What do you do when you are card dead in a MTT

[Scriptdude]

I'd like some serious advice.

I've been extremely card dead for the last 6 weeks. I play around 2 MTT's per day (average) and really do my best to practice and apply all the stuff I've been reading here and in books.

The scenario is always the same:

Early stage
I play tight. Willing to wait a couple of orbits for a good hand to play aggressively. I play the obvious hands for a raise and limp in with small pairs to flop a set.

Usually I manage to stay above average (stackwise). Being card dead I may get 2-3 playable hands in the first hour.

Middle stages
I usually have a healthy stack, but don't seem to get above average (also because I simply aren't getting any cards). So I keep waiting and make little stabs at stealing blinds, but more then often get called/raised so I back down.

Late stages
By this time I'm fighting for my tournament life and more then not my only move is All-in or fold (M < 7). I may steal a few blinds, but I seem to be unable to get myself back in the tournament because I keep getting dealt 28o, J3o, 62o, 23s, etc.

How can I accumulate chips while being card dead? Do I need to go all-in with J9s, 67s, etc? Should I gamble more in the early stages? Do I play the random A4o?

Any pointers would be appraciated.

[chardrian]

Well I have been thinking about this a lot lately because I have been playing very well, getting very deep, but have not won anything big for a while, and I just feel like I am cursed.

But really when you think about it, everyone except for the winner in an MTT is gonna feel cursed. The reason you need such a damn big bankroll for MTTs is because you are rarely going to win them. But when you do - kaplow!!! Your bankroll goes through the roof.

Anyhoo, Early in MTTs I think the most important factors are: 1) your cards, 2) your position, 3) your reads, 4) your stack (Fold Equity), and 5) your image in that order.

Middle of an MTT: 1) your position, 2) your stack (fold equity), 3) your reads, 4) your cards, and 5) your image in that order.

Late in an MTT (where the average M is below 10): 1) your stack (Fold equity), 2) your position, 3) your cards, 4) your image, 5) your reads in that order.

And the FT: 1) your stack (Fold equity), 2) your reads, 3) your image, 4) your position, 5) your cards.

[drmcboy]

you lose. Sorry, you need cards to win MTTs. You can stay afloat for a while with a move or two and stealing blinds, but I defy anyone to post a win where they didn't either:

suck out 5-6 times in big pots (this includes spiking sets against over pairs, etc.)
win 5-6+ flips
have 5-6+ pair over pair hands that played themseleves pre flop
some other random equally lucky spot, like a table that's letting you steal three times an orbit.

or some combination thereof. These are for normalish size MTTs, even more for 1000+ types.

Your job is to put yourself in position to get lucky.

I'll trade cards for reads, image and postion all day at the FT.

[jackvance]

Maybe this can give you a few pointers, from the (imo) MTT-god:

http://rizenpoker.blogspot.com/

[chardrian]

you lose. Sorry, you need cards to win MTTs. You can stay afloat for a while with a move or two and stealing blinds, but I defy anyone to post a win where they didn't either:

suck out 5-6 times in big pots (this includes spiking sets against over pairs, etc.)
win 5-6+ flips
have 5-6+ pair over pair hands that played themseleves pre flop
some other random equally lucky spot, like a table that's letting you steal three times an orbit.

or some combination thereof. These are for normalish size MTTs, even more for 1000+ types.

Your job is to put yourself in position to get lucky.

I'll trade cards for reads, image and postion all day at the FT.

I did a pretty poor job of explaining myself.

I have come to believe that about 80% of playing an MTT is just knowing how to play your cards from your position. There is no doubt that cards and luck matter. And I'll agree that for the most part your big hands just come from hands that play themselves out (e.g. AA versus another big hand all-in preflop; AK versus lower pairs, etc.). But I strongly disagree with your assessment regarding suckouts.

I know my wins generally have come with one big hand after the first hour which gives me a big stack and allows me to play patient but aggressive poker. And then usually one more monster pot late in the tourney which is usually decided preflop all-in with either a flip (e.g. JJ vs AK) or a situation where the hand plays itself out (e.g. AA vs QQ).

But the reason most people post hands here isn't because of the 80% of the tourney play which just sorta plays itself out. They post hands regarding that other 20% of play where you actually need to do more than just play your cards.

My assessment was more for that 20% of play.

[ignored]

The only thing to do is keep playing. When im card dead I could try a move once in a while from late position but usually it never works out well. I've been watching soupie and others making sick moves but thats when they have a stack to do this. Its a hard not to get the cards when you really need em.

[Sprayed]

This is an interesting article.

http://www.pocketfives.com/D50901E0-...80679BED3.aspx