I always go for first even if it means not cashing. What do you do? No one remembers second place. I want titles, fame, and glory.

I think you have the wrong thinking for the game, second place is not always bad, and this of fame, status and glory is not gained overnight, you have to have a lot of focus, study and dedication to achieve this.

I have different goals for different games. Also often I choose step-by-step movement. 1st goal - itm -> 2nd goal - final table -> 3rd goal - victory.

Biggest winning players aim for the highest finishes, not just ITM. Having said that, if you're in a really dicey spot like <10BB right on the bubble it's foolish to not guarantee some amount of return.

i always play for the win, but i also don't always give up easy spots where i can get a return on my investment if it isn't necessary.

cashing, even small cashes, and winning are both important. winning, obviously, for the glory, bragging rights, big payouts etc but how often does someone win an mtt? lets say i win 1/100 mtts i play, which i think it's pretty decent. well, unless that win is going to give me $200+, i'm not getting a lot back on my investment.

however, if i don't risk guaranteed spots to make some money, that's going to reduce my total investments. even i play a $1 mtt and min cash for $1.50, this means i basically freeroll the game and am risking nothing. if i play 100 mtts and i can freeroll in 30% of them, that's great. that, on top of other deep cashes and final table runs, i will have invested a lot less and will get a much greater roi%.

in my experience, in majority of money/bubble situations, i just make it without risking anything. it's not that i'm afraid to not cash, it's just not necessary to risk it in spots where i have marginal equity. obviously, i get it in with my big pairs, aqs, ak hands, especially when i have mid-short stack, but if that doesn't happen, i'm happy to take the money first, then switch things up.

Interesting question. Sometimes playing it safe can be the best option though. It can lead you to min cash or final table. I don’t really like plays involving going all in with marginal hands like small pairs. If you get more than one caller it’s very hard to win

It depends o my stack size near the bubble, if I am less than 50 players from cashing or my stack is less than 15BBs ,I will try to cash first. By this time I probably have 2
and 1/2 hours invested in the mtt. Some tourneys I play I will be a hundred from the money with only 20 bbs left. I know there will be a lot of all ins because almost 1/3 of the field will try to double or take the blinds without a flop to chip up.
In those spots I throw away marginal hands like 77 or under. My thinking is so far from the money I don't want to take a flip for my stack and be out.
If I called in those situations I would double more often or bust.

Unless there is actually fame and glory involved in winning, like for instance the WSOP main event, then the answer lie somewhere in between. Sure you dont want to be so concerned with mini-cashing and leveling up, that you end up taking off +EV spots. But it does still matter, and a lot of your long term profit is going to come from finishing 2-5 and not just from wins. If I cash for 250$, I dont care, if its from winning a small MTT or from finishing as number 4 in a larger one. Its still 250$, and that is all, that really matter.

I always prefer ITM.I hate to play poker for hours and be eliminated before the cash prizes.

I think it's a mistake to aim for first place from the start of the game. because it may influence your game as well as the decisions you are going to make. it makes more sense not to skip the steps and aim for ITM places first. after having succeeded. we can set ourselves the goal of reaching the final table. It is only then that one can begin to claim first place. moreover the 2nd place is a good performance which we should be proud of because it is a goal which is not easy to achieve.

The money is really top 5 so I would aim for that. Not exactly the win. The best places to really get your chips up is the bubble and a lot of players feel this is when it time to play tight. IF you bust, you bust. But if you are able to get ahead, then you are in a prime spot to run deep. Good luck at the tables.

I think the minimum amount of bankroll for a beginner should be at least $ 100. But it does not have to be your own money. Bankroll can always be built by playing in freerolls.

You always need to strive for more, but you shouldn't be upset because of the 2nd or 3rd place.

of course it is good that you are the first and you achieve victory.But do not forget that after a streak of success there is a streak of failures.And there is an opinion that the one who first fell will rise high.

You must always play to win. The minimum charge only doubles the cost of entering the tournament. If you play just to get paid you would never make a profit and you would end up losing all the money

Well that is a good mentality, if you are good enough player.

Originally Posted by VictorOd

I have different goals for different games. Also often I choose step-by-step movement. 1st goal - itm -> 2nd goal - final table -> 3rd goal - victory.

Totally agree.
I have the same line of thought. Those are the order of my goals in each tournament.
I would add that when I get to the final table (FR), my goal is to get to 3H, and then win it.

Originally Posted by ohshootmybad

i always play for the win, but i also don't always give up easy spots where i can get a return on my investment if it isn't necessary.

cashing, even small cashes, and winning are both important. winning, obviously, for the glory, bragging rights, big payouts etc but how often does someone win an mtt? lets say i win 1/100 mtts i play, which i think it's pretty decent. well, unless that win is going to give me $200+, i'm not getting a lot back on my investment.

however, if i don't risk guaranteed spots to make some money, that's going to reduce my total investments. even i play a $1 mtt and min cash for $1.50, this means i basically freeroll the game and am risking nothing. if i play 100 mtts and i can freeroll in 30% of them, that's great. that, on top of other deep cashes and final table runs, i will have invested a lot less and will get a much greater roi%.

in my experience, in majority of money/bubble situations, i just make it without risking anything. it's not that i'm afraid to not cash, it's just not necessary to risk it in spots where i have marginal equity. obviously, i get it in with my big pairs, aqs, ak hands, especially when i have mid-short stack, but if that doesn't happen, i'm happy to take the money first, then switch things up.

Well said , you can read from this a player of experience and risk management. Its good to know there are players(me) who cash before pride. Half of poker is the $$$entry.before a game

hi. everything will depend on the type of tournament I play. but often a 2 place is excellent.

You should always strive to win, not get upset over defeat. Play to win again!

Since min-cashing on ACR MTTs is nearly always only equal to two buyins - I'm always looking to make FT. That is my goal. This goal has resulted in me making ITM often, and making FT more often than I used to. I do not let this influence decisions in individual hands, but it is my overall goal to reach FT.
Once at or very near FT - the goal is always top 3 spots, which is where the big money is, but making FT is always great - it is often 10x or more the initial buyin for the event.

For a quick example I just finished up a 1250gtd in 9th. With 15 players left it folded to me and I jammed A/9 suited in sb and got called by bb with A/J o. I missed he won the hand. I was being aggressive to put me in a better spot to potentially win the event, but alas I was crippled down to 4bb. I played short stack offense/defense and ended up making FT - and busted in 9th sb vs bb A/Q vs A/K. oh well. I played to win, but when I was short played to reach FT and give myself a chance to ladder as high as I could.
Ended up winning back 7 buyins compared to only 4 if I had busted not on FT.