Hello all

I've been playing online poker on and off for a month or two. Lately though I've been playing a lot of sit and go's.

I've become a lot better at this, making the top 3 95% of the time. I'm winning at least one everyday from about 3

I thought I had become good enough to enter a big tournament, but things didn't go to plan.

Out of 5000 people I finished 1380. Another tournament 1812 out of 3000.

I noticed the top lot had 10,000+ in about 20 hands. The people on my table were raising pre flop to a fifth of my money and raising my blinds. I kept folding and felt pressured to go all in with pocket 9's and lost out.

I know it's only online play money, but I'd like to improve. Is there any strategy I should use for a big tournament?

Should I play loose and gamble loads. Should I be patient and only call some hands? (even if it means losing) Should I only go all in instead of raising? Should I bluff my way through?

Thanks for any advice.

ps: I'm using pokerstars.net for the tournies

Hypothesis:
there is no successful strategies for play money poker....noone takes it serious b/c they have nothing to lose...therefore you see all-ins first hand and other stupid plays you wouldnt see in real money

Conclusion:
play money will not improve your game very much at all, it is only good for learning the basics....antes ,blinds, maybe pot odds which noone would care about anyway....

if youre serious about becoming a better player make a min deposit on a site of your choice and play the smaller limits an work your way up