CDNMAN 42
Legend
Platinum Level
Running Deep
I seem to have the same difficulty, get to Final Table play cautiously, get a large Pocket Pair end up in against JUNK and lose...happens regularly, yesterday played 5 MTT Micro buy ins on PS, made Final Table on all and kicked out with Premium hand in 8th or 9th place every time...some say its variance I think the PS algorithms have decided on winners before cards are dealt so if its your lucky day. bingo...
I seem to have the same difficulty, get to Final Table play cautiously, get a large Pocket Pair end up in against JUNK and lose...happens regularly, yesterday played 5 MTT Micro buy ins on PS, made Final Table on all and kicked out with Premium hand in 8th or 9th place every time...some say its variance I think the PS algorithms have decided on winners before cards are dealt so if its your lucky day. bingo...
amxvulcan
Rock Star
Silver Level
hand
Just played a hand where I had pocket QQ. Not in the money yet and outside what will be the money . All fold to me and I go all in. One caller, who has a big stack. He shows 5 6 off.
Gets a 5 on the flop and second 5 on river. That is what I can't seem to be able to get past.
Just played a hand where I had pocket QQ. Not in the money yet and outside what will be the money . All fold to me and I go all in. One caller, who has a big stack. He shows 5 6 off.
Gets a 5 on the flop and second 5 on river. That is what I can't seem to be able to get past.
perrywh
Legend
Platinum Level
Luvepoker
Lost in the twilight zone
Community Guide
Your problem maybe your just making the money. Are you tightening up when the bubble comes every time? I see players who cash way more than average but never go deep. They have 7 BB w 3 left they just fold until that bubble hits then wonder why there 2BB all in loses to 32o. Now I am not saying you should go crazy and play junk but you need to just go for it when you have a good hand. AK go for it. Pockets tens go for it.
P
ph_il
...
Silver Level
I had the same problem for the longest time and it was being I wasn't willing to play for big stacks when I needed to. Especially in the middle stages where stacks are getting shallow and it's getting closer to the money.
When I found myself struggling to make it deep in mtts, I was trying to justify holding on my stack as long as possible. You might tell yourself the same thing "I have 40 bbs and only 35 players from the money, I can play tight and make it there."
And maybe I did, maybe I didn't but, whenever I did cash, it was very rarely with a big stack. Majority of the time, I had a few big blinds left and a min-cash. Then would come everything in hindsight that I should've done that I didn't.
So, I decided to switch things up and start playing for big pots. If I had a big hand, I went for big value with it pre and post flop. I 3bet my strong hands a lot more. I was more willing to get it all in preflop in close equity spots. I was willing to 50/50 flip with AK for 50 bbs (100 bb pot). Or get it in with 25 bbs and KQs in SB facing a MP open and 2 cold calls when it's on the money bubble. Etc.
Of course, hand selection is important and i wouldn't be 3betting jamming A10o for 50 bbs in the same scenario I would AK. The main factor I was more willing to put my mtt life at risk in spots where I felt I had an edge or was slightly behind to build up my stack because I understood that a having a bigger stack was going to get me much deeper in mtts than not. It's not impossible to win an mtt with only 10 bbs after the bubble, but I would have a much better chance building my to 100+ bbs 50% of the time than having 10 bbs 100% of the time.
On the plus side, when I started playing for bigger stacks, my confidence in my game grew a lot. Even though I was putting myself at much more risk and busting out more, I stopped regretted my decisions. You would think that someone busting out with AK and 50 bbs would be kicking themselves, but the opposite is true. I was regretting the times I wasn't making these plays, when I was playing too tight and not making it deep in mtts. For me, the fact that I can play and not regret any of my decisions, no matter the results, is huge in not only building my confidence at the tables but it allows me to focus on things that are important in the game.
With all that said, I think it's important to figure out what works for you in MTTs as well. While I don't mind risking 50 bbs with AK, there will be a lot of players that will say it's not necessary to do so. And they could be correct with their own strategy. Maybe you don't feel comfortable putting that much at risk. Maybe it's more important for you to cash first and then make the big plays. No matter what you do, have a plan on what you're going to do in situations. It could be as simple as "if I ever get down to 15 bbs or lower, I'm going to find spots to get my stack in, not matter what." Maybe plan to steal, re-steal, and 3bet more the closer you get to the money bubble to take advantage of the tighter players.
When I found myself struggling to make it deep in mtts, I was trying to justify holding on my stack as long as possible. You might tell yourself the same thing "I have 40 bbs and only 35 players from the money, I can play tight and make it there."
And maybe I did, maybe I didn't but, whenever I did cash, it was very rarely with a big stack. Majority of the time, I had a few big blinds left and a min-cash. Then would come everything in hindsight that I should've done that I didn't.
So, I decided to switch things up and start playing for big pots. If I had a big hand, I went for big value with it pre and post flop. I 3bet my strong hands a lot more. I was more willing to get it all in preflop in close equity spots. I was willing to 50/50 flip with AK for 50 bbs (100 bb pot). Or get it in with 25 bbs and KQs in SB facing a MP open and 2 cold calls when it's on the money bubble. Etc.
