[flyer187]

Evening All,

Hoping for a little bit of advice from anyone here who can lend some.

I rate myself as a fairly consistent player, however that seems to be my problem.

Lets say a tournament pays out to the top 50, it would not be an overstatement to say i've finished between 51-65th in the last few tournaments i've played in (often with fields of at least 300 players).

What would this suggest to you?

1). Am I getting cold feet during the middle of the game when I build a healthy stack then watch it dwindle away? (I tend to shy away from pocket pairs - 77 or lower - when I have a decent stack)

2). Am I moving at the wrong times?

3). Am I just trying too hard to force my way into the money?

Do any of aim for a set amount of chips by the time a certain number of players are left in the tournament, or do you simply play it as you see it?

Any pointers would be really helpful, thanks in advance all

Flyer187

[Yearbookpoker]

You have a problem that is very commen flyer. I for one have the same problem and your answer is #1 on your post. You probably are not building very large stacks early and therefor your decent to poor chip stack prevents you from playing more hands. Instead you can't call a raise preflop with 7's and you slowly lose chips waiting for a big hand. I have learned to play the same type of poker at all times during the tourney unless I want to change it up to trick my oponents. The only time I like to slow down is if I am chip leader by alot, although sometimes being chip leader pushes me to play average hands instead of letting others drop out.

[Klopzi]

There are a number of different ways to make the money in a tournament.

Some advise playing looser in the beginning and trying to build up a stack that will carry you through.

Others, such as Dan Harrington, advise playing tight early on. If you catch some good cards, you'll make the money. Otherwise, you can use the fact that others tighten up on the bubble to keep yourself alive.

As the tables start to tighten up, you should start pushing all in if you're short-stacked in an effort to pick up the blinds. Don't push with anything, but you'll have to lower your starting hand requirements a little. You're the short-stack and you can't afford to sit around.

Go out and buy Harrington on Hold'em - it'll help your game and you'll be making the money in no time.

[ad1129]

When your on the bubble its the best time to start getting tricky and pick your spots well. With PPs 2-7 i'll call a raise of 3xBB and no more unless im feeling its a good time to do a Stop n Go(call a preflop raise then push post flop regradless or if certain flops hit). I play for sets with those PP and hope to do my damage there if i don't hit my set and i'll fold to a bet depending upon its size once again no more than 3xBB. Unless im confident im taking my opponets stack if i hit then its down to implied odds if they warrant a call then im calling. If you have a good stack stay away from the big stacks and pick off the lower stacks don't ever turn down a coinflip against a smaller stack i.e. you have 88 he has AK call. If its against a bigger stack and you value making the money then i guess you can fold, but i wouldn't.

EDIT: Funny just now top 15 get paid I am 10/24. I have 5941 in chips BB is at 600 less than 10xBB. I get dealt 66, the sb completes. I go all in he has AJos. I lose but i'll take that everyday 55-45 favorite to double up and set me up in good position to make the final table.

-ad

[johnsabo4]

guys, like in every tourny. You must play tight early( I would say this way) until only 1 third of the players are left, then when the last third remain gradually loosen up. Naturally this is a good method, just think of how we play at final tables, LOOSE AS HELL.

[KingPoker2000]

I have never cashed in a tournament over 100 people. I consider myself a good poker player and regular cash in sit in go's, but when it comes to the big tournaments, I just can't cash. My problem is that I keep looking at the player list and when it gets to about 20 away from cashing, I will just freeze up. I can't get myself to play any hands except for monsters and then I will usually fold on the flop. I then get down to about 5-10 left and by then I am totally crippled in chips. I then usually only have one big blind left and when it hits me, I got nothing. I also like to play a tight game and I can steady increase in chips, but it outpaced by the blinds. Any suggestions how to keep up?

[iceberg]

Usually late in the tournie, if I have 3BB or less, its time to take your best shot and push all-in. The idea is to try and isolate an opponent or steal the blinds. Getting into a one on one race with is about best you can hope for.
- Late position is best to narrow the field.
- Avoid the chip leader if possible.
- Minimum hands to push with any pair OR
- Any pocket that adds up to 20 or more (2=2 ... K=13,A=14)
- Waiting for something suited or connected will not help as much in a one on one race.

If you wait until you are almost blinded out, then multiple opponents may call your last 1BB or 2BB All-in. This greatly reduces your odds.

Iceberg.

[amb5565]

I haven't won anything unless you count $1.50 as a lot of money. Am I wrong in assuming that I should not call, bet or do anything unless I have a pocket pair? Usually I fold unless I have a pocket pair or a couple of consecutive suited cards. Is this wrong? Should I take more chances?

[Yearbookpoker]

Well, I would deffinately see more flops. Since you seem new I'll explain. Try and limp in more by calling the blinds. Don't do it with hands like 8-3 or 7-5, but with hands like 10-9 and J-8. The more flops you can see the better your chance is too get a hand and get more chips. After a while you'll learn to play more hands and exactly what hands to and what hands not to play. Just like any other game it takes time.

[amb5565]

Thanks for the advice. I am definitely going to put it to good use this weekend.