Originally Posted by symbiotik

I recently switched to Full Tilt and although I'm not really losing a lot, and I'm winning a little, I can't seem to get through the brick wall. I get into the little money positions fairly easily with some patience and careful play, but once I get there, everything starts to go against me. Aces get busted by AK, AQ even any two other crap cards. I get dealt tons of premiums and lose consistently so my stack gets small, then I get forced all in due to low stack with a big pair, jacks or tens and then get busted by 8s or worse. Basically I'm spending 6 hours making my way to the money in a big 3000 player tourney, and then being deliberately crushed or at least that's how it seems. In my last 10 tourneys I have placed in the money every time (always big tourneys of 1k players or more) and then been set up. What gives?????

First off... small smple size... it's all about the long run with tournaments... it's only once in a while you will go really deep and cash big... give it time...

Second off... right after the money bubble bursts is the time for you to tighten up and only play absolute premium hands and fold everything else... this is the time where everyone is loosening up their game now that they're in the money... and as the field loosens up you need to play tight... those that don't make that adjustment are the ones who end up min-cashing a lot...

Third... you need to avoid close decisions for all your chips... it is better to fold and wait for the next hand... even if it means folding that A-K offsuit to an allin.. it's all about surviving until the end... make moves when you can, and wait for your opportunity to strike...

If you take all of what I said and put it together... I think you will start to turn some of those min-cashes into final tables in no time... good luck

This is pretty much how tournaments go, they're time consuming and frustrating. You're more or less trying to break even for a long time until you hit that big score once and a while.

In a tournament; there are many times where you may be All-in. Even if you are 70% or better each time your overall chance of winning say 3 in a row is lower than you think. You should only win about 2/3rds of these dominating hands. In tournaments you Must get lucky on top of playing well.

Like what prof said, you should only win 2/3 times... That doesnt mean your going to win the next two times if youve just lot once... you could go 20 years of straight losing.. Just 'expect' 40 better years haha... Nothing is a garuntee... just look at how a slot machine pays out.. its the same %

Originally Posted by daniel1

my problem with tourneys is when i get a big hand i go all in. but theres somebody with a low pair who hits or something.

then stop going all in... tournaments are about survival... not about getting it in with a slight edge...

Originally Posted by prat1234

Hi all....

My view on tournament is completely different.... after you are in the money, you need to be even more aggressive... being tight in this stage, will only let the blinds get bigger and eat away at your stack.... You cant be running hot all the time... u might get a long streak of dead cards... SO, you need to be very aggro and always aim at making the FT.... there is no point in playing a tourney if u are not going to FT.... thats where all the money is... you have to take coin flips, and u HAVE to be lucky in one or two crucial hands..And dont be disappointed with those beats... you prolly dont notice how many times ur weaker hand held up... Its a part of tourneys... Just smile, and start another one and start grinding... cheers ..

partial credit... right after the money only an idiot would open up and become aggressive... that's when the rest of the field is playing more hands... that's the time to play only the top few hands and fold everything else... it's a little while after when things have settled down a bit that you come out of the woodwork and start raising and stealing blinds and antes... you still NEVER accept coinflips... and NEVER "hope to get lucky" thats what makes someone a losing player... YOU need to be the one doing the betting and raising... never calling unless you have the nuts and are trapping... that's how mid-late stage play works...

Originally Posted by Av8tor009

partial credit... right after the money only an idiot would open up and become aggressive... that's when the rest of the field is playing more hands... that's the time to play only the top few hands and fold everything else... it's a little while after when things have settled down a bit that you come out of the woodwork and start raising and stealing blinds and antes... you still NEVER accept coinflips... and NEVER "hope to get lucky" thats what makes someone a losing player... YOU need to be the one doing the betting and raising... never calling unless you have the nuts and are trapping... that's how mid-late stage play works...

I used to play very TAG after/near the bubble.... The problem with such a play is that, you have to rely on getting decent hands... which somwtimes does not happen... you need to take constant shots at stealing blinds and making moves.... and what i meant by hoping to get lucky was, that your coin flips hold up 4-5 times in a row, and a couple of hands where your an underdog and your hand holds up... Also. this kind of play is suggested at micro/low stakes MTT, specially online play...

P.S: just because you dont like a particular play, doesn't mean its idiotic...