Goochbruiser - MTT Tips

[Rcktwrangler]

When are you going to add the other game strategies?

[elefante322]

very good topic cuidate we embrace the site and chatting

[Mpettit2]

When are you going to add the other game strategies?

Will add them later today.. Sorry been busy.. Im working on it now. Its going to be very in depth with examples.

Ill post it in the OP and let everyone know.

[RWPFhero]

You da man for adding other games and examples!

[wwwrungood]

Cant wait! The first post was really good, good job in advance.

[Mpettit2]

Here are some tips and guidelines of how I play MTT's on Merge broken up by game type. Now of course a freezeout is going to be different from a rebuy or turbo but every mtt is still along the same principle and Ill explain further down the post.


Basic Freezeouts (10-15 mins levels 3k+ starting stacks)

Early levels

I play these very abc and try to pot control a lot of hands. Honestly, there is absolutely no reason to be getting involved early in these since the structure on Merge allows for more play down the road. For example, there is no reason to be calling a 3x raise with k10 suited or 33 44 from the cutoff because its basically hit or miss and check fold and even if you make a play and steal a pot congrats you won 120 chips. No reason to get involved and ruin table image (YES this is key down the road trust me).

Try to keep you stack positive or at 3k during these levels.. Play strong hands.

Early Middle Stages

This is where you can start to open up your range no matter what your stack size is and a good area to increase stack size. 60/120 and 80/160 are good levels from what Ive observed. Smaller stacks are going to nit up and wait and try to double and bigger stacks are opening there ranges most of the time to increase stack size. By opening up your range here your going to put yourself into more flips ak vs pp ect, but your still able to pot control preflop and outplay most of these players post flop. Ive seen it all the time and its relatively easy to do.

Middle Stages

Tons of way to play here and really depends on your stack size and bb's left. Bigger stack I personally like to slow down and nit up a lot. Your going to have a lot of smaller stacks trying to make moves and want to keep stack size or increase. **Key is not to take any major hits.. Yes you can flip for 1k if you have 15k but flipping for 10k with 15k is dumb when you can wait**

Smaller stack size during these levels I still like to be patience. Some of you guys might think that is dumb but I think its key. If your able to limit the amount of flips you get in it only betters your chances.

Bubble Time

Bigger stacks this is where you increase increase increase but not by playing stupid and punting your stack then min cashing or bubbling. DO NOT PUNT in the worst case you lose some blinds but stay near the middle top ect. I only steal from the button or blinds because there is no reason to put your stack in a bad situation from the co or early position by picking up blinds.

Smaller stacks your looking for a flip or a hand. There is nothing about it. Its just an awful place and situation to be in we have all been there before and its no fun. Stay patient and try to pick up some chips or move on up and into the money by others donking out.

In the Money

Bigger stacks - Key is to increase increase increase and not take a big hit. Key is getting to final table and top 5 cause that is where all the money is in MTT's. Play small pp's as hit or miss dont be bluffing off chips with a pair of 8's on A 7 9 board ect.

Smaller stacks - Looking for doubles and flips but you can stay patience and hope JJ get called by ace rag ect where you have HUGE advantage. Stay Patience.. People get sooo worried that they have 10 biebers and have to shove when esp ONLINE you can wait it out. Ive done it and seen it a lot its possible.

*** The key is to control pot sizes, maximize value when you have hands and control loses to min. Control how many flips you get in because the less the better in the long run.***

*** Yes you have to win flips to run deep in ANY MTT but your able to control how many you get in and thats a key point.***

Will post a rebuy and deepstack turbo tips later on because those are sooo +ev and can be played a lot differently.

Hope this helps people that have wanted it and will post in the OP tips for rebuys/deepstack turbos later.

Deepstack Turbos (5k Starting stacks - 5 min levels)

These MTT's are very fun and popular personally they can very profitable. Tons of different ways to play these but they ALL come down to winning a big flip around bubble or running hot but there are WAYS to increase your odds of chipping up and playing smart.

Early Levels

I tend to play these just like a deepstack freezeout considering your starting with 5k and no reason to try to chip up early because it all comes down to bubble play in these.

I tend to protect more of my blinds and steal and open my ranges more around the button and in the blinds on UNOPENED pots.

ex. blinds 20/40

Im on Button with a range from k9 to ace rag im going to make is 100 and rep a hand pre flop.. I get 3 bet you fold and wow you lost 100 they flat maybe you hit a flop and post - flop play depends on the board but then play it straight forward unless you have notes ect on a player in the blinds.

