Superstack, big advantage?

[sven00100]

So, I am a pretty tight aggressive player, emphasis on tight, especially early in tourneys. I registered for the 1:00 Eastern Superstack $10+$1, thinking that the increased stack size, and slowed blind levels will give me a bigger advantage versus the field. (This is on FTP)

Starting stack:: 5000

Blinds::
10/20
15/30
etc...

Blind increases::
12 min for level 1-15,
15 min for level 16-35,
20 min for level 36+

This just seems like a recipe that will reward good play more often than a standard tourney, as it will take a LONG time to get to shove/fold, and variance on mediocre hands, as well as (variance of) starting hands won't play as large a roll.

Well, we'll see how it goes haha .

[revolvingiris]

There is some flaws in this thinking.

A) Playing a tourney like this does benefit better players but not in the way you are thinking. Better players are better because they can put themselves in good spots. This meaning better bluffs, better calls, better value bets etc. This doesn't mean that they just wait for better cards. Your cards rarely make your plays better.

B) Some good players actually play better with a turbo structure vs regular speeds or deepstack play.

C) Your assuming the goal of poker is to "play better poker". Everyone has a different reward or goal they are trying to accomplish while playing. Some want money, some want to enjoy a long game, some want to only try to not get a bad beat.

D) Variance is the exact same in any tourney regardless of the speed or how many chips you have. A 60/40 is the same in any structure.

For me personally, I do not like deep stack play as it just takes longer to get into the money or reach a final table. For me winning $ is more important than my ROI at this stage in my career. For you, playing a deeper stacked/longer structure seems to make sense.

Just remember that you will still generally bust in the same positions (your finish position %) playing a deep stack vs regular speed if your edges are the exact same in both. If you believe that your ability is greater then that of the field. Then more time allowed in that field will only result in more situations where you can apply your edge.

[fakedecoy]

The way I think of it is the deep stacked tourneys are more about postflop play, while short stacked ones are about preflop and push/fold play. You can have plenty of donks scoring at either one. But there are other reasons to play them. The main reason I play turbo SNGs is I don't have the patience for longer tourneys and don't want to commit to more than 45 mins.

[drmcboy]

I agree with Gris. Except why would we not, over time, finish higher applying our edge more often?


OP, Deep stack play benefits players who are good with deep stacks. Given the tone of the post, my guess is that you will be better off in the quicker "worse" structures until you get more experience.

yes, you can wait longer for hands. what are some things that you will give up?

Besides starting hands, make a list of a bunch of different things that are influenced by "variance". How many of these items have less variance in tourneys with longer levels?


All that said, it's all relative and this tournament is still a US $10 Freeze Out at Unlimited Hold Them and so there is frequent galactic clownery in all forms. Anyone who plays well at all, regardless of style, should have success.

[sven00100]

I agree with Gris. Except why would we not, over time, finish higher applying our edge more often?


OP, Deep stack play benefits players who are good with deep stacks. Given the tone of the post, my guess is that you will be better off in the quicker "worse" structures until you get more experience.

yes, you can wait longer for hands. what are some things that you will give up?

Besides starting hands, make a list of a bunch of different things that are influenced by "variance". How many of these items have less variance in tourneys with longer levels?


All that said, it's all relative and this tournament is still a US $10 Freeze Out at Unlimited Hold Them and so there is frequent galactic clownery in all forms. Anyone who plays well at all, regardless of style, should have success.

I think what I mean is I have more to play with.
I can make a play without being one bet from having my stack all in (obviously in NL you're always 1 bet from being all in, but i think you get what i mean) And I can be within my odds to see a draw without risking my entire stack. If I call what I perceive as a 'villain bluff' with TpTk on the river, and it turns out not to be a bluff, I probably won't be crippled from the tourney. This is what I mean by it restricts variance.. not that there is less variance, but that the variance doesn't affect the viability of my stack as much, if I apply pressure in appealing situations and it doesn't work out, that I can live to play another hand.

I guess I don't mean that I intend to be a nit the entire tourney and expect Lags to throw chips at me, but that my edge will be the same, which will get me a better place on average, due to the type of situation i described above. I go from tight to loose as the game progresses usually. though deep stacked I apply value of drawing hands etc as seems reasonable, which is more than I would normally play them..

Bleh I'm trying to explain this and my brain is fried right now.
If you think I would learn more playing faster tourneys, or improve my game more, I'll give it a try.

[revolvingiris]

Except why would we not, over time, finish higher applying our edge more often?

We most definitely would. I was trying to say if we are playing a slower structure and the only adjustment we make is to wait longer for hands then our finish position should be pretty close to the regular speed games.

OP it doesn't matter what structure you play as long as you continue to learn. Mixing structures and game types are great as they will teach you over all about the game.