03-30-05, LearnTexasHoldem:
Mini World Series Of Poker Tourney Strategy
Top 3 Beginner Rooms
Given the fact that we all have five times more money on the line than usual, I feel that many people will be playing tighter at the start, not wanting to go out early. I think then that being aggressive early would be a good strategy - I can probably scoop up some pots and blinds and build a stack before the blinds tart increasing.
Of course this flies in the face of the usual tournament advice to stay out of trouble early.
What do you think and are there any other pointers you can offer for this situation?
Answer: In most no limit holdem tournaments, you'll have a lot of players who are just trying to survive. Their strategy is to just wait for good hands and play only when they have to, in hopes that they can make it to the final table and then make a go at winning. That's ok and all, but usually what happens is they get blinded to death, cracked by an unlucky hand, or they actually make it to the final table but with no chips. Tournament poker, especially when it is no limit, affords players many more options for how they choose to play.
In no limit holdem bets and position mean more, and each mistake can be very costly. All of that is confusing so you can't fault someone for trying to play a text book game. One common feature of all great no limit holdem tournament players is their aggressiveness. Instead of waiting for AA and KK all day in hopes of going all-in and getting paid off, they are always in the mix betting and building pots. To be successful at this, even just some of the time, you need to have a lot of experience and know how to pigeon hole your opponents.
You've been playing with these guys for a while now, and I think you have a decent idea of what they may try. Most of the time when player's feel out of their element -- when the stakes increase or they are at a final table -- the first reaction is to freeze up. I would do exactly what you said: I would try early on to take control and build a stack. What you'll do is try to raise some hands, even suited connectors, and then get one caller and bet him out of the pot on the flop when he misses.
The key to doing this well though against "survivors" is to know when to fold. You can't get stubborn when they play back at you. Just keep in mind that their counter strategy for you will be "I'm going to wait him out and when I get AA, I'll nail him!" so you just fold when they come back over the top of you.
Next, remember that you want to be the bettor in the majority of your hands. At the onset, try to avoid situations where you are calling and are likely to miss the flop. For example, if you have 66 and a tight player raises before you, you might just wait for another opportunity. Now on the other hand if you have the 66 and no one has opened yet, you'll be doing the raising and betting. Against timid players, betting is your biggest weapon. I'm not sure what the best analogy is but maybe a good one is a dog with a big bark and no bite. You push them around a lot until someone stands up to you, at which point you run like a little girl.
In contrast of tight aggressive play, I would try to play as many hands as possible if people were very tight preflop or there wasn't much raising. At little knowledge is dangerous and if they have all read poker books about what hands are good and what aren't, then push more hands. You'll have to slow down if they adjust to your looseness, but at that point it will probably be too late -- you'll have a good size stack.
Then later in the tournament, I would actually switch back and raise less. At that point if you have a chip lead, you want to break people and if they see you have played crappy hands all night, you will probably get action from the small stacks.
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