TOURNAMENT THEORY FROM THE CZaR

Hey-

I am by no means a poker guru, but I do understand some things and I question a lot of things and get a better grasp of how to handle situations, much like you are doing. I pretty much only play large MTTs and have found many keys to success. That being said, I have found many keys to failing as well.

The key to the MTT is survival. You have to make it to the end to win, plain and simple. Chip preservation is critical. Likewise the ability to "chip up" is neccessary. I always try to keep up with the chip average. I try to look for opportunities to steal pots early in the tourney. I often am able to accumulate large stacks in the first and second hours.

The key to going to the next level from here is not giving away that stack and continuing to build it up. It is important at this time in the MTT not to get to impatient and try to force hands, but also you must not let people chop your stack. You need to try and defend your blinds. People will raise into you and if they continue to have success it wont stop and others at the table will attack you as well. If someone raises into yuor blinds, and it's a position raise, you need to fire back a massive raise at them. Chances are they will fold and no one will try that move again. If they do, you can be assured they probably have a big hand.

As the $$$ draws near, a lot of people will tighten up there play. This is where you need to taje advantage of position and weak play. The smaller stacks will be in positions where they are forced to go all-in to survive. Be wary of those stacks. The mid stacks realize they are close to the money and become easy targets. They know if they hang on, the small stacks will get knocked out, so they are more apt to fold to large raises. Often, your best play is to push all-in, if you have a mid-stack covered, and force them to fold. Very unlikely they will call off the whole stack unless they have KK, AA, QQ, maybe Ak or AQ. You can really add to your stack as the bubble approaches.

Once you make the money, the short stacks will start pushing with any Ax, suited cards or connected cards trying to double up. This is another good time to chip up. Make sure you have a strong hand before calling or that you open raise and try to get the blinds.

Focus is key in these large MTTs....I have a good job and make good money, so poker isn't my source of living. It's my hobby, I guess. But I often find that I get bored in an MTT and lose focus and then I get busted. The tourneys where I really focus, play only one table and keep the web surfing to a minimum are often the times I do my best.

Patience is critical, If you move to a new table, make sure you watch everyone's play before you try to make big moves. SInce you are new to the table, they will all be watching you, since they have already seen each other.


I'm sure I could keep talking and you probably know most of this and it makes sense when you read it. Often it takes someone telling me things again or intheir own words for me to remember to do it.

Hope this was beneficial to you...........

utter



Scott Utterback
utterczar@yahoo.com