Tag Archives: tournaments

On Home Tournaments

Posted on by
Reply

Hello,

I’m planning to play holdem this coming weekend along with some close friends. We want to have fun and play all night, maybe for 5-6 hours. However, all of us don’t want to place big amount of money so we just all agreed that every participant will put in max of 40$.

I am actually expecting that because everyone wants to play for most of the evening, every player will more or less play tightly. Because of this, I’m now thinking to make the game a little more exciting. What if there’ll be 4 tournaments of 10$ each? And per tournament every player will be given about 800$ of chips? I believe that by doing this, the player will become more aggressive on the table. But on the better side, in the event he looses all his chips, there is still a big possibility that he will play more. What do you think?

By the way, your site is so great and helpful. Thanks a lot!

Barillari
Barillari,

You could also think about having a slow moving blind structure. Maybe with 30 minute levels and start the blinds low and then double them every half hour. This will allow for a lot more play. Your other option would be to have a Limit Holdem tournament. Fixed betting will all for some more action, but not so much where players will want to play like a rock all the time.

Couple of Questions

Posted on by
Reply

Hello,

I have two questions for you. I know you’re the only person who could help me out. I hope you have time. Thanks in advance!

  1. Say I played in a NLH low buy-in tournaments with starting chips of $1000. Blinds were moving up every 13 minutes or so and multiple limpers preflop were at the every corner of the table. So do you think, what’s the best way to deal with such kind of players? I thought of having a strictly solid aggressive game with them but I was not sure. I also thought of raising a bit than usual with less than optimal starting hands but just the same thing, I have some doubts. Anything to share?
  2. When is the best time to do slowplay trips? I heard the the best time is when the board is very uncoordinated but I also heard the best time could be already when you have a coordinated flop. Which one is true?

Thanks again!

Drew
Drew,

  1. With a tournament with a fast blind structure and low chips, I like to try and push my strong hands really hard. You can try and see a lot of flops, but there are a lot of players that will use that strategy. Your best bet is to pick up a hand and punish the players that come in with garbage. In these types of tournaments you need to get lucky too.
  2. The best time to slowplay trips is when the flop comes uncoordinated, meaning that there isn’t a potential straight or flush on the board. When the flop is coordinated, slow playing can lead to someone outdrawing you. You want to avoid this.

At a Live NLHE Tournament

Posted on by
Reply

Hi,

I am very bothered now. Evey time I try to make my game work, it seems that I have all the reasons in the world not to be able to do so.

Just recently, I joined a live NLHE tournament and I was short stacked. At first, I believe I can use my situation to my advantage. However, a certain player who has more chips than I do, limped in after a fold and changed some stuff. I was in the small blind then.

Later, I pushed into the pot content with confidence while hoping I’ll be able to have additional amount to my stack. Luckily, just as I hoped for, I’ve gained enough chips to play someone else’s stack.

Next thing that happened was, big blind folded. The guy who limped in earlier then called. I was right on my readings about him, he had a weak hand. But the surprising thing was that I lost despite of him having a weak hand. Maybe because of his call.

Any piece of advice for me?

Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
Mike Becker
Mike,

Your opponent clearly outdrew you at some point during the hand. Even if you start with pocket aces, 7-2 offsuit will still win if a 7 and a 2 hit the flop and the aces do not improve.

Want to Experience How It’s Like to be a Winner

Posted on by
Reply

Hello,

For a year now or so, I’ve been playing at NL Holdem tournaments. As a player, I’ve also had my fair share of some ups and downs.

Now, I’m just curious if there’s anything I need to finish 1st on a tournament of 500 or more players. Any idea? I have already experienced being on the 9th, 7th, & 5th places but not on the first two or three. Any help?

Another thing, I’m having trouble when I get extremely excited in case I got a hand like AK, AQ, AJ or 99, TT, JJ. I tend to be loose, most especially when I’m on my way to the final table. Please, any advice?

Thanks,
John Hart
John,

It sounds like you are making your share of final tables. That is good. On thing I would recommend is playing more single table sit n go’s to give yourself more final table experience. You may also want to play some 4 and 6 handed sit n go’s.

A-K, A-Q, and A-J are really just glorified drawing hands. If they hit, they can be strong, but don’t get too crazy with pushing them preflop. 9’s are hands that I would only play aggressively late. Otherwise, I hope to hit a set or flop a low board. Tens I would play a little more aggressive from middle and aggressively late. Jacks are good middle and late position hands.

If you are being loose and its working for you as you are headed to the final table, you may want to try and tighten up a bit at the final table. Your loose nature heading to the table will help your hands get paid off at the find. I would also try and see some flops cheaply at the final table and hope to flop lucky.

Plays with Time Limits

Posted on by
Reply

Hi,

Just this morning, I played in a game that offers a huge pots and with a modest entry fee. If I could remember it right, the game was a $50 buy in and actually has a time limit. It allowed 12 to 20 players back then with around four hours playing time. At mid part, tables should be combined along with the three or four chip leaders.

Well, I must admit, the problems came from by the game setup itself as well as from other players. Specifically, I find playing with time limit difficult. And one thing I noticed, players have been placing their money in the pot then without considering if they have terrible hands with bad position or not.

Any piece of advice? Do you have any strategy to share with me or I’ll just stop playing at those plays with time limit?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Kit Weaver
Kit,

In tournaments you have to adjust your play to account for the increase in blinds. Sometimes you have to loosen your requirements and also steal blinds more. I would loosen your requirements in later position and try and steal more blinds from your opponents.

Of course, if games with time limits and rising blinds bother you, you can always switch to cash games. Many people prefer cash games. There is nothing wrong with that. Some of the top pros in the world primarily play cash games.