Chip accumulation in an MTT

[Sack it off]

I am looking for some advice as many of my poker friends have very different views on this subject.

I am looking to find out how you should play between the levels of 10/20 - 100/200 levels of an online MTT. Buy ins ranging from $10 - $55

My view:
For me I am very tight, my stats are pretty much 5/4. When I do not have a solid read on the table I make few moves and usually if I 3b I have the goods.
I will open in late with suited connectors and big suited cards but thats about as far as it goes when it comes to raising weak (again this is with very little read on the players)

My general view is that at 25/50 level you hope to win about a 500 pot on average. But in just a couple of levels you will be able to 3b shove and pick the same pot up and you get the same outcome with less risk and pick the pot up more often.


The contrary:
Some of my friends focus hugely on chip accumulation, they are calling raises from MP with KJo when they are in LP and 3b'ing on big suited cards to hopefully double up or just win a big pot in general.
One example that has been brought up in the past is he opened the hijack on QJs and the btn 3b, he then proceeded to 4b and when called barrelled an 8 high flop.

To me this isn't how I would like to play so early on as we are risking our tournament life to gain a minute % of the chips in play.


How do you play during these levels and are you focussing on really going for it to double up or are you more inclined to play straight forward unless you have an exploitable read?

[GreekStein]

I'd very much like Mantis to be the first to answer this one for you.

[MANTIS01]

Always happy to offer my opinion. OP you're asking how you should play these levels and you detail your own view as opposed to a contrary view. In reality you're just illustrating two different styles of playing poker. Your approach is tight and that of your friends is loose. No doubt there could be an endless debate about the pros and cons of each style. Generally I think a tighter approach is more fruitful early in these MTT's for several reasons. There are less thoughtful players at this standard in the early stages who just want to pure gamble, you have no info on your oppos, you have no image to trade off, and the blinds are small. So personally I don't think 4betting Q-J at 25/50 and playing weak hands strongly is the most profitable way to approach these games. You don't want to pure gamble yourself because that nullifies your edge right? The fact that lots of people play weak hands so aggro means playing stronger hands vs this sort of action is a more beneficial strategy. What's important is that you're looking for a formula that you can implement in a game before that game even begins. Poker is a game where you need to be flexible and reactive so for eg if you happen to end up at a tight table then loosening your playing requirements becomes more profitable.

Now we've covered that perhaps Greekstein can illustrate the style he employs to currently be losing over $6k in MTT's on Full Tilt alone. Then you can do the polar opposite and expect to make a decent profit.

[nirvana]

Miaow

[Simon Galloway]

My general view is that at 25/50 level you hope to win about a 500 pot on average. But in just a couple of levels you will be able to 3b shove and pick the same pot up and you get the same outcome with less risk and pick the pot up more often.

I'm not sure how sniping 300 chips at orphaned pots early on is higher risk than 3bet shoving for all your chips.

Different players do well with different styles, one will feel more natural than the other, but you have to be able to play both ways when required.

[Pelham Boy]

Miaow

So gutted.

When i saw you had replied in this thread i was hoping it was going to be an insight into chip accumulation nirvana styleee.

[celtic]

Always happy to offer my opinion. OP you're asking how you should play these levels and you detail your own view as opposed to a contrary view. In reality you're just illustrating two different styles of playing poker. Your approach is tight and that of your friends is loose. No doubt there could be an endless debate about the pros and cons of each style. Generally I think a tighter approach is more fruitful early in these MTT's for several reasons. There are less thoughtful players at this standard in the early stages who just want to pure gamble, you have no info on your oppos, you have no image to trade off, and the blinds are small. So personally I don't think 4betting Q-J at 25/50 and playing weak hands strongly is the most profitable way to approach these games. You don't want to pure gamble yourself because that nullifies your edge right? The fact that lots of people play weak hands so aggro means playing stronger hands vs this sort of action is a more beneficial strategy. What's important is that you're looking for a formula that you can implement in a game before that game even begins. Poker is a game where you need to be flexible and reactive so for eg if you happen to end up at a tight table then loosening your playing requirements becomes more profitable.

Now we've covered that perhaps Greekstein can illustrate the style he employs to currently be losing over $6k in MTT's on Full Tilt alone. Then you can do the polar opposite and expect to make a decent profit.

good post mantis.

over to you greekyfish.

[celtic]

Miaow

So gutted.

When i saw you had replied in this thread i was hoping it was going to be an insight into chip accumulation nirvana styleee.

ha, hirvana sure knows how to accumulate chips.

[Claw75]

Miaow

So gutted.

When i saw you had replied in this thread i was hoping it was going to be an insight into chip accumulation nirvana styleee.

ha, hirvana sure knows how to accumulate chips.

swig merlot, try to look confident, raise, suck out, do a little dance imo

[GreekStein]

lol

[  ] $6k is a big swing at MTTs.

Sure is a big sample I've played.

Happy to play you heads up online or live for whatever you want.

Feel free to post some of your stats. I'm open with mine

[nirvana]

Fk the luton haterz imo, except Marty Pelham, he knows a player when he sees one :-)

And Celtic, he just had to have a random busted flush, 2 pair combo - he can never have the straight - I still can't quite get over it

Anyway, sorry for the derail, good post Mantis and to the OP, just pick the player(s), tailor accordingly, and be right more often than wrong is all there is to poker

[nirvana]

Happy to play you heads up online or live for whatever you want

Whoop, just shipped the under on this appearing on this thread

[Simon Galloway]

just pick the player(s), tailor accordingly, and be right more often than wrong is all there is to poker

Stunning.

[GreekStein]

Happy to play you heads up online or live for whatever you want

Whoop, just shipped the under on this appearing on this thread

the UNDER? sure makes sense. lol

[MANTIS01]

lol

[  ] $6k is a big swing at MTTs.

Sure is a big sample I've played.

Happy to play you heads up online or live for whatever you want.

Feel free to post some of your stats. I'm open with mine

200+ games doesn't prove anything so you want to play me one live game to prove something. Your thought process has me outfoxed already tbh.