Finding Leaks in MTTs

[Thunder]

A bit vague this one but basically, due to the size of the fields in MTTs, we accept that the expected cash rate will be quite low but how can you verfiy with any sense fo accuracy whether your failings are "to be expected" or are down to leaks in your game?

In an SNG or cash, it can be a lot easier to identify as it's usually one or two key hands but in an MTT, spanning hours, it can be so much more and even the tiniest of things that you are/are not doing.

Case in point, after FT my first MTT of the day yesterday, I made it to the 14th in the next, only to crash out of a further 4 that day and 4 today. Now, this could just be "standard", not getting the cards, maniac opponents spazzing out etc but it may also be something else - something within my control.

At the end of each rebuy, I tend to average 9 - 12k before add on and I always aim for 10k. Each time, I hit this figure and I was in good stead. However, that was as good as it got in the tourneys after that fourth and final FT of yesterday morning, and now I am wondering what more I could do but as you can see, don't know quite where to start.

[drmcboy]

along with swings I think evaluating your play is the biggest challenge of MTTs.

Not much to be done beyond focusing on specific hands that you are not sure whether you played well.

You can review whole tourneys and see if you're too aggressive or too tight or whatever but I think the sample size defeats a lot of the benefit - really you're still down to pulling out specific hands (along with table conditions, your image, etc), determining wheter your play was good, and if not or if you don't know, going deeper, posting it here , running numbers, etc.

[Thunder]

Thx.

The one one thing I am aware of, though there could be other issues at stake, has been my lack of activity recently. Ok, I FT the first MTT so no problems there, and in the 2nd, everyone was short stacked creating a crapshoot environment, but in all of the others, I made it comfortably through the manic hour but couldn't seem to get a foot hold. Yes, my cards were dire but on top of that, there was always action in a hand and when I bluffed, my image wasn't respected (probably not even noticed at the $3 and under level).

But the question I am asking is how much of the above was a legitimate reason for me felting on the bubble verge and how much was down to me not overcoming such everyday MTT situations?

[CorbinDallas]

are you asking specifically about the 4.40's on stars?

only to crash out of a further 4 that day and 4 today.

i think you are... and if you're playing 2 or 3 a day... you can't expect to FT once a day... or even make the money just playing 3 in a night.

i have a friend who does VERY VERY well at them... he helped me ALOT. he plays 8+ in a day... sometimes 12. his ROI is 46%. he's made 2nd place 4 nights in a row... which is strange for him as he's usually really good heads up.

i typically play 4-8 in a night... and usually make a FT a night. last night i had 3 sick beats in a row... got 10th, 19th, and 20th.

i think a reasonable expectation is 15-18% ITM... 5-6% FT... and 2-3% top three. maybe better than that for the 4.40's since they are pretty soft.

[CorbinDallas]

Thx.

The one one thing I am aware of, though there could be other issues at stake, has been my lack of activity recently. Ok, I FT the first MTT so no problems there, and in the 2nd, everyone was short stacked creating a crapshoot environment, but in all of the others, I made it comfortably through the manic hour but couldn't seem to get a foot hold. Yes, my cards were dire but on top of that, there was always action in a hand and when I bluffed, my image wasn't respected (probably not even noticed at the $3 and under level).

But the question I am asking is how much of the above was a legitimate reason for me felting on the bubble verge and how much was down to me not overcoming such everyday MTT situations?

i'm no expert but i have played my fair share of micro level tourneys. i generally do not cbet until deep... high blinds and at least 2/3 the field is gone. you just don't need to. when you flop and A with AK/Q... every other A (who called behind, LOL) you pays you off... often stacking off.

another reason... you can see lots of flops cheap and get paid off making big hands by players that just can't let go of top pair.

thats my $.02.