ideas on how to improve my game

[lord2300]

hi all

will try and pick your brains on how to improve my game as im finding im consistently finishing towards the end of mtt but just seem to miss the money ive been playing live games in the local casino"s and normally out of 60-80 runners im around the 9th-14th place and similar online too,

im fairly tight in my style and seem to be getting way above the average  in the first 5-6 levels and finding i have to sit on my chip stack for the rest of the tourny partly being card dead and finding most players are pushing to double up and get back in the game but when im looking down at ace rag etc i have to fold  

any advice would be great!

[UKChamp]

I have recently tried to be more aggressive when im card dead. Sounds odd but makes sense. Play hands with the sole intention of taking it down no showdown.  If you have above average chips, you have the stack to do this.

Floating people on the flop and 4 betting a turn bet, or using a pot sized stop go do seem to work. But its a case of knowing who your up against I think.

Not that I know anything. Then again, im never short of an opinion.

[Zanshin]

im fairly tight in my style and seem to be getting way above the average  in the first 5-6 levels and finding i have to sit on my chip stack for the rest of the tourny partly being card dead and finding most players are pushing to double up and get back in the game but when im looking down at ace rag etc i have to fold  

Sounds like you are doing fine but just playing too tight late on when you have built up a bit of a stack.

Unfortunately with the blinds rising you have to make some moves or that stack will vanish quicker than..eehhhh a thing that vanishes quickly.

You know that the short stacks are now pushing with a wide range of hands and unless you are totally card dead you are going to have to start calling some of those. Remember also that it's much easier for those short stacks to push with their wide range than to call for all their chips so be more aggressive, but try to pick your spots. You will have to play some weaker hands than you may like so consider your position carefully and try to avoid stacks that can bust you.

Try not to think too much about your stack being enough to take you to the money positions and just think about the best way to grow that stack while others are worrying about their position.

Good luck at the tables  

[Digger]

Hey I"m no expert.........but it sounds as though you need to have the ability to change gear towards the end game, as the blinds go up.....the chips soon disapear from your stack if you just hang around for the dogs doodies! Pick your spots & players & push it up the gears! Get your money in first & this will push others off the hand.
I think we all have to make a choice....do we want to ladder or take a chance or two to take the top slots..........some you win......some you don"t!

Good luck!

P.S. I don"t have any major wins to my credit  

[owen1mac]

I agree, its about getting in first.  Remember poker is a game of betting, the cards only give us a medium to bet on.  Play your cards when the blinds are low and you are likely to be called with any two cards, then play a betting game in conjunction with good position, in the latter stages if the cards are missing you.

You may get caught and get your fingers burnt now and then, but people will be wary of you if they have seen you building your stack throughout the tournament.

GL

[cabbie007]

Last month a friend put up the idea of a home game every month with a bracelet to hold for the winner, won last month and last Sunday for this month.

The stratergy I use seems to work -

Early stages - Play tight but aggressive (i.e 4 or 5x the big blind), watch all players even when your not in a hand. Watch what cards they are showing and what cards they will stand with till a showdown. Watch who is folding under pressure on the turn and river. Try to predict aloud the cards of the player your against, if you get it right they will be more wary of a showdown with you. Your stack size now will be 3x your starting stack or you"ll be down to push mode 10x the big blind.

Middle stages - You have to be prepared on the information from early stages on the people sitting around you to take on players to boost your stack further. Some pushes all in if you got the chips call with any two pair any two suits. You"ll get more respect when you start knocking out players. But when you do this you must go back to tight mode as someone will call your hands thinking you are on low piars or suited connectors and you can then bash them with your  :as: ah, ac ks, kh ks etc.

Late stage - You want to win or just make the money ? If you want to win there will be a decission where you will be at risk but these decissions have to be taken to win. Now your have gone from tight to loose and now back to tight, well sort of !
Blind stealing time after 5 hands youv"e fold fold then you look down   :: or any rubbish cards RAISE 4x big blind you will be respected and if not represent the flop you will win more than lose with this.

BUT REMEMBER ONE THING

When have to show cards move your gears, if you lose with  ac ks you will be looked on as tight so when its cheap go loose see a flop. Say you lose with   tc the go back to tight. its the changes in play and bluffing at the right time will win you games. Unfortunatly it takes practice practice to get to a style and hand histroy experience that will help you when to CALL, FOLD, RAISE, RE-RAISE and of course I"M ALL IN !

GOOD LUCK

SHUFFLE UP AND DEAL