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Early stages MTT help required (semi long - with cliffnotes)

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  1. RapidRevilo RapidRevilo is offline

    Adelaide
    Australia

    Posts: 219
    Joined: Jan 08

    Nov 29th, 2009 (11/29/2009 4:18pm)

    Hey Guys, I just wanted to get some advice from some advanced MTT'ers regarding the early stages if any MTT....

    First off, i am probably considiered a 'break even' class of player. I've been playing recreationally for about 3 years. I have a sound understanding of the basics and am constantly looking to improve my game. With that said, im hoping some of you successful MTT'ers can help me with a recurring problem.

    I seem to have a real battle gaining chips in the early stages of a tournament. If 3000 is starting stack, i will have many many tournaments where i'll play for 2 hours (sometimes more) before busting and never had a stack above 3500. My normal buyin for MTT's would be between $3 and $10 but i do take shots at $20 and $55 MTT's.

    I have much more success at 9,18 or 45 man SNG's where i can play super tight for half an hour and then start push/fold for the next half an hour when blinds fly up and players drop out. But with MTT's i cant play that style when blinds dont get decently big until the 2 hour mark. I almost feel like a sprinter stuggling with the slow marathon pace of an MTT.

    What i dont understand is how to accumulate chips when blinds are so small? It doesnt make sense to me to play loose and spewy when im still hours away from the bubble, and when i do pick up AK+ and raise, i dont get any value as the pots are so damn small.

    Once i get some chips (usually i've coolered someone) i seem to be able go deep, using that kickstart. But its getting that start i worry about, as i seem to find myslef never getting my tourney off the ground all to often, and busting without making any real impact on the game.

    Is it just a case of taking one big risk early and trying to double up?

    Thanks all...

    CliffNotes:

    Break even player cant figure out how to get chips early on in MTT without playing spewy. Usual buyins between $3 and $10.
  2. bohemian119 bohemian119 is offline BANNED MONEY TRANSFER SCAMMER

    Peoria, IL
    United States

    Posts: 1,312
    Joined: Aug 09

    Nov 29th, 2009 (11/29/2009 4:23pm) in reply to RapidRevilo

    with low stakes i'd suggest abc poker. find out who is going to be spewy and target them if possible. also, with big hands pre, i always try to get as much $$ in possible. keep in mind at these stakes the player/flop ratio is much higher than in mid and high stakes. take big hands to valuetown! also, don't be spewy b/c too many others will do that for you. glgl!
  3. stoneking89 stoneking89 is offline

    Mount Pleasant, MI
    United States

    Posts: 503
    Joined: Jul 08

    Nov 29th, 2009 (11/29/2009 4:36pm) in reply to bohemian119

     
    Originally Posted by bohemian119 View Post

    with low stakes i'd suggest abc poker. find out who is going to be spewy and target them if possible. also, with big hands pre, i always try to get as much $$ in possible. keep in mind at these stakes the player/flop ratio is much higher than in mid and high stakes. take big hands to valuetown! also, don't be spewy b/c too many others will do that for you. glgl!

    you probably play too few hands. In the micros especially i like to play more hands, especially in position on chronic limpers and bad players... by playing more hands and smaller pots you can build a stack with much lower variance. I would say open up your preflop play and start iso-raising limp-tards more frequently, play tag small ball ABC poker and see if that helps with the accumulation

    playing 45 man+ sit and goes is a good way to practice this. if i remember correctly there is a good Deeb post in the achieves about building in a 180 man...

    gl sir
  4. stoneking89 stoneking89 is offline

    Mount Pleasant, MI
    United States

    Posts: 503
    Joined: Jul 08

    Nov 29th, 2009 (11/29/2009 4:38pm) in reply to stoneking89

    there is a big difference in raising a chronic limper just about ATC and limping... playing in position is HUGE in small stakes where people flip there hands face up...
  5. AmSlim22 AmSlim22 is offline

    Port Jefferson, NY
    United States

    Posts: 8,633
    Joined: Jan 06

    Nov 29th, 2009 (11/29/2009 4:58pm) in reply to stoneking89

    experiment in smaller tournys with playin more hands, especially when you are in position. don't care about the results, just make an effort to play more hands, even tho u feel it is loose and spewy.
     
  6. RapidRevilo RapidRevilo is offline

    Adelaide
    Australia

    Posts: 219
    Joined: Jan 08

    Nov 29th, 2009 (11/29/2009 9:06pm) in reply to AmSlim22

    Hey thanks for the advice. keep it coming....

    when you're saying to play more hands preflop, are we talking about calling more raises, especially in position? or were you suggesting i raise more myself?

    My main fear is being dominated so early in a tourney, or running into K high flush vs A high flush and crap like that. So as a result, i'll end up laying hands like AJo, ATo, KT+suited. Should i be playing these?
    Thread Starter
  7. mdshack14 mdshack14 is offline

    Auburn Hills, MI
    United States

    Posts: 5,646
    Joined: May 07

    Nov 29th, 2009 (11/29/2009 9:22pm) in reply to RapidRevilo

    Def loosen up. Play more connectors, one gappers and suited cards in position. Raise limpers in position more as well. You don't have to get ridiculous but every now and then throw in a raise vs chronic limpers. C-Bets usually take down these pots fairly easily. Players are dying to give you their chips early in these tourneys. You don't have to go overboard but don't be afraid to play weaker hands in position in hopes of flopping big hands or big draws.
     
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