Im in the CO (cutoff) and get A9 - A10 and player limps from utg+2 Ill simply just flat call (depending on the player this is key) and simply try to steal it post flop or worse case you lose the 100

** honestly I dont do this much because over time its not going to be profitable and there really is just no need to get involved early without a hand esp in these because chip stacks matter NONE the first 4-5 levels.

** I love it when you hear a player or someone go crazy when they double in the first say 10 hands. Doubling up early means A LOT less in these than a regular 15 min level freezeout.

Early Middle Stages

Protect, Protect, Protect

Blinds are starting to get big relative to stack sizes. Your able to pick up chips during these levels without having to stick it in and play all in flip pots. These levels are very crucial in gaining chips. You can go from 5k - 17k without even playing flips. (Yes of course there are going to be situations where you can get away and have to flip) but controlling how many flips you get in are key.

Absolutely expand your range preflop but play these ranges tighter than you can possibly play them post flop. Key in these MTT's is to gain chips without flipping every 10 hands. Control pot sizes bet strong hands and DONT OVERPLAY a hand and get caught bluffing off 1/2 or a 1/3 of your stack. JUST PLAIN STUPID

Middle Stages

Get ready to flip and steal easy as that...

Unless you have a big stack.. Big stack - protect blinds and play a tag style and a good range of hands and knock out smaller stacks. DONT GIVE SMALLER STACKS chips by getting in A9 vs JJ...

Smaller or average stack hope you run well or win some flips. There is nothing to this its part of it no other way around it.

Now say it folds to you in small blind and you have ace 4 ect and your stack is at 8k avg and bb had 24k.. Persoanlly its automatic shove. 7 out of 10 times the bb will call you with kq kj ect and your getting in a good position to double.


Bubble Time

Big stacks - Protect and increase stack just like a deepstack freezeout apply same principles. No reason to call of 9k on a guess if its a flip with A10 off. Keep your stack you will need it once ITM.

Small Stacks - Just hang in there and be patient. Wait Wait Wait for a hand and a good spot. PICKING YOUR SPOT IS KEY. If you get 44 from HIJACK and a big stack min raises UTG+1 FOLD FOLD FOLD FOLD. WAIT IVE DONE IT WAIT.

Your trying to get a big stack to call you shove with ace rag king rag and you have a pp higher than his rag or ak ect.
You can double and run a stack up being short on the bubble you just have to be patient and pick the correct spots.

** Picking spots is key and its hard sometimes and of course your going to get in certain flips and its part of it and poker and esp with these... Im just trying to give some insight on how to avoid as many as possible to get in a better position over time to run deep in these.

In The Money

I get sooooooo tired of players thinking about how many biebers (big blinds) they have left. Players absolutely freak out when they get 15 bbs and under when 60% of the players left are in the same spot as you.

YOUR FINE with 10 bbs to make a run.

Two ways to play ITM... TAG and try to chip up slowly and increase in pay jumps or LAG and play more pots but risk donking off a stack and going out earlier than expected.

Personally depending on the buy in I play TAG but LAG from the Hijack on. Blinds and antes are big and if you can protect and take a few pots its big.

** THE KEY IS NOT TO GO BACKWARDS OR TAKE A HIT AND LOSE HALF YOUR STACK

Take advantage of smaller stacks if you have an above average stack and protect your stack if your small and pick the right correct spot that is KEY just like in early levels.

Your looking for flips now since your ITM but flips that are correct. Not just shoving a10 off from UTG and hoping the no one calls or someone calls with 66 ect and your flipping cause 8 out of 10 times the blinds wake up ak jj qq ect and your dead.


** Patience and picking the best spot available for you and your stack against your table is key. Of course your going to get in flips and cant control that. Your going to an any mtt you play its part of it and part of poker but controlling the situation and controlling your spots is the difference between a player winning and losing.

** This is very basic and Im going to go back and add certain hand examples at each stage, just wanted to type this out while I was playing some cash.

** Will add rebuys and hand examples in a little

[TrueOC]

great post love it.....like to see what you say about turbos and shit.....

[onlythenuts]

nice I may try and use some of this in my play...

[bakreni12]

good tips, for the next time I play a MTT

[theaces77]

very good topic cuidate we embrace the site and chatting