Working through card drought.

[jaybird1017]

So, when I find myself in a card drought during a tourney, I usually look for opportunities to play my position or my table image. I'm usually recognized as a tight player. The only real spot I usually consider is to try and steal blinds when I'm on the button or one off of it. But it seems that often the big blind is defending when I raise 3-4 BB. I wonder if this is because I'm seen as tight and trying to steal, or is it something else?

What other moves should I try during these droughts?

Forgot to mention this it in live tourneys.

 

[ninjareal]

Hi, you could also try stealing utg, also if any are "floating " the board you can try bluffing on the river after checking the turn. .. (disclaimer - my advice could be hazardous )

 

[xpvictor1]

Don't be predictable

So, when I find myself in a card drought during a tourney, I usually look for opportunities to play my position or my table image. I'm usually recognized as a tight player. The only real spot I usually consider is to try and steal blinds when I'm on the button or one off of it. But it seems that often the big blind is defending when I raise 3-4 BB. I wonder if this is because I'm seen as tight and trying to steal, or is it something else?

What other moves should I try during these droughts?

Concentrate on changing up your play in the early part of the game while you can still afford a few losses. Maybee raise more often after the flop.

 

[Jon Poker]

Concentrate on changing up your play in the early part of the game while you can still afford a few losses. Maybee raise more often after the flop.

No doubt, if i am in the BB and you are on the button, raising it about 60 - 70 % of the time, then i am going to defend almost anything, especially if the action post flop goes soft - check check - or check bet call, and then you are checking other streets of no help to a tight range. I will exploit you for all you are worth, betting or raising almost any flops with 9hi or less.

For instance if we've played about 4 hands and if check folded one flop, then check called three flops and won 2 at showdown...then the next time we get into a hand as bb and btn - say the flop comes 856 rainbow and i check, you cbet i am going to check raise you here with damn near anything. Not because i am a great player or because you are terrible, but because you have narrowed your range and shown a passive playstyle that i will always be taking advantage of every chance i get.

The point is if you see weakness, exploit it. Im never trying to play the same way against you everytime - and if you happen to think i am bluffing you or running a play trying to get you off a made hand...that will either be the time you are 100% correct and you hurt me bigtime if you dont stack me...or, its the one time i actually have it and you've just given me most of your stack.

 

[Luvepoker]

Many smart players will see you raise and not necessarily think you are stealing. If I think you are a tight straight forward player I will put your range on pocket pairs and high cards. I will call you with the intent of trying to take down the pot when the flop favors me. If the flop is something like 852 and you check I will bet the turn every time another low card comes. I will also call your cbet most times as well to see what you do on the turn or I could even check raise you. We all know how hard it is to sit there when card dead but you may want to raise a hand every few orbits to make sure your image is not to tight. While a hand like 85s is not worth raising it could be used when card dead as a bluff when the blinds are low. It will help you not look to tight and when you hit a hand the other players wont see it coming.