Thursday, June 10, 2004


Posted by Dr Fro 9:07 AM
From: Mark
To: phreaux
Subject: Online System for Single Table Tournaments
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2004 15:41:29 -0500

Friou,

Post this on your (mailbag) website.....

=======================

I have a new system for ONLINE SINGLE TABLE TOURNAMENTS that seems to work
pretty well. I've been playing online (all different limits) for over a
year. My most profitable game to play is the single-table tournaments.
I've kept a record of most of my tournaments (approx. 200), and I've
consistently been able to win money this way (of course I give it back on
the other cash games). Here is a summary of my system:

During first three rounds of the tournament, only play Sklansky Group 1-2
hands (AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AKs, TT, AKo, AJs, KQs).

When you get these hands raise at least 3-4 times the big blind so you
drive out most players and can avoid a multiway pot. Don't raise 1x or 2x
the Big Blind. That won't drive anyone out, and you'll find yourself in a
multiway pot. You want people out, not in.

Inevitably though you'll have 1-2 callers. If you hit the flop with top
pair, you'll have a monster kicker. You should immediately go all-in. 85%
of the time everyone will fold to you and you'll pick up a medium sized
pot. About 10-12% of the time, you'll have a caller with something weak,
or on a draw, and you'll double up. About 3-5% of the time, you'll get
drawn out on, or lose to a bigger hand. Don't worry about those times,
because that's poker.

If you have a KQs, you might consider limping in (without reraising). If a
Q or K is top card on the flop. Immediately go all-in. If an A comes on
flop, fold to any bets. If the flop is rags, fold to any bets. If you
have a flush draw you might consider calling small bets (less then 30% of
the pot). You can chase your flush for $30 or $60 bucks (in the early
rounds), but I would be very relcutant to call anything more than that.

Remember that you do not want to draw in these kind of tournaments. You
want to make your hand, and then put someone to the test.

During first 3 rounds (or until there are only 6 players left) fold all
other hands (yes, this includes 99, 88, 77, KJ, JT, A8o, K9o, etc.). You
might consider limping in with AT, or a pocket pair, but I wouldn't call
any raises. Remember that you need as many chips as possible later so you
can make moves. If you play too many hands early and get chipped down,
you'll be in bad shape and on the felt quicker than you realize. The
Blinds escalate fast so you need every chip you have. Don't waste chips by
calling in the small blind with 26 or J4. You might call from the small
blind if you think there's little chance of the Big Blind raising it.
However, if he's wild and reckless, then you're better off folding. What
good is your 26 if the flop is 694? or worse 69K? It's completely
worthless. Don't even think of chasing it.

The key during these rounds is to hold tight, try to get a read on who the
reckless and tight players are, and wait for any opportunity to double-up.
When you get the opportunity to double up, don't hesitate to put all your
chips in. Remember, that most times, you don't want callers (and the
majority of players are very reluctant to call an all-in bet early in the
tournament).

Try paying attention to your potential target players. You can go all-in
with marginal hands against an extremely tight player, but you better have
the nuts before you go all-in against a maniac. You'll be surprise how
quickly you can get a read on people. Some people play every hand, some
don't play any. Just observe.

Once you're down to 6 players, you can lossen up a little. However, unless
you have doubled your chips (i.e. approx. 2,000), it's very hard to play
hands without risking your entire stack. In other words, if you have
$800-$1,100 in chips, and the blinds are $50-$100, you don't have much room
for error. If you play a hand to the turn or river and have to fold,
you're crippled, and virtually out of the tournament. Don't try to "play
hands" when you're in mid to low chip position.

I believe it's better to make overly agressive, huge moves pre-flop when
you have a good hand. If somebody calls, you're still in a good spot to
win (and double up). After trying this system out, you'd be surprise how
many people fold to your big raises, because they don't want to be knocked
out on a mediocre hand.

Of course, if you've doubled up once or twice, and are clearly the chip
leader, than you can start seeing more flops. However, the same philosophy
applies. Put the petal to the metal anytime you get the chance. Raise
everytime when you're in positions (it'll buy you free cards on the next
street). Keep people on their heels.

