Register Early or Late?

KristaK

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Hi Hi

I read today a player suggesting that it is best to register for a MTT late - right before late registration ends

I am puzzled and hope some experienced players can give the pros and cons of this strategy?

thanks
 
puzzlefish

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It depends on the blind structure. If blinds are going up pretty slowly and there's not much difference between starting on time or registering late, then late registration has the advantage of having some players already being out of the tournament. The late registrants then have to fight against fewer players to reach the money, as there is now a distribution of stack sizes and late joiners can be right in the middle (so better off than around half of the field at least). There is a mathematical approach to calculating the best time to join. It would include looking at the blind levels, the payment structure, and the stack size distribution at any particular point. I am sure it can be optimized.
 
playinggameswithu

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It's better not to miss a hand, and only focus on hands that are revealed so as not to exhaust yourself.

But often if it a large field small buy-in MTT players will just register before closing and shove whatever their shoving range is double triple up etc. It can be annoying when they cash I do this for large field MTTs with less than $5 buy-in and find it amusing.
 
Iryna Stryzheuskaya

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I like to play from the beginning of the tournament.
 
Poker_Mike

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Hi Hi

I read today a player suggesting that it is best to register for a MTT late - right before late registration ends

I am puzzled and hope some experienced players can give the pros and cons of this strategy?

thanks


You should try playing a tournament on time and also late at the last minute and see which method works better for you.

Then you can analyze your experience.

I would recommend staying with what works best for you.

Personally I think you want to see as many hands cheaply as possible and also take advantage of donk play with players that are trying to double up early in the tournie.

Good luck !
 
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rafffinamore

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Yes, it makes sense, because a lot of people are holding to the maximum, sometimes they can be close to the bubble, you go in to fold, you play aggressively, when you hit a good hand, you already have enough chips to get through the bubble, decrease the variance, often play in the blinds 15/30, 30/60 makes you in a difficult situation, many pay with anything because it is cheap to see flop, turn and river at this blind level, so you have multiplayer and that leaves a lot in luck. enter before finishing the record, and for players who know how to play short, with 10 blinds, if you are one of these is a good strategy to do so.
 
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I find it best to register a lil late so that sum of the donks are out of the tourney
 
NWPatriot

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It depends.... How is that for an in depth answer???

I prefer to play from the beginning of a tournament (i would rather play from ahead than from behind). I prefer a freezeout so that players have to pay a price for playing like a donk (no rebuys for reckless players that ALWAYS catch their cards on me). I prefer long blind levels so that we can play real poker. I prefer shorter late registration times (lock down the competition).

If I am randomly trying to get into an MTT and some of already started, I will check out the ratio of a starting stack to the avg stack at the time. If i can get to the avg with a single double up, then i don't feel too bad about getting involved. If the ratio is more than 4:1 (avg:start), then I will likely pass on getting involved.
 
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Not to sure about registering right before registration ends. Mainly because you will usually need to move all in and could be one and done.
 
finaltable1

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it depends on the buy-in and blind structure.
if buy-in is high then most probably there isn't many fishes around, so it's better to play from the start to catch those who entered from satellites.
if buy-in is low, then it's better to register at the last minute, do rebuy and add-on to have maximum stack. most of the players in such low buy-in tourneys are on tilt having chips during first hour or two of registration period, so when you're coming to the table being smart and fresh - you'll have a nice catch.
 
JBGambler

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Claro must have its advantages, you play with a more leveled terrain, but you lose the possibility of playing a lot of hands with small blinds that can grow your stack of chips
Hi Hi

I read today a player suggesting that it is best to register for a MTT late - right before late registration ends

I am puzzled and hope some experienced players can give the pros and cons of this strategy?

thanks
 
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Dontnonothin

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As other posters mentioned already: it all depends on the structure of the tournament. I definitely would not recommend that strategy in a Superturbo or similar tournament.
 
TheMuffier

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Hi Hi

I read today a player suggesting that it is best to register for a MTT late - right before late registration ends

I am puzzled and hope some experienced players can give the pros and cons of this strategy?

thanks
These variables will determine the best time to register.

