Online Poker Forum at Full Tilt Poker

Maudib1 · High Card Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 2

I have been playing about a year and have done OK. I mostly play 90 player SNGs for $3, $5. I consider myself a fairly tight player and try to have patience while playing.

Recently I have hit a wall. I can not seem to get into the money easily. It seems that I am always fighting the bubble or just surviving to make it to the money. Do I need to be more aggressive or play even tighter than I usually do. The problem is that the blinds start to eat me up or my stack is so short that I cannot advance up the pay table.

Your comments are appreciated

rockycatt · Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 2:43 pm Post subject:

i feel your pain

i believe the chage from tight and agresive has to be put aside for a few hands to increse your stack to pierce the bubble
it gets real shijty around the bubble and you dont want to fall off
or chip out

so pick a time before and do a change up kinda like a pitcher
it will through the readers off also

I M O RC

JDizzzle72 · Royal Flush Joined: 01 Mar 2008 Posts: 528

My guess is that you're playing way too tight, and, therefore, not giving yourself the opportunity to have enough chips to play with as the blinds grow. If you sit and wait fro a premium hand to put any of your chips in the middle, by the time that hand comes, you'll have lost more than you're up to gain.

Also, since you mentioned that you barely make it ITM, I'd also venture to guess that you need to loosen up and make more moves on/near the bubble. The bubble is (usually) when you make the chips that you'll need to use in order to win. The transition from your tight style to a more effective, looser style probably won't pay dividends immediately, but I can almost guarantee that this is your main problem

esperz · Full House Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 220

Tightness works well in cash games... but tournaments has a way of weeding out the tight people unless you are incredibly lucky.

A tight person will often find themselves busting off with mediocre holding right prior to the bubble.

...loosen up. If it means you aren't ITM, so be it. The point is to try to make money, so try to exchange a 1st or 2nd finish for 2 or even 3 6th-9th spots.

What does this mean exactly? My number one piece of advice is to simply call those blinding out with starting hands (88+ - JQ+). You'll be suprised with what they are often going all in with.

DrAndrian · Straight Flush Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 383

Definitely play more aggressively in order to build an early chip stack. Don't play too scared of finishing out of the money or on the bubble, because that can affect your decisions. Make it your goal to win the tournament, not just finishing in the money.

Maudib1 · High Card Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 2

Thanks to everyone. You are all in agreement. I will be changing my style of play

Riddim · Moderator Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 8149 Location: Sweden

drowsy · Royal Flush Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 990 Location: Ohio

MadMoneyFFS · High Card Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 2

Ok heres the thing. You are playing tight and thats a good thing. In online poker every1 else is playing loose so u must play tight. The question I have is are u being aggressive enought when u do play? The key to poker is playing tight and aggressive IN POSITION. When u have position u can loosen up and steal pots that dont belog to u but please dont loosen up in early or middle position. When u get near the bubble be aggressive especially when u are the first in but avoid calling bets without a good hand.

californiachamp · Banned Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 394

Loosening up is NOT the answer folks...He needs to pick his spots BETTER and then be more aggressive......So your advising him to play marginal hands ? what if he is inexperienced to know to play post flop? then what good is playing loose?

He most likely is not picking his spots that well to play those top hands.......I see way too many people misplay a k or big pairs even when they do get them.

ONly you the OP knows how your playing your top hands when you do get them, are you playing them aggressive enough? Too passive post flop? think about that and their is your answer.

JDizzzle72 · Royal Flush Joined: 01 Mar 2008 Posts: 528

Considering the OP mentions 90 man $3 SNGs, loosening up would be the correct strategy since the only 90 man $3 game is a turbo doublestack. If you have any experience in these, you would know that unless you run ridiculously good, your stack will become too insignificant in relation to blinds very fast and the big stacks continue to play LAG poker, taking down a good portion of the pots.

In the case of $5 SNGs, the only 90 mans would be the doublestack nonturbo, in which tight play can be good given the longer blind structure.

esperz · Full House Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 220

Riddim, suited connectors, Ax or even Kx.

