Hey guys. I thought I'd write some of my thoughts for discussion, debate, what have you.

Early tournament play-

I normally play fields of 700-1200, and they generally last 6 hours or so. After 6 hours its usually final table time, and I can count my large field final tables on two hands. Nobody is really well conditioned at final tables except high volume MTT players.

So I generally divide tournaments into 3. Early, mid, and late. Early is the first couple hours. You have a relativley large stack to blind ratio.

I find it is really easy to play too many hands, or too few hands. I see various mistakes quite often

The biggest one, I think, is the preflop superraise. At 10/20 with 2000 stacks, buddy makes it 160 to go. The problem here is that it is highly transparent. When someone makes this kind of raise, I will call in position with a boatload of SC's, pp's. I avoid broadways since KQ on a AKQ flop is pretty hard to play optimally.

Limping. Okay.. we get it. We all have alot of chips. Limping is never a good idea, unless you have a really good reason to do so. I have never found one, maybe you have. When you enter a pot and everyone is deep stacked, you want to be coming in for a raise. I would rather raise UTG than limp one off the button. Reason being is that when you flop a hand you can't build a pot, you lose the preflop fold equity from the blinds (albeit small) since they don't fold when limped to, and invites a ton of hidden straights, two pairs - and other nasty hands.

Thinking people are making plays on you. Generally, big pots will only ever develop in early stages when two good hands are going at eachother. They don't often develop on some wacky flop and turn float that is going to bluff the river. Early on, abc poker is optimal. Unless you have history or a read on a player, of course.

Mid stages.

During the beginning of this stage, the avg stack to blind ratio will begin to close, meaning that you and alot of others often tighten right up. Nearing the end of the middle stage (4 hours or so in) the bubble has usually past. In the middle (3rd hour) is about the time the bubble comes.

There is alot to be done during this stage. Personally, I find if i play well in this stage I often do well in my final placement. To begin the 3rd hour, alot of the players with loads of chips arent really looking for too many battles, short stacks get desperate and the average player doesn't really have to be doing all that much.

My general strategy is to have position in most every hand I play. I play the 1 and 2 off the buttons as wide as 67s, 22+ (generally). If the blinds play back often I tighten up a bit, or will bring in my raises in an earlier position to attack a different big blind.

Also what is important here is to introduce 3 bets. Before this, I don't 3 bet all that much as there isn't as much to win. However, with heightening blinds and antes, there is enough dead money to justify 3 betting pretty much anyone but the tightest players at the table. I don't 3 bet maniacally, but I do tend to 3 bet kind of loose. When I get come over the top of, I hollywood a bit before folding, or call if I have a real hand.

In terms of my blind strategy, if I feel I am being exploited by position, I don't mind calling to bluff or 3 betting preflop. Both plays are good. The worst play is to constantly fold, hoping to pick up a real hand. Because when you do, it is transparent. Also when you are a defender of your blinds, opponents will often adjust their range to be tighter. The amount of raises on your blinds by marginal hands goes down, and you gain the EV of more consistent walks. 3 or 4 walks in a given hour is a huge advantage, coupled with the extra chips you often gain via 3 betting. Blind defense is huge in the mid stages, as stack sizes are usually optimal for 3 bets.

Bubble play. I won't go againts tradition here. Play loose, exploit everyone who is being tight.

Immediate post-bubble play. Right when we get into the money, play usually picks up. How to play it depends on your table dynamic.

Play is often generated by players who have less than the average stacks, and short stacks. Bigger stacks take a backseat and pick off people with stronger hands. I like to get my chips in often at this point. I play my pairs like im always againts two overs, i play my AQ like im always againts underpairs - when I am playing the shorter stacks. I like to have them covered, but if I happen to be one then I don't mind busting early in the money. The play opens up here so much so that I feel its better to get it in now rather than linger around for 30 more minutes

Later stage

in a 1k player field, this is anywhere from 100-10 players, or about a few pay levels into the money.

This is where good players can exploit bad players for big ass pots. Its also where sick beats and tears happen. It is also the most exciting and adrenaline filled points the the tourney. Seeing it drop from 90 to 60 to 50 is just awesome.

Myth 1 - you need

entrants * starting stack / 9 (final table average stack) to do well in the final table.

No way. The final table usually has a couple big stacks, a few average stacks, and some short stacks. You won't be alone if you are shorter than the average.

Myth 2

everyone left is better than you. Odds are they probably aren't. It isnt hard to get lucky and build a huge stack in a tournament. It happens in the majortiy of tournaments. It is important to check sites like OPR and sharkscope to see who you are really playing. Check the man, not their chip stacks. They have a feint correlation.

Okay, so say its a 1k field (easy numbers), and there are 90 left. The stack to blind ratio is still somewhat thin. If you have the chips, 3 betting becomes highly profitable here.

Be willing to risk it all. If you feel you are ahead, go with it, even if its for all your chips. It really only does take that 1 hand to pull through with 90 left to set you up for a final table. Missing that spot usually cripples your shot at winning from a theoretical standpoint.

Other people tend to play nervous and tight as the field shrinks and shrinks. find these people, and attack their blinds even if you are 4 or 5 seats away. Other people don't want to get involved if it isnt their blind being attacked.

Scale down your PFR. 2.5x is fine, 3 is ok but i feel its too much, anything more is a definate leak.

With 4, 3, and 2 tables the avg stack to blind ratio baloons. Once again, keep up the 3 betting pressure. You usually get moved around with unknowns, so take the opportunity to play aggro early when you reputation is still unknown. Generally, i don't watch the other 2 or 3 tables, because i find it more beneficial to watch my own.

Final table

good luck. you will need it.

tl;dr.