Tips for multi table tourneys

[ARSENALRULES]

Might be of interest fairly similar to another thread about MMTS

[I]Lets begin by breaking the multi-table tournament into three periods: Early, Middle and Final Tables.

Early
Early Play
Your play in the early stages of a tournament should be extremely tight. Most players think that since the blinds are
cheap in the early stages, that this is the time to go in with marginal hands. NOT SO! In fact, the opposite is
true. Since the cards are coming so cheap, now is the time to be picky about what your play with. One particular
author I read went as far as to say that he only plays 2 hands in early tournament play, AA and KK. With both of
these hands, he bets hard and does not try to trap. He would consider playing QQ in certain positions. While I
consider that a bit too tight, it does make my point that early stages you play tight hands. You want to gain the
reputation of a stone cold rock.
Hands that I will play in the early stages: JJ, QQ, KK, AA, AK suited. I will occasionally deviate from that list, but
only in good position. I never bluff in the early stages of a tournament. Why so tight? This style of play will let the
fish bust out, without taking you with them. How many times have we seen some schmuck stay in with 4 2 offsuit and
flop two pair to beat a good players solid starting pair? It happens all too frequently in the early stages of the
tournament. Even playing those top 5 hands, it can still happen to you, but hopefully alot less.
Play ultra-tight early and do not bluff. Let the fish die off, without burning away your chips. Remember, only the
top positions pay, and thats your goal.


Middle Play
After you have given the fish a chance to throw away their chips and you are at the table with fair and solid players,
now is the time to loosen up and play your regular game. Your hope at this point is to rake in a good number of chips,
so that you make it to the final tables with at least the average amount. Middle stages are also prime time to bluff at
a few blinds. You have two things going for you in this case. First, as more players are eliminated, the thought that
“we dont have too far to go to make money,” begins to settle in on everyones mind. Many players will completely
lock up as they move further into the tournament. Secondly, you have hopefully gained that “rock” tight image. A
bet or raise from you will be respected. This translates hopefully into a few stolen blinds.
A word of caution: you're still a good ways off from the money, and so a stone cold bluff with rags would not be
advised. However, QJ, offsuit in late position where you only have one caller, or the blinds to go might be worth a
raise.
In summary, middle tournament play should resemble your regular style of ring game play. You're looking to gamble a
little and collect enough chips to be a force at the final tables. If you bust out in the middle stages with good cards,
then so be it. Better to lose it on a good play, than to make it to the final tables, short stacked and get blinded away
to finish just outside of the money.


Final Tables
Now were where we want to be. Hopefully you've made it here with at least the average amount of chips. One
quickly finds that at the final tables, chip power is greater than card power. Again, the “lock-up phenomenon” is
seen, as players have limped to the table with a short stack and are hoping to fold their way to the money.
Whats our strategy at this point? Loosen up even more! Be bold and take risks. Dont play like an idiot mind you, but
now is the time to put those short stackers all in, if you have a decent hand. Every person you knock out of the
tournament now is very very significant. In the same sense however, be careful of challenging the huge stacks, unless
you have an excellent hand or they are locked up and letting their chips get blinded away.
Another final tables strategy is not to get locked up in multi-way pots. If you have a great hand, then by all means
play it, but consider before jumping into the fray between two other players. Let the other two players do battle,
and when one of them loses and gets short stacked, pick them off.
In summary, at the final tables, flex your chip strength, put the cripples all-in, play somewhat loose and take risks.


Conclusion
Watching the final tables of the World Poker Tour and the WSOP, we are sometimes amazed at the seemingly wild
and loose play. Stone cold bluffs with rag hands, all in with Q 10 offsuit, etc. We are then lulled into thinking that
this style of play is characteristic of these players, and that playing with wild abandon has gotten them to this
point. Wrong. In fact, this is one reason why online poker is so lucrative right now. Thousands of players flock to the
online casinos, after watching final table play of the WSOP on ESPN, and think thats the way to play poker. They and
their chips are soon parted!

Just an article that was forwarded onto me unsure of the source

the source can be googled of course

[cadman8]

very helpful post gunner thanks.

[SatiricalZ]

Great post, ty

[godblessiraq]

thank you arsenol..................you do rule.......very helpful!!!!!

[Benjamaican]

should you still have this extreme tight play even if its say just a two tabled tournament?
and how many players off the final table would you suggest kicking into middle play

[Carmine555]

Originally Posted by Benjamaican

should you still have this extreme tight play even if its say just a two tabled tournament?
and how many players off the final table would you suggest kicking into middle play

In my opinion, that time usually presents itself around the time BB hits around 100 or 200, or even int the ante phase of play. A lot depends on the players around you, and their chipstack compared to yours, and also, your positioning compared to the larger (or smaller) chipstacks.

EDIT: Sorry, forgot to answer the first part of your question. No matter the total number of players in tourney, you are still only one of ten at the table. Play tight in early rounds, and as your table loses players, you can loosen up a bit.