Of course, hand selection is important and i wouldn't be 3betting jamming A10o for 50 bbs in the same scenario I would AK. The main factor I was more willing to put my mtt life at risk in spots where I felt I had an edge or was slightly behind to build up my stack because I understood that a having a bigger stack was going to get me much deeper in mtts than not. It's not impossible to win an mtt with only 10 bbs after the bubble, but I would have a much better chance building my to 100+ bbs 50% of the time than having 10 bbs 100% of the time.
On the plus side, when I started playing for bigger stacks, my confidence in my game grew a lot. Even though I was putting myself at much more risk and busting out more, I stopped regretted my decisions. You would think that someone busting out with AK and 50 bbs would be kicking themselves, but the opposite is true. I was regretting the times I wasn't making these plays, when I was playing too tight and not making it deep in mtts. For me, the fact that I can play and not regret any of my decisions, no matter the results, is huge in not only building my confidence at the tables but it allows me to focus on things that are important in the game.
With all that said, I think it's important to figure out what works for you in MTTs as well. While I don't mind risking 50 bbs with AK, there will be a lot of players that will say it's not necessary to do so. And they could be correct with their own strategy. Maybe you don't feel comfortable putting that much at risk. Maybe it's more important for you to cash first and then make the big plays. No matter what you do, have a plan on what you're going to do in situations. It could be as simple as "if I ever get down to 15 bbs or lower, I'm going to find spots to get my stack in, not matter what." Maybe plan to steal, re-steal, and 3bet more the closer you get to the money bubble to take advantage of the tighter players.
P
ph_il
...
Silver Level
What is the issue here? You have a top starting hand and a big stack was willing to pay you off with 56o. This is exactly what you want.
Forget the fact that you lost here. It's going to happen sometimes, but QQ is winning often here that you need to just look pass the results and understand that you got it in good. i cant tell you how many times my QQ+ busted to someone holding a far worse hand. That's because I just don't care about it to keep count. It doesn't matter.
You got your hand it good and it lost. It wins more often though, so don't be afraid to keep getting it in. Especially against players you know are going to pay you off.
P
ph_il
...
Silver Level
Even if PS algorithms decide on what the winning hands are (I don't think they are), they can't force the action of the players.I seem to have the same difficulty, get to Final Table play cautiously, get a large Pocket Pair end up in against JUNK and lose...happens regularly, yesterday played 5 MTT Micro buy ins on PS, made Final Table on all and kicked out with Premium hand in 8th or 9th place every time...some say its variance I think the PS algorithms have decided on winners before cards are dealt so if its your lucky day. bingo...
Bad players will make bad decisions and sometimes it pays off for them. That's it. End of story.
M
madmandown
Rock Star
Bronze Level
My advice to you is play tight and try to play accordingly to player type as it will take your winning rate at next level play sometimes it hurts too. And play very calmly and think on every street what sizing to use and when to jam and what he'll do.
B
BIGAUS
Rock Star
Platinum Level
I think this is natural for a lot of people. Also if you're just aiming to at least make the money, you might play tighter when in the bubble and you'll find yourself a short stack once you're ITM. Luck and skill as the blinds go up always factors in the latter stages of a tournament.
florestaftw
Rock Star
Bronze Level
exaggerating at the wrong times, many times ends up taking us out of the game.
Analyze your plays and the position in which you find yourself.
B
blata8ruga
Visionary
Bronze Level
I can relate, it seems like I can make it deep into tourneys but then it is almost like there is a block there that I can't get past. I am going to play in this Sunday's half price million and I hope I can at least cash. Though it sure would be nice to go deep in a tourney like that. It has been awhile !!!
L
LFC_yllnwa
Legend
Bronze Level
There are ideas, but you need to know, where and when you start having problems in the game. If getting to the final table is not a problem, then it is necessary to disassemble this component of the game, because the game at the final table is very different from any stage in the tournament. If you get into the money, but you do not have a chance to get to the final table, means you miss in the final stage or play poorly in the middle of the tournament and you do not have enough opportunity to play from yourself and try to put pressure on your opponents...
There are a lot of factors that affect the final result, and if this happens all the time, you need to look for the problem or cause. Without details, it is impossible to answer, why and what you are doing wrong... I am very sorry...
There are a lot of factors that affect the final result, and if this happens all the time, you need to look for the problem or cause. Without details, it is impossible to answer, why and what you are doing wrong...
I am very sorry... 
johnny tigre
Visionary
Silver Level
Patience is key. Sometimes when you're near the bubble and you get good cards, it is better to just let it go and wait it out.
There are times you get beat even with AK or AA, especially when its bubble time.
There are times you get beat even with AK or AA, especially when its bubble time.
Alekxandrovi3
Rock Star
Bronze Level
You needs experience more. Try to read poker books. Play with us carchat freroll everday.