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 7th Inning Stretch - Stick a fork in me, I'm done
I relate playing SnG's and MTT's to being a baseball pitcher. In poker, like baseball, there are different styles of play and levels of agression. if you view an entire tournament like 9 innings, you can categorize a poker player like a pitcher. What kind of pitcher are you:
Flamethrower - Rears back and gives it from the word go. If they can get by the first few batters, they usually have instilled enough fear into the opposition that they can usually get by on sheer fear factor. If they cant change gears and throw an occasional curveball, or learn to pace themselves, they're usually done pretty quick. If they can make it to the late innings, they act like a closer and can be hard to manage. (The all-in pushers at the start of the tournaments. If they hit a few lucky all-ins, they're usually set for awhile, but have stamina problems because they generally can't play their way out of a wet paper bag.)
Junkballer - Uses lots of nasty garbage to throw off timing and keep you off balance, because you never know what their going to throw. Generally does not possess a good fastball and throws alot of junk in hopes to get you swinging at nothing. If they're not knocked out of the game early, they usually have quite enough stamina to go the full nine, but generally they get decimated in the late innings once the batters have caught onto them. (Proposition bettors. Suited connecters, chasing straights and flushes. Every once in a while they'll nail it, and if you call it you're going to be riding the pine for the rest of the tourney.)
Middle relief - They dont even come into the game until halfway through. Usually something funky about their pitching style, and usually pitches his guts out for the 2 or 3 innings that he's around. Not known to be able to close games. (Folds for the first half the game till he/she is the later rounds and then opens up, usually too much and gets knocked our in the 2/3rds area.)
Long inning starter - Known for their stamina and to keep up throwing hard for most of the game, they have good command of their stuff. Generally takes it easy in the first few innnings to save their strength for the late innings when they need to reach back and find that extra something to blow by a batter when they need it. If they make it by the first half the game, they can be quite dominating. Rattle them early and they may fold. (Pun intended. Generally good players, know sound strategy and play, very tight to start and open it up mid-game. Just have some trouble finishing the game out as it gets to the final couple tables.
Closer - Just nasty in the last inning, throws blue flames and can be devastating when you do decide to take a knock at them. Trouble being, they only see work ever couple games until the teams ahead and needs to stay that way. (Small ring game specialists, able to go heads up with the best of them and favorites to win if they get that far. Often has trouble getting through the 10-handed aspect as they love to bet heavy and are fearless heads-up).
22W-4L - The man. The Big Unit. The Rocket. If you're in a game with these guys, you'll be asking to ride the bench and sit this one out. Pure power, no fear, and usually has a changeup or nasty offspeed stuff that you just can't swing at without looking like a fool and spending the rest of your time in the dugout. Usually has stamina galore and has the ability to make you look foolish time and again as he out-thinks and out-pitches you. Strong right to the end and will often go the full 9 innings. A variant of this is the Greg Maddux type of pitcher. Not a flamethrower but can rear back when he needs to. Specialized in control, usually a vicious curball and will always keep you guessing right up until he puts you out with something sickening. The key point is that they know how to put the batter off balance, leaning one way or another, and then can finish them off with their good stuff. They too know when the hitter is onto their game and can change things up to keep the initiative. (You know who they are. They always seem to be betting at you when you're second pair, raising your bluffs and just plain old putting you off your game. Extremely solid players, both versatile enough to handle the first 4/5ths, and enough ability to finish the job at the final table. Total command of their stuff, can have people folding top pair, maxing out rockets, just totally tilting people everywheres they go. Loses out early now and then, but hey..even the best pitchers get knocked around now and then by someone who has their number. They know they'll be back and in the late rounds with a shutout again sometim soon.)
Myself? I think I'm a long starter. I get into the later rounds of the tournament quite frequently, but I have alot of trouble finishing the game and usually run out of stamina once I hit the money. How about you? (And honesty is important, lie to everyone else but yourself.)
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Originally Posted by Radashack
