When it comes to MTT poker, if we are trying to generate revenue then we play for the money. If you're playing for fun then play for the win.
Obviously if our focus is to make money then we are also playing to win. Playing for money for me involves a few things.-
Locking up cashes when we are super short around the bubble - some ROI is better than zero ROI
Making the most of deep runs - the deeper we go the more money we make.
Making the most if every FT. This particular subject is where I think alot of players lose heaps of money because they do not adjust accordingly. Final table icm is tough - and makes us play much tighter than mid game stages, and even tighter than final 2 table scenarios. When we are a middling stack on the final table we have to watch ourselves, play properly and secure money hops as shorter stack beneath us go broke. We have to avoid putting ourselves at risk in big preflop flips that could cost us lots of money. Same goes for being a top stack at the table - we can apply pressure to others and whatnot, but it's extremely important we protect our top chip position and try to secure a top 3 finish. When we are shorter (the shortest) stacked we can make moves and go for spots that will hopefully increase our chip stack and give us some breathing room.
I've been on tons of micro inal tables and seen countless individuals go from 1st or 2nd to getting busted in 8th or 9th place - effectively this costs them hundreds of dollars. In alot of $5 games 9th place can pay you anywhere from $70‐$90 while first place can pay you $600 or more - so coming in a huge stack, getting goofy, losing unnecessary flips and going broke too soon is a heart breaker.
I've said it dozens of times on this forum - next to poker tracker, icmizer is the BEST tool bar none for the serious MTT player. It will make leaps and bounds of differences in your FT game for sure. I used to make all the same common ft mistakes everyone else did until I got coaching and started to utilize this tool. Nowadays I have alot more 4th, 3rd and 1st place finishes than before. I said earlier we have to be passive and cautious at the FT, when we get to 4 handed play - thats where we can ramp up the aggression and really start to go for it. Sometimes this means we bust in 4th, sometimes we win the damn thing - it's all good either way.
The summary of the FT rant is to make the most of your situation. You've grinded your way this far, now it's up to you to secure the most money that you can.
Anyhow, that's basically it for me. I am playing for the money for sure - but anytime I register a tournament I'm also focused on doing what I can to win the thing - so the two go hand in hand.
|