This is my first post. Its basically a rambling of thoughts… let me note I am not going to post grammatically correct and I will sometimes drift from subject to subject. It’s the way my mind works… I recently found this site and want to reach “Premium Membership”. I really appreciate the great post from some of the great players (especially soupie, radashack, ripptyde, etc.) on this site. So first of all let me begin by stating my qualifications or lack of. I have only been playing online for about 6 months and just starting to have some successes over the past couple of months. I play on pokerstars usually under this name but sometimes under my friends account (we switch sometimes.. curveball) and prefer to play in MTT’s. Several ITM’s and a few final table appearances.
My main objective over the past few weeks is to play in the Sunday 215 on and play for the big money. I personally don’t have the bankroll to play this and had to try to figure a way to get in this thing on a weekly basis without having to fork up the dough. I can and could play sng’s and get the funds but really starting to find them boring and not helping my overall playing much (at $30 level). Is it just me, or does everyone’s adrenaline pump to unbelievable heights as you approach that final table of a large MTT.
Anyway.. some of my ramblins… I wrote a lot more but only going to post a little for now… will add if anyone is interested. Let me know.
Learn to use tournament dollars
I started playing in satellites to the 215nl 350k guaranteed and found myself extremely successful. Recently realized that after you win a seat for a particular tournament… if you win another it turns into tournament dollars. You can also just unregister and you can use the money for other tournaments. VERY POWERFUL!!! Most of these satellite are full of very weak players. I shouldn’t tell you this.. but I am already registered for the next 2 weeks on $3 buyins and placed in the last 3 of these I played. Keep in mind it does take about 4 hours.. but 215 for $3 –12 bucks.. You do the math. Anyway, if you see me there please say “Hi and Thanks” don’t mention the post… I’ll know what you mean. I don’t want everyone I play against reading this.
Learn to play for the seat
Often you will find yourself with a huge stack at the end of these. Learn to coast into the seat. I often see people with huge stacks that don’t “need” to play another hand but can’t resist the temptation to go allin with AA KK AK 99 JJ etc. I personally love it. The other night I folded AA KK KK 99 in the wanning moments of one of these. Slow down! If you can. Towards the end of these I’m constantly checking blind sizes calculating when the blind will be to me…. How long can I last if don’t play another hand? If you can’t last pick your spot and go for it! There is usually 10-30 seats … it doesn’t pay anymore to win it! So when you can … park your damn mouse and exercise some self control! I often ask these crazy people: Did you forget to take your medicine again!
Early in a MTT:
One of the reasons you have to play so tight is because of the absolutely unbelievable plays people will make. For example last weeks 215 … I’m on pocket jacks … my personal nemesis hand (way overvalued by most) one caller in early position … me 3 times the big blind on the button.. he calls. Flop comes 2h 8s Js. I bet about half the pot and comes over the top of me. I’m counting my money!!!. Basically.. raise back and forth till he’s allin. Cards come 7s 4s… we show he’s got Ks 6s. I’m crippled to about 600. I’m short stacked barely make it till the second break.
I don’t want to compare or linger on bad beat stories but just trying to make the point just play straight smart poker unless your sure about your opponent. Once many of these guys are out you can get a little tricker. These players don’t understand the likes of check raises, free cards, semi bluffing but are extremely adept in Bluffing and slowplaying. When everyone starts playing the first tool they learn is a bluff and second is a slowplay. Many will not take the pot down when they should and let you draw to the best hand. Anyway my point is “You can’t read these people!” so tighten up and let these people weed themselves out.
Build your toolbox
Buy slansky’s book and read them! Obviously, I’m not the most articulate person in the world and personally had a lot of trouble reading his books at first. I have never read it straight through. Now I just treat each chapter like a separate book and sometimes read it over and over until I understand. Its not only to know how to slowplay or check raise but “when to use which and why”.
My nephew once told me “you can’t learn to play poker by reading a book”… he is starting to read now! I bought him hellmuth’s book for his birthday which I feel is the best book for the beginning player. He’s becoming a winning player!
Keep in mind that most of these plays don’t work against beginner players. Use them later in tournaments when the people understand them. This is real poker… “the what they think you think” or “what they think you think they think”… Think about it! This is the area of my game that I am focusing on. Still learning… I think…
Let me know if anyone is interested. I will post some more. Anyway, thanks again!
