I have a game tonight that I was invited to last minute with some friends. $20 buy-in, 7-10 peeps, 7-9 pay 1st n 2nd 80/20 split, 9+ pay to 3rd 60/25/15 split.

I don't play NL too much cause I am prone to getting deep in the tourney and then letting myself get sucked out on AK or some med pp8-JJ.

Any words of advice?

I plan on playing real tight early and let the fish get netted (you're all glad I joined since I got quality puns, right?). Then loosen up when half the peeps are gone so I can get a chip stack forcing myself not to get caught in one of those damn hands. I actually play pretty mean heads up (at least when I play 5 or 10 Sng-which this basically is). Good plan? Any other suggestions?

I want this win. I had been planning on buying my fiancee and I an iPod for the holidays with some of my BR, but since its at about $400 I don't want to chop the BR to hell for this.

Thanks in advance,

The REAL DeCoy

I personally like to limp a lot during the early rounds when blinds are cheap and antes non existant, esp with marginal hands (JTs, 78o) and try to hit some monster flops. You can build a decent chip stack that may take you into the bubble like that. The key is not to overplay your marginal holdings cause they can get you in a lot of trouble (second best holdings make second best hands). Then again if this game is full of fish like you say, you cant go wrong with playin tight cause they'll pay you off anyway. Just another option for ya...

I like doing this too, but since I know all these guys I can tell you that they do it too. One guy is an "anything suited or anything sequential 7 or above. Another guy is a push the pocket pairs set or not. I am afraid that its this kind of BS antics that will actually get me up against the rare situation where I have second set and when I have a set I know these guys will call all-ins with flush draws. I'll let everyone know how it goes though.

I'll be checking this thread for another 45min so if you got anything else let me have it. Also, feel free to validate my strategy. Nathan implied that I was ok, but I'd like to hear it. Boosting the confidence can only help. I may talk funny smack too since half the players eat my jokes up.

Wish me luck...I'm off to the game. If I have time tonight I'll post the results here. Hopefully there will be eonugh time for two tourneys.

Good luck.

BTW, what's the blind structure and time limits?

YEEEEESSSSS!! I took down first. We had 8 play and the payout was $100, $40, $20. Then I won another $10 in a cash game afterward.

Jason: Starting chips were 2500. 15 min rounds, 25/50, 50/100, 75/150, 100/200, 150/300, 200/400, 300/600 and I won there, but presumably it would have continued 4/8, 5/1K, 6/1200 etc. I didn't look at the sheet after I won.

I was almost burnt when I called an all-in with AsJc to a KcQd. Flop was 5s8sJd, turn came Qs, and then I caught the backdoor flush with 2s on the river. That got me into the money with a slight chip lead. I paid off 3rd on an all-in and then I cleaned him out 2 hands later on another all-in. I had a big chip lead after that for second and everyone that stayed wanted to play a cash game so the small stack agreed to the 2nd place prize. Why, I don't know, but he doubled his money and then won $20 in the cash game.

I am actually very happy with the way I played. Early on in the 50/100 I was dealt JJ and was CO. I had 2 callers in front of me and I folded. Winner had KK. Then I folded 22 in early position and wanted to cry when the flop had a 2 and the turn hit the quads, but I made the right fold odds-wise.

Thanks for those who read and gave input yesterday.