1. Are you playing live or online?
If you are playing live, it is best to register after the first 30mins to an hour or so.
This is because when live players first sit down, they are not emotionally invested in the tournament and are likely to play gamble a lot.

This might cost you a lot more than it's worth. Antes are not in play, and if they are they are not really worth fighting for. Players are calling raises with any suited Broadway plus connectors and gappers (Not all). They only continue when they have 2pair+ or draws thus you are more likely to win small pots and lose bigger ones.

Playing a little later on when players are emotionally invested in the tournament, they have narrowed down their ranges to what they normally play and fixed their fold buttons thus allowing you to bluff and apply pressure.

In online tournaments I'd recommend registering when the starting stack gives you roughly 50bb. At this stage, you have chunks but there's also huge differences in stack sizes.
The shorts are really short and the big stacks are really big.
In most cases the fish that chipped up really early start dumping around this stage. This goes for any structure in my experience.

2. Are you saying for yourself or have you sold action?
If you have sold action, let your backers know if you will be doing the points raised in 1 or register from the get go to be fair to them or at least start when the starting stack is 100bb~ if you will not be letting your backers know you start a little late.

3. Stakes. The points raised in 1 apply mostly to live mtts, and <$27 mtts on stars.
So if you're playing $27+ it's probably commendable to reg quite early and take full advantage of the big stack.

4. Is it a regular tournament or bounty? If it's a bounty tournament. Always register early take advantage of morons who chase bounties in the early stages. Of course they might hurt you or send you packing but such is life.
And no you can't use the same logic for live play Krista.
Unless your local casino allows re-entries then that's it for you. Home time. On the plus side, that lasagne you made might still be warm soooo... silver linings.

5. Depends on yourself. Do you enjoy playing the early stages or do you prefer playing when antes are worth more?

Conclusion: Unless it's a bounty or tournament with a tough field. It's always advantageous to start a little late but early enough that you still have a lot of play in your stack. It's no use starting with sub 30bb because when the levels go up. You will almost always be left with a 3bet jam stack.
I don't know about you but I don't want to register for a tournament and immediately start looking for spots to double up /3bet jam.
That's just too many unnecessary flips if you do it for most or all of your tournaments
(Unless you specialize in turbo/ hypers, in which case have at it)
 
TheMuffier

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3. Stakes. The points apply mostly to live events and <$27 mtts. The missing part on point 3.
 
millya5

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Personally, I never sign up for late check-in. no later than 10-15 minutes.
 
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redmast

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I prefer to register at the beginning of the tournament. At the beginning of the blinds are small and there is an opportunity to pick a good card. If you register when the blinds are big, you may not get a good card and they will eat you. Exit one to go to allin with an average card.
 
KristaK

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thanks so much everyone for such solid advice ... much appreciated
HUGS
 
radartodd69

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I register late but not when the blinds are so high that I run out of chips in 3 hands. What I do before I register late for a tournament is check the blind size and the size of the starting stack and if it's less that 15 to 20 bbs, I think it's not wise to get involved. I have broken my rules a few times and got busted for doing so. You have to shove when you're short stacked and that only means you are relying heavily on luck.
 
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dregan

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I have not played in such tournaments but if you think logically it is better to register at the beginning of the tournament. You will have an opportunity at small compulsory fees without risking to increase your stack. In an hour or an hour and a half you will be seriously risking to see at least the flop.
 
Joco413

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If you register early you will see more hands, but fatigue might get you by the end of the tournament.

If you register late you don't have to grind as much, but you will see less hands and you will need to be more tight about it.
 
Destruct51

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Tough One!!

Ya its hard to say, I personally have had mixed results with this. Also depends on your personal mood of patience that day. I run well with early reg, but it takes a lot of patience. But also I have bought in very late and run well. I really believe that late reg. has more risk, because it gives u less time to learn a table and find the stride. So I feel its best for early reg., also got to do what works best for you mentally.:cool::cool::cool::cool:
 
neverbluff

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I like to register with about 40BB. It's give you half your stack to play around with while not being committed, and if you end up losing a big pot, you'll still have chips behind. Playing in tournaments with 50-150BB seems so pointless to me because the blinds just don't mean anything and the best hand wins.
 
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cortez923

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Depends on buy-in and player pool
 
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