Poker tournament

[synthege]

I've been using the Hellmuth poker strategy of loosening up and getting super aggressive near the bubble, where everyone else tends to tighten up, and it has helped tremendously. I have gone from last place to 10th before and I cannot believe how easily people will give up a hand just because they want to squeeze into the money. My trouble is, afterwards I start sliding down again. I keep loose so as to enter the pots (which, with the antes, have become huge) and I'm not aggressive because after everyone is ITM they tend to become stronger and won't back down as easily. How should I be playing after the bubble is gone?

Note: I'm actually referring to mainly non-Texas Hold Em games like 7 Card Stud 8+ and Omaha 8+, but this happens (though not as drastically) in Texas HE games as well.

[LuckyNumberD]

Dear synthege,

first, I'm a NL Hold-em player . But like you said, the same thing happens in NL Hold-em as well.

I think you should just get back to playing tight(er) again. It's happened to me as well. You get very Loose-Agr. and steal a lot of pots. Then it's kinda hard to get out of that gear.

I guess you should just back down as soon as your ITM. Because like you said, the other players will play more as well.

Something I find very usefull is sitting out as soon as your ITM, then go get a drink downstairs, and after 1/2 hands you'll be back ready for a fresh start

Switching gears is an important poker skill, but this might help you in the meantime

Good Luck!


Hope this helps.

[johncramer]

Playing in poker tournaments is a bit different from regular poker play. Usually you will find that tournaments take quite a bit longer than a regular poker game. Sometimes these tournaments will be small and only have one or two tables involved, while other tournaments may include many tables that are playing. If you are going to play in poker tournaments be sure that you are prepared for the long haul. There probably will not be any time for you to go running around, so be sure you are ready and comfortable so you can play quickly.


And one thing be aware of when playing a poker tournament is how you act. It is important that you follow the rules of the poker tournaments or you may find yourself being kicked out. Be sure that you are kind and polite to the other players involved in the tournament. A poker tournament is no place for a bad attitude. Treat everyone else playing the way you would like to be treated and the game will be more fun for everyone.

[XxLucky Me]

After you are ITM you should definitely tighten back up. But with the blinds and antes getting higher you do need to play looser. For example early on in a tourney you will not raise hands like A4s in late position. Whereas late in the tourney when blinds and antes become more important you should raise with this hand in late postion barring there has been no raise in front of you. Take advantage of the table as well. If the table is tight raise all the time until someone respects you. By the time someone respects you will have made so much from stealing folding your raise wont be a big deal. If the table is loose wait for good hands and instead of raising 4x the BB raise 8-10x the BB. This should help hopefully.