Style change when ITM

[Jdawglet]

Does your style of play change once you’re in the money? Do you become tighter because your closer to final table or do you make risky calls because even if you bust out…you’re getting paid?

 

[Izzeee]

ICM pressure is something to take into consideration. There's no need to risk with loose calls if it's going to knock you out of a tournament. If I'm short stacked I'm looking for my spots. If I'm in the top 10 I'm also being careful about my spots, no reason to lose more chips than nessesarry.

 

[Normino]

I get lazier and stop calling when I should and get upset when I see the hands I would have won if I had called I don't know why I chicken out I'm already ITM I think it has to do maybe with the bigger blinds that make me chicken out..

 

[nutself]

I think tighten up , wait for others to bust out, would be a good strategy.

 

[takinitSLEAZEE]

It really depends on my stack size. If I'm in the top 10% then it's business as usual. If it seems I need to double-up then I'll tighten up a bit to try and make the ft. I won't chase rivers or set mine, just ABC it.

 

[alien666dj]

I would say that there is an adjustment to the opponent when you are in ITM, rather than a change in the style of play.

 

[ADRI7HO]

My style of play changes.

I’m just a good player until ITM, but I’m a very good player after ITM. :flute::musicus:

 

[ROYALROAD]

I think it's good to play the same after ITM.
Is it wrong?

 

[niphon56]

After ITM short stacks players & chips leaders prefer all-in preflop.

Sometime it force u to change the style , not all depend on your choice.

 

[Alizona]

I used to tighten up or keep my same style, and I've always wondered why I don't win more tournaments.

In CardsChat freerolls, I began to notice that a lot of players doing the opposite - they make big overbets and shove all in frequently after we are ITM... so I decided to try it... and I won the ACR freeroll last week. So perhaps there is something important to learn from this method. Or, maybe I just "got lucky" and it was "my night".

But I will continue to experiment with this idea, I suspect it might teach me some important lessons.

 

[fundiver199]

It depends on your stack size. If you are a big stack, you should take advantage of other peoples risk aversion near the bubble by playing a loose and aggressive style forcing them to often make decisions for all their chips. When the bubble burst, some of that risk aversion will go away, and therefore you need to go back to a more normal playing style. You can call a bit wider though, because small stacks will be showing wider no longer being afraid to bust next. If you are a small or medium stack on the other hand, its kind of the other way around. Near the bubble you had to hold back especially against big stacks, but when the bubble has burst, you can loosen up, because its no longer important to outlast a few more players.

 

[Recreationalplayer]

It really depends on my stack size. with small stack I do play tight and aggressive. With Middling stacks, its cautiously aggressive. With large stack its loose and aggressive (atleast preflop).

 

[0546474]

Certainly !!! Each stage of the tournament is individual !!! And the opening range is also different depending on the stage of the tournament !!!

 

[manIk5]

I'm not changing styles , I just focus and continue to play good poker . Sometimes I might do something stupid , but am also doing that when I'm not in the money
I only fold almost everything when bubble is on . Then I don't want to bust on single hand when I'm few busts away from $$$ .

 

[adriantempo]

You can't have a style, otherwise the other players will know. Change it up.
Sometimes I play tight all tournament.
Sometimes I play tight, then risky after ITM.
Sometimes I play risky all tournament. I only change from risky to tight if I already have something worth protecting, but usually I don't play big tournaments.

 

[Joe1]

yes in any case more cautious and even more defensive as before in order to get further as possible itm and get more money out as it is feasible. that is the most beautiful thing when you know that you are itm and every place forward brings you more money and brings you further After all, the goal of every poker player is to reach the final table

 

[Luvart]

Depends on the stack size.

If I have a small stack, I try to find the first possible spot to put my chips in the middle.

 

[eberetta1]

Usually my chipstack is really low by the time I get ITM, so I usually go in hands more frequently. Also, I will get way more people to fold as people do not seem to want to take a risk unless they have a premium hand during this part of the game.

 

[duri32]

I play tight and wait for other players to be kicked out.Don't think its a good strategy mainly if you are big stack but sometimes it works well

 

[Kenzie 96]

I make it a point to practice good bank roll management so sneaking ITM is not a goal of mine. As the money bubble & payout increases approach I am looking for opportunities to exploit weak, tight players & chip up. Final tables & wins should be the goal, not sneaking in for a mini cash.