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Middle stages
By the way I see, I am having some trouble during the middle stages of live and on line tournaments. What happen is that I have about 20-30 BB, the blinds keep ep getting higher my stacks get down and I can't find a spot to make a bet or even try to steal the blinds, every one seems to be going all in or open raise all the time. Should I 3-bet white less them medium hands? Should I be more agressive? How can I pass this face whiteout a poor stack?
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What is the bottom of your range that you would open with in early position with 20-30 BB? How about middle position? I guess that is the first thing I'd try to diagnose, do you need to expand your range a bit in those spots to keep your stack viable.
If you are in late position, 3-betting with medium hands against an all-in (unless you think they are doing that real light) does not achieve much without fold equity, but 3-betting on the button against loose aggressive hijack or cutoff who opened certainly has significant possibility for success especially if you bet is big enough.
I struggled with this myself in the early part of this year, getting short stacked in a way that I know is not optimal, but feeling I just rarely had a situation/hand that merited a shove. I've opened it up a bit the past month (even the occasional blind shove) and have had better results. perhaps somewhat due to variability but some of these moves have clearly been key in keeping me viable and making a run to cashing when the luck turned a bit.
Thanks, I think I have to try that
In Live tournaments 20-30bb is where you want to look for spots to 3 bet jam on; especially from loose openers with a high fold to 3 bet stat. For instance, many players will open with a 40 percent range but will fold almost there entire range to the 3 bet. In live poker (50-250 buyin) their calling range is ridiculously tight and thus exploitable. In live poker you have the benefits of tells which are significent, especially at this stage of the tournament. In one tournament I 3 bet jammed an utg opener with tj off because I sensed fear and he folded. With the same hand had I sensed strength I would fold preflop.
Without the benefit of tells (online generally) you have to maximize the mathematics aspect. If villain is opening x percent then what y percent jam is effective to achieve a minimum nash equilibrium. After you have mastered the 3 bet jam aspect you can focus on more advanced plays such as trapping with kings and aces in low spr situations which yield a higher rate of return versus 3 bet jamming.
In the middle stages of the small (70-130 entries) weekly tournaments I've played in, I've found that three or four successful blind steals from any position is all that I need of these plays to get me to the final table. You don't have to try it constantly. When you decide you need to do it, just pick your spot and do it. The spot that you pick is somebody who is folding their blinds a lot. I usually wait for a hand that will give me at least a little equity, but once or twice in these events you have to do it with garbage. Pretend to look at your cards and fire away.
Obviously the steals aren't the only way you pile up chips. You'll get to capitalize on some good hands too. But without the small number of blind steals, you won't get to the final table.
Just in my limited experience I find that light 3-bet jams get called an awful lot. More than one of these has sent me to the blackjack pit.
What's a good approach to light 3-bet jams in the middle phase of a small tournament?
Big tournaments are probably a different animal. And maybe my own experiences in small tournaments are unusual and not representative of how it works.
Middle stage play has always been difficult for me as well. It's that stage where everyone puckers up. I know I do, too much so and then my timing goes. It seems as soon as I step up or out with a marginal hand I either get 3bet or moved in on and either have to give it up or make a stand and go with some marginal hand like KQ hoping to not be greater than a 3-2 dog.
One of the challenges that isn't often talked about and needs better defining is our overall strategy. For example; Are we looking to be aggressive, exploit opponent's weaknesses and build our chip position, or is our strategy to play disciplined and defensively and not expose ourselves to too much risk before making the money? Having a well defined strategy and mindset on how we're going to attack this stage of the tournament will serve us well and allow us to make strong definitive moves.
One of the things I plan to do is find new spots in which to leverage my early chip positional advantage. Keep my timing and the pressure on my opponents. Also, not get complacent and shut down to prevent myself from getting into this 20-30 bb position in the middle stages in the first place.
KJ1218
Definitely been there. Here's something to consider: Sometimes there's just nothing you can do.
In a JL seminar, someone asked him, "What do you do when you go card dead for hours?"
his response: "You're probably going to go broke." I've gone through stretches where I just can't get any traction. I review everything in my head after and i can't find anything I could have done differently. (I'm not talking about the times when I made some HUGE idiotic move that cost me my stack.) Then I go on a run where I either get big hands that get paid off or go total luckbox and win a big pot on a two outer. I do try to employ one new idea on increasing aggression in every tournament. Sometimes that works out and sometimes it doesn't, but it sure is fun!
Are we looking to be aggressive, exploit opponent's weaknesses and build our chip position, or is our strategy to play disciplined and defensively and not expose ourselves to too much risk before making the money?..... And also THIS.... If you hit the same dead spot in basically EVERY TOURNAMENT like I once experienced.... My solution was to get carefully creative and carefully brave. And Doyle once mentioned having the ability to "switch gears"
Make a well timed and well thought out PLAY! Sometimes the cards are not enough by themselves and you have to help them out by Playing Poker!
Hope this helps.
Obviously the steals aren't the only way you pile up chips. You'll get to capitalize on some good hands too. But without the small number of blind steals, you won't get to the final table.
All great comments!
The one that stood out for me because it was me for a long time. That was the pucker up zone.
You have to rid yourself of the fear and the thoughts that if you make the wrong move others will think your a donkey. I personally have gotten to the place where I don't care what others think. If they think I'm a donkey, all the better, because the next time I make a solid move they will remember "it's the donkey" and overreact and make a mistake in my favor.
Also if you your making the right moves, remember "Sklansky or G Dollars" when reviewing your sessions(look them up) to see where you made an error or your opponent did. It's worked wonders for my mental game and given me great info about my opponents behavior to use down the line. Also forget about the #'s. 20-30 bb's is a good stack.
From training here I've learned to think more about my position in the tourney than my stack size. Am I the short stack? Am i a medium stack? How many others are in my position and what are they thinking. Let others make the mistakes and don't get rattled till your down to 12bb or less. Make an occasional move with a good hand to keep the pressure on the other medium stacks or steal blinds. They are watching, believe me. Believe in your ability to make the right move at the right time." Following the rules" makes you very predictable to smart players. Lose the frog butt mentality and have a good time. You'll be surprised how much more fun you have, how much more at ease you'll be, how many better decisions you make and how much more successful you'll be. IMHO
Big tournaments are probably a different animal. And maybe my own experiences in small tournaments are unusual and not representative of how it works.
Obviously the steals aren't the only way you pile up chips. You'll get to capitalize on some good hands too. But without the small number of blind steals, you won't get to the final table.
Just in my limited experience I find that light 3-bet jams get called an awful lot. More than one of these has sent me to the blackjack pit. tubemate mobdro