Online Poker Forum - Tournament strategies

Mal_77 · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:54 pm Post subject: Tournament strategies

There's a nice thread on this forum for starting hand strategies, but I'm curious about tournament strategies for 7 card stud. I seem to do very well in stud ring games, but I've had more difficulty in tournament play. I think perhaps I'm chasing too many draws in tournament play, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, I'm interested in general strategies for stud tournies. Thanks in advance.

KGBlovesOreos · Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 3:17 am Post subject:

i think early on it is proper to chase once you have four to the flush on 4th street... the only time you shouldnt chase the whole way w/ this type of hand is when you see that your opponent has a pair showing and he bets aggressively... he most likely has a boat, so it would be wise to fold here...

chasing straights arent nearly as profitable though because you are less likely to hit it, so let them go unless it only costs one bet to see the next card...

Jaconda78 · Moderator Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 4179

If you start with 3 straight or 3 flush, look at the ranks of the hands - don't play low cards just because they're suited or connecters. Also, if fourth street doesn't help you complete that straight or flush, let it go.

KGBlovesOreos · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:52 am Post subject:

another piece of advice... (i can't stress this enough)

make others pay for their draws when you know they are on one!!! stud is a game in which many players chase their draws to the end, so if they keep check-calling your bets, dont start thinking they are slowplaying you... (if they were, they would raise you around 4th or 5th street)... keep betting because they will only hit 30-35 percent of the time... if they will chase, why not build the pot?

Mal_77 · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 9:09 pm Post subject:

Exactly what I was looking for, thank you very much!

Do you find you give up more hands by fourth street in a tournament than you generally do in a ring game?

KGBlovesOreos · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 11:49 pm Post subject:

yea... in a ring game, you can play a little looser, but in a tournament, every chip counts and you have to make sure you put them to good use (chasing draws the whole way through isn't putting them to good use)

Mal_77 · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 1:36 am Post subject:

Just wanted to say thanks again to all who posted here, even these few small tips really helped me out. In my last online stud tournament, I finished 44 out of about 3700, which is a GREAT finish for me, I was really pleased. I think most of it was due to knowing which hands to play and which ones not to play, and the advice above about seeing one card and then dumping the hand on fourth street if your hand doesn't improve.

One other thing I noticed...people in a low buy-in tournament made all kinds of mistakes, like drawing to the second best hand. I won a few big pots because people were drawing to their straights when I had made a flush already, or drawing to a flush when I had trips showing and I was raising like crazy with a full house. Additionally, during the tournament the idea of implied odds became really important for my drawing hands, when I had a flush draw and I could easily put someone on a straight, for example.

Anyway, the point was that the advice here was top notch, and I really appreciated it.

Funkay Flex · Straight Flush Joined: 22 Oct 2005 Posts: 487 Location: VA

Funkay Flex · Straight Flush Joined: 22 Oct 2005 Posts: 487 Location: VA

was it on party poker?

Mal_77 · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:58 pm Post subject:

The tourney wasn't on Full Tilt, it was on Poker Stars. It was a freeroll, where the top 24 spots qualified for another tourney that had cash prizes. I usually play as many freerolls as I can when I am learning a game. So, I didn't win any money, but I don't know how I can be disappointed with 44 out of 3700.

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