Deep finishers in MTTs

[joeaugie]

I would like some deep finishers in MTTs to post their progressions throughout a tournament. I've been making the money in MTTs recently but am having trouble going deep...especially when other medium stacks seem to be really reckless with average hands like KQ or KJ. I've also found myself a big stack half way through thanks to some sweet early hands but am reluctant to call all in's of smaller stacks... say 1/6th of my stack with the same type of hand. at some point do you just have to go for it and call smaller stacks knowing you might be 40/60 to win in order to deepen your chip stack.
I would like to see some players post hand examples from midway through a MTT in which they went deep and explain some of their thoughts.
I'm new to the forum but have already learned a lot from reading posts. Especially a great one about the WA/WB concept. I play at Full Tilt.

 

[ChuckTs]

In later stages of a tourney it's more important to be getting aggressive with KQ and AJ types of hands - not calling. You want to be playing lots of small pots and stealing blinds with these and lesser hands, and calling all ins only vs the looser players, and only when you're getting a favourable situation (ie with pot odds or with a good read).

It's all about blind stealing at that point as they're so large that they increase your stack significantly every time you do.

 

[joosebuck]

"especially when other medium stacks seem to be really reckless with average hands like KQ or KJ."

you really have to up the aggression factor the later you get. and timing becomes crucial, almost more important than your cards. people get scared then, and making moves vs certain players at certain points in the game will work regardless of cards. remember - you are there for FIRST and FIRST only. do what you can to get as many chips as you can before the final table, and if that happens to bust you before the money, you are better off.

 

[Irexes]

Here's my recent tourny stats by way of credentials for the following
http://www.officialpokerranking.com/poker-player-rankings/F5E4DCD4-A504-4EC6-BDCA-EBF1751710A3/

There is a huuuuuuuuuuuuge difference between opeining a pot and entering after someone has bet mid-to-late in tournies. In general don't be afraid to open pots in mid-late position with a reasonable range of hands (depending on the tight/looseness of the table) but be extremely cautious about calling for a decent chunk of your chips preflop.

As for WA/WB, it is absolutely true but do not overuse it in tournies. Generally don't be afraid to bet pots where you think you are ahead after the flop and let the other guy make a mistake. Avoid giving people the opportunity to bluff you off reasonable post-flop holdings by checking or weak-betting flops, you also want to avoid giving free cards. Better to take down half a dozen decent pots and the occassional big one than to walk into a bear-trap by being passive. This also provides you with the correct image to make the occassionally required huge bluff (hopefully a semi-bluff) when you perceive weakness, this can often be the defining moment of a tourney. By the same token be aware that people are prepared to make big moves if they perceive you are weak and that you should avoid encouraging them to do so.

Consider carefully the size of the stacks you are playing against and if in doubt don't get involved in marginal situations versus big stacks, while at the same time target the small stacks who are having to make a decision for their tournament life each time they enter a pot, this often gives you huuuge fold equity (unless they are pot committed). Your own play should also be influenced by the size of your own stack and how others are perceiving your own state of mind.

There's also a completely different approach once you reach the final 10% of tournies where many people start panicing and a bit of concerted aggression can boost you up the order without much resistance.

It also depends on the buy-in of the tourney as the tone of your approach, $5 very different from $33 very different from $100.

Finally stealing blinds, restealing from the stealers learning how to defend your own blinds are key and that's a really long post in itself.

 

[Vasity]

I play MTT tournaments as an ABC player till my superior card play has gotten me to well in 1st place . Then I am a loose cannon wait for the AA or AQ or AJ if someone goes all in I suggest usually not calling you have a 60/40% on them usually but that 40% can double them up . You can choose to afford that into your stack or let them steal blinds. ( which I let players do often it's a weak move and often cheap for you and for them) . I try to trap players by just calling and if I hit on the flop check. It's the best feeling when you have two pair or trips checking to that aggressive fish trying to steal your blinds pushes all in. And you can smooth call. And take their blind stealing but's right out the tourney. Hope this helps.