Daily Tourney Tip #4

Be in a position to make your opponent make the tough decision:

This specifically apply's to mid - late tourney strategy. If you decide to play, play the hand like you mean business, do not limp! If you decide you are going to play K10 then raise, if you decide you are going to play 86 then raise. The main reason behind this is you are giving yourself 2 ways to win, as well as limiting your competition. You are also in an aggressive position for the hand, which is important.

Part 2 Position:

Position is important in determining when to play those decent groups of hands. Are you first to act after the button? KJ might not be the greatest hand to go in with. 2 behind the button with 1 limper and the rest folds, K10 looks a bit better to play. Why? Lets say you decide to play your K10 1 after the button you raise 3xBB There are 8-9 people left to act after you, which is decent enough odds that someone can beat your hand About a 33% chance for an A alone. Where as in the other 2nd scenario the odds of an Ace are decreased by nearly half.

I could run the number all day, but it’s just something to be aware of .

Great posts Rad, they are really helping me out. Do you think you could make one big thread with all of your tips, if it isnt that much trouble that is...


-anto

Rad,

The odds of another hand having an ace if your hand does not are 4/50 +4/49 or roughtly 16 percent. That's a head up situation. I was a little confused by you your 33%, could you please elaborate.

I wholly agree if you decide to play modest hands, play them like the nuts and your opponents will think you have them more often than not.


soupie

Nice post Rad.

This is called the Gap concept by Sklansky. It's definately something you should be aware of in your tournament game. Basically it goes that it takes more of a hand to call a raise with than it does to make a raise with.

So lets say you are sitting in late position with K10, and someone raises 3xBB before you. Now that K10 doesn't look so hot. Chances are you are dominated, or at least going in with the worst of it.

On the other hand, lets say you have the same hand but you are the guy in mid-position. You raise it up 3xBB. Now lets say the other guy, who is now in late position has KJ. A TAG player will most likely lay that KJ down thinking the same thing you thought with K10 in late position.

This concept is also why it's worth raising your marginal hands instead of limping.. Someone else may be thinking of limping with their middle suited connectors also - but they won't stand a raise. You effectively eliminate most competing hands, and will have a good idea of what kinds of hands are will be staying in.

RD so with hands such as KT you should raise in mid position, to try and steal the blinds...right? I have nver done that, I just raise in late position with any hand if the field checks to me (like rippy always says)


-anto

Originally Posted by RD Olivaw

Nice post Rad.

This is called the Gap concept by Sklansky. It's definately something you should be aware of in your tournament game. Basically it goes that it takes more of a hand to call a raise with than it does to make a raise with.

So lets say you are sitting in late position with K10, and someone raises 3xBB before you. Now that K10 doesn't look so hot. Chances are you are dominated, or at least going in with the worst of it.

On the other hand, lets say you have the same hand but you are the guy in mid-position. You raise it up 3xBB. Now lets say the other guy, who is now in late position has KJ. A TAG player will most likely lay that KJ down thinking the same thing you thought with K10 in late position.

This concept is also why it's worth raising your marginal hands instead of limping.. Someone else may be thinking of limping with their middle suited connectors also - but they won't stand a raise. You effectively eliminate most competing hands, and will have a good idea of what kinds of hands are will be staying in.

This is good stuff, however its not law either If everyone played by the book then yes, but many many people don't... the more I play the more I see a 3xbb raise go unoticed at lower levels in a tourney. Later on in the tourney this is much closer to reality. This especially becomes apparent when blinds begin to get large a 3xbb is about 1/4th of someone's stack. K10 doesn't look good at all anymore. Thanks for posting that RD

Originally Posted by elanto

RD so with hands such as KT you should raise in mid position, to try and steal the blinds...right? I have nver done that, I just raise in late position with any hand if the field checks to me (like rippy always says)

No, this is not a steal move, it's a move to get similar marginal hands that may dominate you out of the pot. But, as Rad added, you can't expect this to hold true against maniacs or fish. As Sklansky would say, that just narrows the gap considerably or eliminates it all together. This is mostly for playing against Tight-X players.