However, this doesn't mean that I'm recommending you blindly throw your
chips in. Of course, you've got to pick your entry very carefully. You
want to raise into those who are playing tight. People tend to tighten up
in Rounds 3-5 if they only have about 800-1400 in chips. The reason for
this, is that they know that if they play a hand during this stage, it's
gonna be for all their chips. Recognize the people who are likely to fold,
and put em to the test.

But you also need to recognize the maniacs who are likely to call with
nothing. For instance, if a player to your left has been playing a lot of
hands, has a lot of chips, or will call an all-in with KJo, you definitely
want to give him this opportunity when you hold AQ. Remember that most
Aces are good (especially short-handed), and an Ace coupled with a big
kicker is usually the best.

Another important thing to watch out for is short-stacks. These people are
like cornered snakes. They will go all-in with just about anything. For
instance if the Big Blind has $600 in chips, I would not call from the
small-blind with J7. You must always be aware that when you are in a hand
with these guys, it's usually going to be for all their chips.

On the other hand, if you are chip leader, and are dealt A8s in the small
blind, you might consider putting the Big Blind all-in. The reason for
this, is that you know that the maximum amount you can lose is $600
(assuming everyone else is out). You feel good about putting $600 in with
an Ace. He'll usually call with a smaller hand, or if he has complete
shit, fold his blind to you. This move works well.

During all stages of the tourney, never slow-play anything. You'll get
drawn out on. It happens a shockingly large amount of the time. The only
time you should ever consider slow playing is if you flop the absolute
nuts.

Also remember that the size of your bet is ultra important. When you have
a big hand (but not a pocket pair), you want to bet a larger amount than
the other person is comfortable calling. Make the bet significant, because
you usually don't want callers. A good example: You have pocket 6's.
Three callers limp in (other than you). Flop is 2 9 J. You should
immediately fire out a "feeler" bet, but the bet should be large enough to
force out players holding (1) bottom or middle pair or (2) flush or
straight draws. Essentially you're representing one of two things: top
pair with a good kicker or and overpair. In either case, you're likely way
ahead of the field and stand a good chance of picking up the pot right
there. The key is, don't be afraid to make your bets rather large in
relation to the Big Blind or the Pot. Minimally raising the bet from 30 to
60 is just asking to get drawn out on. Remember that you want people to
lay down their hands.

Once the game is down to 4-5 people, it tightens up tremendously, and this
is your opportunity to steal some pots. By this point everyone is trying
to slide into the money (at 3rd place), and are completely unwilling to
take any risks. I will fold almost everything except Group 1-2 hands, and
I might play some Group 3 hands, or poket pairs, or a suited ace. But when
I say "play" that is a misnomer. There is no other move than All-In.
Unless you are the chip leader, you cannot afford to "see flops," and more
importantly, your opponents cannot afford to simply call either. Always be
mindful of the fact that everyone at the table is looking to go all-in
pre-flop.

If you've played a bunch of these single table tournaments, you'll know
that once you're past round 3-4, you RARELY have a showdown (unless two
people are already all-in). It usually is 10 minutes of people going
all-in and folding. If you have a good hand on the button, consider going
all-in to steal the blinds (which are very important now, because it gives
you a free round).

If you're the chip leader (or 2nd), you want to stay out of the line of
fire, and let everyone else duke it out. I've even folded ATo on the
button when there are two likely all-ins on the hand. Always remember that
you want to be MAKING the all-in bet, not calling it.

Once you're down to 3 people, just gas it whenever you get the chance.
You're already in the money, so you might as well wait for a good playable
hand, and then put it all in the middle before the flop. You are doing
yourself a great disservice if you let people see the flop before you go
all-in. Don't let them make an educated decision. Make them try to get
lucky.

Bluffing: A good time to bluff is when a player has been making minimum
bets with what you know is top pair. You have been a calling station with
something weaker. If the board shows a 3 flush, and you're certain he
doesn't have it, and it might appear to him as if you were drawing to the
flush, I would consider immediately putting it all-in. Though this play is
risky, it'll usually work against a smart/tight player.

One last thing: The timing of your bets is very important online (as it is
one of the few tells). If you're going to go all-in with a marginal hand,
do it fast as lightning. If you're going to raise with the nuts, wait 20
seconds before raising. Delay is a sign of weakness, and gives the
mentally challenged, a chance to catch up to your thought process. Keep em
on their heels. If I'm all-in, it's usually less than a second after the
action is to me. If I have a boat, I like to "ponder" a call before I
raise him. People think you're bluffing and will call more often than you
might think. It's powerful.

