03-11-04, LearnTexasHoldem:

Fast Tourney Strategy - Tourney Profitable?

Question: how do you play tournys where they are meant to get over qucikly and the blinds raise every 15 mins or quicker, menaing how much do you bluff on average chase your draws and how loose are your starting standards thanks?

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

I'm not sure how much bluffing will help in those types of tourneys. In the first few rounds the blind sizes aren't significant and putting all your chips at risk for little return isn't a good idea. The same goes for draws. You always need to figure out the risk/reward. If you hit your draw will it make that much of a difference? If you lose it will it take you out of the tourney?

I think what would decide my play more then the duration between incrementing the blinds is how the other players are playing. If you have a few guys who are only going to play AA, KK and AK early on, then make a few plays for their blinds if there is a good chance no one else will get involved. Whenever I'm in those types of games online I'm always surprised by how many people wait all day for a good starting hand, and then lose it all. Literally they don't play one hand for the first three rounds and then go all-in with one of the big three hands and lose.

If everyone is playing very passively, meaning no one is raising preflop unless they have a monster hand, then slip in with a lot of junk in late position. Be ready to lay down more hands on the flop then you normally would since you'll be playing cards weaker then theirs. Your ideal situation is to catch someone playing passively and sting them big. For example if some guy limps in preflop with AK and you are on the button with A3 and the flop comes back A36. Now if it came back AT2 you would have an easy fold unless everyone checked to you.

I wouldn't do this through out the whole tourney since it will become more costly but early on you can try. It will also have the affect of making your table image seem really loose. You'll probably get more action later on. In no limit unlike limit holdem you can get one hand and bust someone and double through. Because of that you want to take advantage of passive games. Now if there is considerable raising preflop then you'll want to tighten up too.

i just strated playing in a tourny every sunday where about 30 or so guys play. i consider all but about 3 to be bad to pretty bad as far as playing ability but they only pay off 3 places i have gotten 2nd and a 4th. is this a profittable tournament to be in you think?

Sure it sounds profitable for you if you are placing in the top 5 twice already. Also if the players are really bad then go for it. With only 30 people entering, I think paying down only three spots is good. I think most people are there to win or bust, not get their buyin back. I'm all about the big payout.

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