Some random hands on the tables I'm playing right now:

1.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6329594941: $28,000 Guarantee (47507103), Table 49 - 100/200 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:31:34 ET - 2008/05/07
Seat 1: unden (6,440)
Seat 2: docjohnston (4,680)
Seat 3: littled16 (5,980)
Seat 4: young hamlet (7,160)
Seat 5: esperz (2,545)
Seat 6: Dalsies (6,125)
Seat 7: juglife (29,160)
Seat 8: zaphod_11 (1,428)
Seat 9: nirvanakc (5,432)
littled16 posts the small blind of 100
young hamlet posts the big blind of 200
The button is in seat #2
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to esperz [9c 8d]
esperz folds
Dalsies folds
juglife calls 200
zaphod_11 folds
nirvanakc folds
unden folds
docjohnston calls 200
littled16 calls 100
young hamlet checks
*** FLOP *** [Qc Kh Ah]
littled16 checks
young hamlet checks
juglife checks
docjohnston bets 400
littled16 folds
young hamlet folds
juglife calls 400
*** TURN *** [Qc Kh Ah] [Ks]
juglife checks
docjohnston checks
*** RIVER *** [Qc Kh Ah Ks] [7d]
juglife checks
docjohnston checks
*** SHOW DOWN ***
docjohnston shows [Ac Js] two pair, Aces and Kings
juglife mucks
docjohnston wins the pot (1,600) with two pair, Aces and Kings
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,600 | Rake 0
Board: [Qc Kh Ah Ks 7d]
Seat 1: unden didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: docjohnston (button) showed [Ac Js] and won (1,600) with two pair, Aces and Kings
Seat 3: littled16 (small blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 4: young hamlet (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 5: esperz didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Dalsies didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: juglife mucked [4h 5h] - a pair of Kings
Seat 8: zaphod_11 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: nirvanakc didn't bet (folded)

2.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6329607081: $28,000 Guarantee (47507103), Table 49 - 100/200 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:32:31 ET - 2008/05/07
Seat 1: unden (6,440)
Seat 2: docjohnston (5,680)
Seat 3: littled16 (5,780)
Seat 4: young hamlet (6,960)
Seat 5: esperz (2,545)
Seat 6: Dalsies (6,125)
Seat 7: juglife (28,560)
Seat 8: zaphod_11 (1,428)
Seat 9: nirvanakc (5,432)
young hamlet posts the small blind of 100
esperz posts the big blind of 200
The button is in seat #3
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to esperz [2h 6d]
Dalsies folds
juglife raises to 400
zaphod_11 folds
nirvanakc has 15 seconds left to act
nirvanakc folds
unden folds
docjohnston folds
littled16 calls 400
young hamlet folds
esperz folds
*** FLOP *** [7d Ks 7s]
juglife checks
littled16 checks
*** TURN *** [7d Ks 7s] [8h]
juglife bets 200
littled16 calls 200
*** RIVER *** [7d Ks 7s 8h] [4h]
juglife bets 200
littled16 has been disconnected
littled16 has reconnected
littled16 calls 200
*** SHOW DOWN ***
juglife shows [Js Ah] a pair of Sevens
littled16 shows [6s 6c] two pair, Sevens and Sixes
littled16 wins the pot (1,900) with two pair, Sevens and Sixes
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,900 | Rake 0
Board: [7d Ks 7s 8h 4h]
Seat 1: unden didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: docjohnston didn't bet (folded)
Seat 3: littled16 (button) showed [6s 6c] and won (1,900) with two pair, Sevens and Sixes
Seat 4: young hamlet (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 5: esperz (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Dalsies didn't bet (folded)
Seat 7: juglife showed [Js Ah] and lost with a pair of Sevens
Seat 8: zaphod_11 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: nirvanakc didn't bet (folded)

3.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6329942116: Daily Double - B (47501744), Table 65 - 500/1000 Ante 125 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:59:08 ET - 2008/05/07
Seat 1: foshjrman (6,682)
Seat 2: Vermilion Pt2 (32,010)
Seat 3: heelman247 (5,677)
Seat 4: Chevy Hero (16,045)
Seat 5: misterfunny1 (36,526)
Seat 6: shtblsck (15,561)
Seat 7: JulDec (37,124)
Seat 8: esperz (8,162)
Seat 9: czechraise you (5,355)
foshjrman antes 125
Vermilion Pt2 antes 125
heelman247 antes 125
Chevy Hero antes 125
misterfunny1 antes 125
shtblsck antes 125
JulDec antes 125
esperz antes 125
czechraise you antes 125
Vermilion Pt2 posts the small blind of 500
heelman247 posts the big blind of 1,000
The button is in seat #1
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to esperz [As 5c]
Chevy Hero folds
esperz: i'll put you on kj
misterfunny1 raises to 4,000
shtblsck folds
JulDec folds
esperz folds
czechraise you folds
foshjrman folds
Vermilion Pt2 folds
heelman247 raises to 5,552, and is all in
misterfunny1 calls 1,552
heelman247 shows [Js 5s]
misterfunny1 shows [Ac Kd]
*** FLOP *** [9h 8d 7s]
*** TURN *** [9h 8d 7s] [2c]
*** RIVER *** [9h 8d 7s 2c] [3s]
heelman247 shows Jack Nine high
misterfunny1 shows Ace King high
misterfunny1 wins the pot (12,729) with Ace King high
heelman247 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 12,729 | Rake 0
Board: [9h 8d 7s 2c 3s]
Seat 1: foshjrman (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: Vermilion Pt2 (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 3: heelman247 (big blind) showed [Js 5s] and lost with Jack Nine high
Seat 4: Chevy Hero folded before the Flop
Seat 5: misterfunny1 showed [Ac Kd] and won (12,729) with Ace King high
Seat 6: shtblsck folded before the Flop
Seat 7: JulDec folded before the Flop
Seat 8: esperz folded before the Flop
Seat 9: czechraise you folded before the Flop