This strategy of playing tight and ultra-agressive seems wild and reckless,
but I've found that it's the best way to consistently win. You need to
take control of the table and intimidate people. They need to know that
anytime they bet into you, they could be faced with a decision for all
their chips.

Of course, there are times where this won't work, because you go all-in
with AJs against AA, or some idiot calls with 63o and makes a straight.
However, you are usually the favorite going into it, and should win most of
the time. More importantly however, you will pick up a lot of pots
pre-flop without any callers. When you couple these two together, your
odds go way up.

If you use this strategy one of two things will happen: (1) you are
knocked out extremely early; (2) you finish in the money. If you combine
this system with your poker skills (which are likely far superior to the
other idiots at the table), you should be very successful. Give it a try
and feel free to let me know if you have any thoughts or questions.

Mark



0 Comment(s):



Post a Comment




Google

Random thoughts from a lawyer, an accountant, a commodities trader, an ex-Marine and a WSOP Main Event money finisher that don't know as much as they wish they did...

--------------------

--------------------

Home Page

Email

Johnnymac-at-itaintgambling.com

What's this all about? Poker. Why we like poker. What we have to say about poker. How we play poker.

Why isn't it gambling?

ARCHIVE:

current
09/01/2003 - 10/01/2003
10/01/2003 - 11/01/2003
11/01/2003 - 12/01/2003
12/01/2003 - 01/01/2004
01/01/2004 - 02/01/2004
02/01/2004 - 03/01/2004
03/01/2004 - 04/01/2004
04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004
05/01/2004 - 06/01/2004
06/01/2004 - 07/01/2004
07/01/2004 - 08/01/2004
08/01/2004 - 09/01/2004
09/01/2004 - 10/01/2004
10/01/2004 - 11/01/2004
11/01/2004 - 12/01/2004
12/01/2004 - 01/01/2005
01/01/2005 - 02/01/2005
02/01/2005 - 03/01/2005
03/01/2005 - 04/01/2005
04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005
05/01/2005 - 06/01/2005
06/01/2005 - 07/01/2005
07/01/2005 - 08/01/2005
08/01/2005 - 09/01/2005
09/01/2005 - 10/01/2005
10/01/2005 - 11/01/2005
11/01/2005 - 12/01/2005
12/01/2005 - 01/01/2006
01/01/2006 - 02/01/2006
02/01/2006 - 03/01/2006
03/01/2006 - 04/01/2006
04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006
05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006
06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006
07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006
08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006
09/01/2006 - 10/01/2006
10/01/2006 - 11/01/2006
11/01/2006 - 12/01/2006
12/01/2006 - 01/01/2007
01/01/2007 - 02/01/2007
02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007
03/01/2007 - 04/01/2007
04/01/2007 - 05/01/2007
05/01/2007 - 06/01/2007
06/01/2007 - 07/01/2007
07/01/2007 - 08/01/2007
08/01/2007 - 09/01/2007
09/01/2007 - 10/01/2007
10/01/2007 - 11/01/2007
11/01/2007 - 12/01/2007
12/01/2007 - 01/01/2008
01/01/2008 - 02/01/2008
02/01/2008 - 03/01/2008
03/01/2008 - 04/01/2008
04/01/2008 - 05/01/2008
05/01/2008 - 06/01/2008
06/01/2008 - 07/01/2008
07/01/2008 - 08/01/2008
08/01/2008 - 09/01/2008
09/01/2008 - 10/01/2008
10/01/2008 - 11/01/2008
11/01/2008 - 12/01/2008
12/01/2008 - 01/01/2009
01/01/2009 - 02/01/2009
02/01/2009 - 03/01/2009
03/01/2009 - 04/01/2009

The Doctor is IN

Dr Fro
aka "slow roller"

Which one is the fish?

Junell
aka "Sunday Stroller"

You go now!

Johnny Mac
aka "Chop Suey"

You got to know when to hold em;  Know when to Mo' em ...

Morris
aka "Mo roller"

Old School

Padilla
"Baby's Daddy"


free hit counter

QUICKGIFTS

Beautiful handmade receiving blankets. Get yours today in flannel or seersucker.

Get Flash


I play poker at Poker.com