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Poker Article - "Tournament Discussions 101 Part I

Discussion in 'Poker Forum' started by TEACH (AlSpath), Mar 7, 2015.

  1. TEACH (AlSpath)

    TEACH (AlSpath) Active Member Founding Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2014
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    Occupation:
    Poker Instructor
    Location:
    Maryland USA
    Tournament Discussions “101” Part I (Limit Hold’em)
    – by Al Spath

    (however the discussion is useful for playing NL as well, and will be followed up by Part II in the next few days)

    It would appear that with having ala carte choices of tournaments @ various internet sites on the web (somewhat limited since Black Friday), a new player would be in seventh heaven, but recent postings on several poker forums indicate that they are not all happy campers. Be it too many choices, too many formats or just too many opponents, specialization and mastery in any specific event appear out of reach. This dilemma has caused a few frowns and seems to have created both uncertainty and some difficult decisions. Do you play all formats and attempt to be a top-notch player in them all, or focus on one or two specific types of tournaments and make yourself a specialist, or remain a solid generalist? What side of the fence do you come down on?

    Let’s examine a few choices players have to make and some popular online “advice” that I found to help beginning players become immediate winners.

    Single Table – STT (Limit Tournament)

    Limit tournament players usually get to go into the later rounds more than in NL events. With the betting limits capped, the elimination of players is slower to occur. It would not be unusual to get past the tenth or eleventh blind increase before winners reach the money spots (usually top 3 are paid off).
    The best advice I can offer is play premium cards fast and expensive for all those that chase, but expect to get run down as calling stations will dominate the field. Limp often with suited connectors and pairs preflop (with the intention of flopping big-two pair or better); try to stay out of hands capped before the flop with meager holdings. If you hit the flop big (2 pr or more), get as much money in the pot as you can (unless you feel the board simply helped someone else more). Don’t be afraid to fold if you miss, forget backdoor straights and flush draws needing runner- runner. You need specific direct hit flops with these hands and it seems to be a good sound approach is to play hands that don’t require help or much help to win the pot. Squandering your chips chasing is a recipe for an early exit.

    Most successful single table internet players would tell you that amassing chips is essential to winning the single table event. But more importantly, you must have enough chips to properly battle when the limits reach a certain stage (where the blinds could be 75/150 or 100/200 in a STT), because this is actually when the tournament really begins. So, saving chips early will ensure you have ample chips to make a run at the leaders when the blinds become more significant. Therefore, losing small amounts by limping in pots trying to connect in too many early pots may (in some cases), be an improper strategy to employ for some. Save your ammunition for hands where others are trying to catch cards to beat you to have a shot at winning your pot, and always take into account your opponents skill, or lack thereof. Most times in a single table event, you can sit back an let others do your dirty work and eliminate other opponents, so don’t be the sheriff.

    So, you start playing fairly tight in the early rounds, you bring it in for a raise if you play, and you attempt to isolate your opponent with position. You also must be willing to lay down the occasional hand when the flop is VERY unfavorable to you (a higher pair, three flush cards in a suit you don’t have, or three running cards like 9TJ), when you hold AA for example . Once the event enters a decent blind level increase stage, winning one pot at these levels is equivalent to winning several in the early stages, and can occasionally devastate your opponent’s stack (or yours)!

    As the tournament proceeds, you must be very aware of your opponents chip stack size, as they will be aware of your remaining chips, especially if you are the low chip person at the table. Expect larger stacks to make a play at you and to counter this you should also raise in an attempt to steal blind money. Early in tournaments you cannot steal in a limit game, however, in later rounds you might be more successful attempting the min raise (all you are allowed). Do not let yourself be blinded out, and try to make a bet prior to dropping below a minimum level (insignificant amount) that will not let you raise the pot in any substantial manner. Make a stand! With a short stack you have to abandon the normal selection of hands to play and make the best possible attack maneuver. Some might suggest and I would concur (especially if entering the pot first and you are extremely short-stacked), to play any ace, any pair, any two overcards, two suited cards, two connected or single gapped cards and even any two cards that total 18 or 19 (one face card) that might give you at least a decent chance against one player to win the hand. You do not want to be forced to enter a pot with 8-2 and a small amount of remaining chips, take your shot before that point in time.

    If you are in good shape with chips, you will sort of join forces (not collusion) with other larger stacks and attack the small stacks. There is no set plan or communication to act as a “unit” - team, but several large stacks will have the same intention, to knock out the smaller stack, narrowing the field and thus advancing into the payout positions before a huge confrontation and your ultimate victory. During this time, larger stacks should not let small stacks see the flop without having to call a raise. Keep in mind, if two of your opponents are on the bubble for the last money spot, they may be very selective about committing their chips and therefore can be bullied and thus more pots stolen from them. On the other hand, remember, they have their backs against the wall, they will make a stand in many instances!
    Once in the money, it is not unrealistic to see a much wider range of hands being played, with nearly every hand raised (first in usually doing the raising and usually doing the winning). Note: In multi-table tournaments, once in the money (more spots paid), sit back initially as a war will break out and players will donk off tons of chips. Play if you have a better than average hand, but allow them to knock each other out and ladder climb the money spots as they do the work for you. You need to be smart about your play and being overly selective will cost you the tournament and a bigger payout. Loosen up your starting requirements and fire away. When the table is heads up, the tempo again increases and bluffs are more common than good hands. Be prepared to raise practically every hand and be committed to betting the flop (follow through), no matter what. If you don’t carry out your action, your opponent will sense weakness, play back at you, and take your pot. If you play too tight, you will surely lose your chips, so gamble a bit more and pressure your opponent. There will be bigger swings (for limit poker in the late stages of this event) in chip counts occurring here, but expect that to happen. Continue to value bet your hand and remember when to lay it down if improvement does not occur pretty quick. Remember, a single pair heads up is a mighty powerful hand!

    Lastly, don’t be afraid to lose, play to win…. Attack, attack, attack! Take a few more chances and continually pressure your opponent into making a critical mistake. You have two ways to win if you raise heads up; you have the best hand, or your opponent folds! Make your bet count.

    In Part II, I will discuss no limit satellites and playing in full tournament events. Until then:

    Raise More Than Call; Fold More Than Raise!
     

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