4.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6329841904: Big Double - A (47507105), Table 14 - 80/160 - No Limit Hold'em - 23:51:07 ET - 2008/05/07
Seat 1: MattiasH123 (7,071)
Seat 2: esperz (2,758)
Seat 3: Corvette Prince (10,667)
Seat 4: Roper31 (11,325)
Seat 5: MasterE569 (8,410)
Seat 6: AmarilloSlimJr (2,570)
Seat 7: TheNogre (6,202)
Seat 8: Bernie Kosar (8,856)
Seat 9: Boinkage (12,438)
AmarilloSlimJr posts the small blind of 80
TheNogre posts the big blind of 160
The button is in seat #5
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to esperz [Ad 9d]
Bernie Kosar folds
Boinkage folds
MattiasH123 folds
esperz calls 160
Corvette Prince folds
Roper31 folds
MasterE569 folds
AmarilloSlimJr calls 80
TheNogre has 15 seconds left to act
TheNogre checks
*** FLOP *** [6d Ah 2h]
AmarilloSlimJr checks
TheNogre checks
esperz bets 480
AmarilloSlimJr raises to 2,410, and is all in
TheNogre folds
esperz calls 1,930
AmarilloSlimJr shows [Th 9h]
esperz shows [Ad 9d]
*** TURN *** [6d Ah 2h] [8c]
*** RIVER *** [6d Ah 2h 8c] [Jd]
AmarilloSlimJr shows Ace Jack high
esperz shows a pair of Aces
esperz wins the pot (5,300) with a pair of Aces
AmarilloSlimJr stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 5,300 | Rake 0
Board: [6d Ah 2h 8c Jd]
Seat 1: MattiasH123 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: esperz showed [Ad 9d] and won (5,300) with a pair of Aces
Seat 3: Corvette Prince didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Roper31 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 5: MasterE569 (button) didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: AmarilloSlimJr (small blind) showed [Th 9h] and lost with Ace Jack high
Seat 7: TheNogre (big blind) folded on the Flop
Seat 8: Bernie Kosar didn't bet (folded)
Seat 9: Boinkage didn't bet (folded)

5.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6330029746: Big Double - A (47507105), Table 14 - 100/200 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:06:21 ET - 2008/05/08
Seat 1: MattiasH123 (8,511)
Seat 2: esperz (5,996)
Seat 3: Corvette Prince (13,460), is sitting out
Seat 4: Roper31 (12,541)
Seat 5: MasterE569 (8,110)
Seat 6: Sveden House (1,340)
Seat 8: Bernie Kosar (12,839)
Seat 9: Boinkage (6,831)
Bernie Kosar posts the small blind of 100
Boinkage posts the big blind of 200
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to esperz [As 7s]
MattiasH123 folds
esperz calls 200
Corvette Prince folds
Roper31 calls 200
MasterE569 folds
Sveden House has 15 seconds left to act
Sveden House raises to 1,340, and is all in
Bernie Kosar folds
Boinkage folds
esperz folds
Roper31 calls 1,140
Sveden House shows [8d 9d]
Roper31 shows [Ac Jd]
*** FLOP *** [9h Ks 3s]
*** TURN *** [9h Ks 3s] [Th]
*** RIVER *** [9h Ks 3s Th] [4h]
Sveden House shows a pair of Nines
Roper31 shows Ace King high
Sveden House wins the pot (3,180) with a pair of Nines
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 3,180 | Rake 0
Board: [9h Ks 3s Th 4h]
Seat 1: MattiasH123 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 2: esperz folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Corvette Prince didn't bet (folded)
Seat 4: Roper31 showed [Ac Jd] and lost with Ace King high
Seat 5: MasterE569 didn't bet (folded)
Seat 6: Sveden House (button) showed [8d 9d] and won (3,180) with a pair of Nines
Seat 8: Bernie Kosar (small blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Boinkage (big blind) folded before the Flop

6.

