What is the strategical difference between MTTs and the 180s

[Hate]

I'm thinking of trying my hand at the PS 20+2 180s, but I'm way out of my league as I have no idea how to play in it. Do I play just like in an MTT? Or do you have to be more agressive and make moves quicker?

[Sprayed]

From what I have experienced and from what others have said, there are a lot of bad players. Early in the tourney I have seen a lot of players playing suited and off suited connectors from any position with a limp like Q8 or K9 and even 54s UTG. If you raise it up to 120 when you have a big hand even when the blinds are at 10/20 you will get at least 3 to 4 callers especially if they limped in before you.

With that said, I have found that you need to stay out of trouble early and only call AI to double up when you have a pretty sure thing. If you raise with AK let's say, and you don't hit the flop and you have 3 to 4 people in there with you let it go. Somebody has a piece of the flop more than likely and are waiting for someone to bet so that they can check raise you with their 63 suited two pair. Lot’s of people are slow playing the shit out of every hand.

The way that I have chipped up early is through small pp hitting trips and big pp and pushing them to the max. You will get callers early in the tourney on your AI pushes. I have donked off a lot of chips playing flush and str8 draws and limping suited connectors out of position early in the tourney. So play somewhat tight, but see flops cheaply when in position. Don’t do any fancy moves like check raising your draws if you think your opponent is a bad player. This will work better in the late stages of the tourney.

If you have a decent sized stack in the middle stage in relation to the blinds, see the flop in position with suited connectors and small pocket pairs. There will be better players more so at this point in the tourney so raising when folded to you when in position will at times get honored and you will get some steals.

One of things that I have had trouble working on is to not tighten up when I have a decent stack. This goes for all MTTs. You will get blinded if you do and you will be in push fold mode when close to the money. I’m not saying to play weak hands out of position and raise marginal hands every chance you get, but when you are in position and donks are limping and you have a suited connector or small pp limp with them if your stack allows it. Remember, if you are around 10xbb or if a raise takes you to 10xbb you are looking for a good hand to push so that you can double up if called or steal the blinds.

Edit: Take notes on players. I am seeing a lot of players that I have played before in these.

[Easy17]

^^^
well said

[JeffreyGB]

IMO, that was good advice for all MTTs really. Nice post, Sprayed.

One thing stood out to me though...finding yourself in push/fold mode around the bubble isn't that horrible a thing. Being able to play push/fold poker well is a skill every MTT player needs if they are going to maximize their success. Reaching that point doesn't mean you're out or even especially likely to be going out - it just means you're that much more aggressively searching for your chance to double up.

[Warpe]

nh sir

I just started playing these a little while ago and am getting some reasonable success, playing very much how Sprayed suggests (and with the same challenge of tending to tighten up when I have a decent stack. Cure: re-read Ripptyde). My goal is to double up as early as possible with solid hands and a psychological game I play with myself is to make sure my name is in the top 30 ranking list at all times and moving up...if that's not happening, then I'm not being aggressive enough. I tend to backslide into passive play when I'm not getting cards, which ain't good, so this is when I force myself to get more aggressive and try for more steals. This gets me the chips I need to stay in the game when everything else won't.

I'm by no means a great player -- I've got much to learn -- but I've found I can hold my own in these and get close to if not ITM most of the time. The bubbles are tough, and that's an area of my game I found I needed to work on when I started playing these. Nevertheless, the top 18 payout structure makes them attractive to attempt, the experience is great, and they've improved my game. Definitely worth playing.

So give them a shot. Just don't play out of your bankroll.

[Sprayed]

BTW - It's a total all in and steal fest towards the end. Not too much flop play. It's all about steal, steal, and more steal. Last night a guy to my left was raising every hand and built a pretty big stack until someone woke up with a big hand and busted him.

Also, if you can get up to 15k in chips by the time you hit the money you are in goot shape. You can fold into the money if you have 7k to 10k with around 25 people left. Not that you want to, but you could.

Edit: aokrongly's sticky post about patience will help a lot in these since it is somewhat of a short tourney to get into the money.

[Warpe]

You can fold into the money if you have 7k to 10k with around 25 people left. Not that you want to, but you could.

Been there, done that, and I just felt...dirty somehow. Not much choice if you're getting dealt complete crap but I'm starting to take Ripptyde's "play to win" philosophy more to heart.

[Sprayed]

You can fold into the money if you have 7k to 10k with around 25 people left. Not that you want to, but you could.

Been there, done that, and I just felt...dirty somehow. Not much choice if you're getting dealt complete crap but I'm starting to take Ripptyde's "play to win" philosophy more to heart.

Got a pm from Alibi the other day and he suggested that a good read or reread is michael1123's strat. If you haven't done so, please do.

[Warpe]

You can fold into the money if you have 7k to 10k with around 25 people left. Not that you want to, but you could.

Been there, done that, and I just felt...dirty somehow. Not much choice if you're getting dealt complete crap but I'm starting to take Ripptyde's "play to win" philosophy more to heart.

Got a pm from Alibi the other day and he suggested that a good read or reread is michael1123's strat. If you haven't done so, please do.

found it. wilco.