Creativity in large-field MTTs

[Reidak]

I want to discuss thoughts and opinions on being creative in tourneys. Im a fairly "new" online poker player, i started about 1.5 years ago. Even in this time, it is easy to see that the fields are getting smarter. Not better, just a bit wiser on the proper (harrington ftw) way to handle position and stack issues.

However, what alot of players are missing is the creative side that a tournament allows for. I would say 90% of tourney players are ABC, that is they think of of their cards, position, and stack sizes - sometimes only a select portion from that list.

Heres a hand, and i dont mean to say this play always works, or is what you need to be doing. I figured it to be a good spot, so I took it.

Full Tilt Poker Game #2815978614: $19,000 Guarantee (20971760), Table 7
9 - 40/80 - No Limit Hold'em - 20:55:11 ET - 2007/06/30
Seat 1: vtguy (880)
Seat 2: va-2-ca (980)
Seat 3: AAcessecAA (2,950)
Seat 4: watcher0911 (5,930)
Seat 5: jishuu (1,425)
Seat 6: njrayzor (1,010)
Seat 7: Red Dawg 13 (1,475)
Seat 8: chichi15 (2,270)
Seat 9: imnew53 (2,075), is sitting out
Red Dawg 13 posts the small blind of 40
chichi15 posts the big blind of 80
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to jishuu [8h 9s]
imnew53 folds
vtguy folds
va-2-ca folds
AAcessecAA calls 80
watcher0911 has 15 seconds left to act
njrayzor has been disconnected
watcher0911 calls 80
njrayzor has reconnected
imnew53 has returned
jishuu raises to 220
njrayzor folds
Red Dawg 13 has 15 seconds left to act
Red Dawg 13 has requested TIME
Red Dawg 13 folds
chichi15 folds
AAcessecAA calls 140
watcher0911 folds
*** FLOP *** [Th As Kc]
AAcessecAA checks
jishuu has 15 seconds left to act
jishuu bets 400
AAcessecAA has 15 seconds left to act
AAcessecAA folds
Uncalled bet of 400 returned to jishuu
jishuu mucks
jishuu wins the pot (640)
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 640 | Rake 0
Board: [Th As Kc]
Seat 1: vtguy didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: va-2-ca didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: AAcessecAA folded on the Flop
Seat 4: watcher0911 folded before the Flop
Seat 5: jishuu collected (640), mucked
Seat 6: njrayzor (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: Red Dawg 13 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 8: chichi15 (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: imnew53 didn't bet (folded)

This hand isnt meant to be dissected or chewed to bits about EV, FE, or what not. Its the idea that these kind of plays are profitable if executed properly.

I was new to the table, maybe two hands I folded before this one. Im not certian, but I was new. With the two limpers, I would usually raise a higer amount if I was on a steal, however I only raised a small amount to induce calls; and to most players it looks like someone who has a big hand.

Now im not saying be gus hansen and fall in love with these plays. However, when added to your game; they help in getting those extra chips.

I never make names for my plays, because then I feel that I own them and have to use them. It sounds stupid, i know. But I know people who like to name these stupid little plays and they use them all the time like its their birthright.

This is to just get you thinking about possibilities outside the steals, resteals, floats and c bets. Smaller raises can make your hand look bigger, and build a pot you can take down, because your opponents are totally uneasy.

[rewfie40]

Good post. Maybe this could become a post for successful creative plays and also disastrous ones.

[Reidak]

I dont mind going busto on a play if i felt it was good

its hard to pinpoint if a play was bad, because every situation is different

i sucked at tourneys tonight lol

[dstir2]

this is a good observation jishu. i've found that it definitely helps to have a few of these hands in your repetoire every tourney, especially if you're just being dealt cold cards. however, i do think keen observance of the table is needed before this is attempted. i understand your point of being new at the table so your opps are most likely going to give you the benefit of the doubt with such methodical betting. but, this seldom works on tables that are loose or aggressive. finding such a table is quite difficult these days in MTTs, but when you do find a seat in one, you have to pick your spots wisely. good topic!