Full Tilt Poker Game #6330482448: Big Double - A (47507105), Table 14 - 200/400 Ante 50 - No Limit Hold'em - 0:46:13 ET - 2008/05/08
Seat 1: Yeaoo (9,300)
Seat 2: esperz (10,051)
Seat 3: Corvette Prince (3,189), is sitting out
Seat 4: Roper31 (27,413)
Seat 6: Sveden House (5,076)
Seat 7: EXTREMETILT14 (4,054)
Seat 8: Bernie Kosar (14,942)
Seat 9: Boinkage (10,179)
Yeaoo antes 50
esperz antes 50
Corvette Prince antes 50
Roper31 antes 50
Sveden House antes 50
EXTREMETILT14 antes 50
Bernie Kosar antes 50
Boinkage antes 50
Boinkage posts the small blind of 200
Yeaoo posts the big blind of 400
The button is in seat #8
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to esperz [8d 5s]
esperz folds
Corvette Prince folds
Roper31 folds
Sveden House folds
EXTREMETILT14 calls 400
Bernie Kosar folds
Boinkage has 15 seconds left to act
Boinkage raises to 2,000
Yeaoo folds
EXTREMETILT14 calls 1,600
*** FLOP *** [4c 8s 4d]
Boinkage has 15 seconds left to act
Boinkage bets 2,002
EXTREMETILT14 raises to 2,004, and is all in
Boinkage calls 2
EXTREMETILT14 shows [5d 6d]
Boinkage shows [Qh Jd]
*** TURN *** [4c 8s 4d] [Tc]
*** RIVER *** [4c 8s 4d Tc] [Ah]
EXTREMETILT14 shows a pair of Fours
Boinkage shows a pair of Fours
Boinkage wins the pot (8,808) with a pair of Fours
EXTREMETILT14 stands up
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 8,808 | Rake 0
Board: [4c 8s 4d Tc Ah]
Seat 1: Yeaoo (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 2: esperz folded before the Flop
Seat 3: Corvette Prince folded before the Flop
Seat 4: Roper31 folded before the Flop
Seat 6: Sveden House folded before the Flop
Seat 7: EXTREMETILT14 showed [5d 6d] and lost with a pair of Fours
Seat 8: Bernie Kosar (button) folded before the Flop
Seat 9: Boinkage (small blind) showed [Qh Jd] and won (8,808) with a pair of Fours

The list goes on for a very, very long time.

BladeBoyle · Pair Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Posts: 21

stealing is legal in this game when you're 10x blinds look for times when very few are in a hand and a raggy flop hits. Remember this stat, 2 out of 3 times NO-One hits the flop! pot bet bluff it then if the pot amount isnt to big and a bettor raises he hit the flop and you can folld if not you stole a small pot for one more go around. when the blinds get big they become important. look for hands that are well hidden like small pairs you can hit sets with and kneecap the players then.if yer on the bubble. and one player is smaller stacked then you and is a more aggressive player. fold more waite for him to commit suicide...

sixandfour · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject:

My number one lesson is this... don't blind out, and don't wait too long to play a hand. When you get around 10 blinds, you should be looking for a hand to shove. It doesn't have to be spectacular, just something that makes some sense. KJ, pair of fours, whatever. when you get that short, you can no longer outplay anyone, least of all a big stack. Take the coinflip... its a lot better than waiting till you've got 5 blinds and trying to beat 3 callers, no matter how much better your hand is. Remember, people will be calling with a lot of hands trying to get you out if it's cheap enough.

Even before you get this short, you should be evaluating your situation, where you're going, so you can possibly make some plays to keep you from getting to that point. Pick up some blinds here and there... remember, a lot of players are just as scared of the bubble as you are, and they're easy to spot. Successful tourney players tend to make a lot of money around the bubble doing just that. As an earlier poster said here, you're better off trying to get some chips for a deep run than merely trying to limp to cash. Depending on the size of a tourney, a top 3 finish, or even a FT, can pay for a lot of missed cashes. So if you get in a racing situation when you're broke and 5 away from the bubble, don't be afraid to put em in and take a shot at getting back into the game. The payouts go up exponentially the farther you go, so a coinflip that gives you a chance at going deep is going to pay you more in the long run than taking the safe route and being broke when (and if) the bubble pops.

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