
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I think having a default strategy is fantastic. Now that you have a default play, you can look at making adjustment either way (looser, tighter, etc..) depending on your opponent. Glad to see you've put some thought and work into your game as this is crucial to becoming a better player. Best of luck!
 
Rdsxfan

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Eventually you will realize that many times your cards to not matter, understand your opponents and what they are playing. Play your position and use the flop against their style.
 
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yeah definitely mix it up a little bit - at giant micro mtts clockwork oranges very consistently get past the bubble but really any tourney strategy this complex and precise and you'll spend more time looking at your rules then at the tables

I stick to general tenets of super tight and aggressive early on when involved in early stages and then trying to pick off blinds and find good spots to shove or call bad shoves in late stages. Everything else is table, stack and position dependent.

I don't think anyone will find any faults with this plan but on the same token I doubt many people actually read past the first few lines.
 
luiaguila

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I can not believe that you can follow that strategy to the letter , poker is something simple that with much practice and experience can enhance it seems absurd that strategy when the game always varies and depends on the players that you face , if follow this strategy you will be exploited very easy because you have to change the game a lot without leaving your gameplay
 
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