I understand patience is a virtue but............

[fasin8ing1]

I play in a tourny at a local casino every so often. I find myself playing online more than live. However, my situation is as follows: Usually play in a small MTT that consists of 30 people 3 full tables. Types of players - Loose, Aggresive, Dumb, Dumber, Conservative/Tight. I start my game out tight. I raise when I should and I will usually pick up a limp in or two, and the blinds. I can do this maybe once or twice. Blinds start out at 25 50 . My profit , about 200 in chips. Blinds go up every 12 minutes. When I get to 75 -150 I look down at my chips and then look across and see monster stacks. Everyone has gotten into a pot, everyone has taken one down, everyone has played past the flop. What is my problem? I play well, play well after the flop, play well on fourth street, river. Then , I switch my game up - Thats when I am raising with J 10 , 7 8 suited, the stuff 2 rounds ago I wanst playing. I feel like if I dont make a move soon I will be blinded, I will be so behind that sooner or later it will come to that last push ! Any suggestions? When do you all switch it up ? When do you loosen up ? I can loosen up , but is Q 10 worth limping in when the blinds are 300 600 ? And you have like 1500 in chips left ? Come on guys - FTR I am a huge fan and rarely ask for advice but this is killing me .. I have been playing nonstop for a year and cant do much more. Harrington on Holdem , Caros books, WPT Reruns Sklansky - What can I do ?

[LeFou]

we need more specific problem-hands to consider. your general description of your tourney strat is generally right.

I play these little 5-table tourneys, and I am pretty well disciplined about it. You do need to get aggressive in those middle stages, but be selective and don't start pushing just 'cause it's time-to-push. You still need a couple cards.

QT is great shorthanded, unraised pot, maybe right after blinds have escalated and people fear a raise. Calling raises with it is a huge mistake. And so on. More specifics

[bencathers]

I When do you loosen up ? I can loosen up , but is Q 10 worth limping in when the blinds are 300 600 ? And you have like 1500 in chips left ?

Raise or fold. You never in your life limp with Q10 in that position. You need to know where you stand. Too many hands completely dominate you. Either push or fold it.... what did you do if you limp and the flop misses you completely? Even a push of 800 chips may make Ace high call you (if you miss the flop and bluff push.... because otherwise you are down to nothing).

When the time to steal blinds come (everyone folds to you and you are the button) THE TWO CARDS IN FRONT OF YOU DO NOT MATTER. You push or fold... you do not call.

Read this post: http://www.flopturnriver.com/phpBB2/...ic.php?t=10215 ASAP...and we'll talk more