Tournaments

When I enter a tournament, I focus first on getting into the money. This is like my primary goal. Then I kind of re-focus on the next step and that would be go as far as possible, aiming for a final table or a win.

This is when it s not working anymore... It is on a very consistant basis that I get into the money but I can t seem to go further into the tournament ( for example if 200 player are paid, If I get there I will bust between 175 and 200 ).

Do you think I am using the wrong focus to start my tournament? Should I focus directly on a final table? Can I get in a kind of mental thing where I just achieved my primary goal and then my brain just give up or something? I don t feel I am going on tilt or anything... Maybe it is just skills but anyway I feel very frustrated about that.

Any advice?

mmkay, your main problem is, I think, that you fold yourself in the money, where you eventually have such a low stack, that you can't make it any bigger anymore.

In a tournament where 200 players are paid, usually the first couple of payout levels are nothing to be interested in, winning you about 1.5-2 times your buyin... whooptifrickindoo...

(ab)Use the bubble to amass chips from players that play like you: trying to get there.

(bit not in the question, but interesting non the less: immediately after the bubble bursts a lot of the leftover shorties will start going berserk. I use that time to get a tighter image after I made very loose actions prebubble)

RB is giving sound advice and I really like the use of whooptifrickindoo.

If you have a good bankroll management, you have at least 20/30 buy in so, to win 2 buy in (first paid places) isn't interesting.
You must be focused on the TF

I'm agree with RB, at the bubble, this is the best time to increase your stack.

akamma wrote:

. It is on a very consistant basis that I get into the money but I can t seem to go further into the tournament ( for example if 200 player are paid, If I get there I will bust between 175 and 200 ). Any advice?

if it ain't broke....personally I wouldn't change a wining strategy
its called grinding, enjoy it

there is more stress and less patience when playing for the final table, or first place, but if your consistent in cashing out , that is more money for the cash table. Less dry spells.

Assistanc3 wrote:

akamma wrote: . It is on a very consistant basis that I get into the money but I can t seem to go further into the tournament ( for example if 200 player are paid, If I get there I will bust between 175 and 200 ). Any advice? if it ain't broke....personally I wouldn't change a wining strategy its called grinding, enjoy it there is more stress and less patience when playing for the final table, or first place, but if your consistent in cashing out , that is more money for the cash table. Less dry spells.

I'll have to respectfully disagree. Investing a couple of hours to just make the money is not a winning strategy. There are tourneys where you find yourself in the situation where making it ITM is a win in itself (card dead and short stacked the entire tourney). But you have to pick a time to chip-up and bubble time is a great time. With others following the "Just make the money" philosophy, it gives great opportunities to chip up.

Just make sure that you pick your spots. Don't push against the big stack. Watch your table for signs that they are playing to make it to the money and jump on them.

nides wrote:

If you have a good bankroll management, you have at least 20/30 buy in so, to win 2 buy in (first paid places) isn't interesting.

20-30 buyins doesnt cut it for large MTT's I think, I'd say at least 100...

and oh yeah: 100 buyins is considered a bit low on the dutch forum

If his starting strategy is consistently getting him to the money why change the start?
It is not the start where he is having the issues from cashing out higher.

we're not talking about the starting strategy, we're talking about his bubble play, thats prolly way too tight.

before bubble time there are like a gazillion strategies, and they're all ok. When bubble comes you need to be aggressive no matter what, else you'll get blinded down and lose a coinflip when you have to start pushing.

Well, yes, basically, I get there but with no gas ( chips ) left in the tank or not enough, I probably overprotect and don t play as many hands as I should ( or play them but not as efficiently as I could ) in order to get to the money, but when I get there... it s over because of the numbers of chips I have. I think the different posts will be helpful for me, Thx guys, I was not able to play the last few days but I will be able to do so soon so I ll let you know the results

Experimentation of new strategies most of the time are costing me a bunch at the beggining but it usually pays ( sort of speak ) at the end...

Let s do this thing !

I'll give you one personal example.

My last trip to a casino, I played in a $130 buy-in daily tourney. I had just a little lower than the average chip stack when we got down to 2 tables. From that point until the bubble burst (9 got paid), I shoved about 15 times including once in the SB without looking at my cards because the BB looked ready to fold.

So, doing this, you expect players like "me" ( or like my "old me" I should say ) to fold as they want to keep going without many risks.

Actually last time I played, close to the bubble someone applied kind of the same thing, and it worked pretty well for him.

Of course I understand that the "table" is a big factor on pushing it and that you ve got to be careful on how and when you do it.

Your last sentence is absolute. Hopefully you've been paying attention to how everybody at your table is playing.

Yep, and I just got Caro s book of tells so it s gonna help as well I m sure

I always play 4 a win! i think that playin' onnly for money show player weakness, so when the bubble is i always play hard and bet huge to steal the pot, most of players playing to get in money often folds, so i can build up and they melt down.

Just finished 5th out of 94 players... Advices helped it seems Thx

Quote:

because the BB looked ready to fold.

That's exactly why you don't look at your cards until it's your turn to act. You can't give a tell if you don't know.

Exactly right, Bassor.

[quote="akamma"]When I enter a tournament, I focus first on getting into the money. This is like my primary goal. Then I kind of re-focus on the next step and that would be go as far as possible, aiming for a final table or a win.

This is when it s not working anymore... It is on a very consistant basis that I get into the money but I can t seem to go further into the tournament ( for example if 200 player are paid, If I get there I will bust between 175 and 200 ).




its better to win ONE or placed FT..... else became 10 times in the low-money !!! servus Lefti