MTT - STT Strategy

MTT - STT Strategy
Managing Your Chip Stack in Single or Small Multi Table Tournaments – Making it to the Money!
Tactics of playing winning poker change drastically based on the number of chips you have in relation to the blinds and antes.

The strategy is simple, use a tiered system to determine ongoing success at any given time in a tournament. Every move made is determined by this formula.

The Beginning
At the beginning of a tournament all players are equal. Everyone has an equal number of chips. The blinds are low, in relation to the stack. As a rule, most begin with 1500 chips and the blinds are 15/30. This equates to 30+ on the scale. Here is the math… keep a calculator at hand!
Add the small blind and big blind plus any antes together. This equals 45. Divide that number (45) into the stack (1500). The answer is 33.33. The goal is to keep that number above 20 and hopefully above 30 throughout the tournament.

Keeping the stack above a factor of 30 means the player will be a dominator at the table, a chip leader. This is the position of power. The power player wants to be in this position throughout the tournament. As the game progresses, the system will have more merit. The chip stacks will become wide ranging, from a few hundred to a few thousand. Within a few hands, the stack will diminish slightly while the blinds will increase.

Why will the stack diminish?
Because the player will begin the tournament slowly. Let the ‘all-in merchants’ beat each other up. Sit back and evaluate the players. Learn and remember!! Make notes! Stay out of the action for the first ten or fifteen minutes or longer if the action remains fevered or if it’s a big MTT.

The Middle and Late Stages
By now the player has folded a number of hands and the player is probably under 30 on the scale. This is a comfortable level, low blinds and lots of chips. Time to begin picking up some pots. As long as the stack stays in the 20’s or rises into the 30’s the player should want to play fairly aggressive poker against the short stacks and the weak players (refer to the notes). Avoid going to war with the crazies or the big stacks (probably the same people) unless the player has the nuts! Patience is paramount. Take down the small pots, gradually building the stack while avoiding taking any huge hits.

Remember to use the calculator! Always know where the player is on the scale!

The Beat
It’s bound to happen. the player has taken a bad beat. The stack is now in the 10 to 20 range…
Tighten up! Only play the top starting hands. The player still has chips and time to rebuild, avoid tilting! Patiently adding small pots to your stack is the trick here. The player is not in any real trouble yet, by playing carefully the player will have no problem recovering from the hit.

The worst has happened, someone cracked the player’s aces with a set and now the player has fallen below the factor of 10! I call this the push or fold mode. Wait as long as the player can for the best starting hand possible then move all-in. Count on at least one caller. With a little luck you’ll double or triple your stack and rise back into the comfort zone.

Recap
30X or more = Optimum position. You are one of the big stacks.
Early in tournament be a little aggressive but protect your stack. Slowly build your stack and maintain your level as the blinds increase. Take advantage of the weak players and ‘calling stations’. Pick on the short stacks. Avoid the other big stacks.
Later in the tournament you will have to confront the other power players. Use your notes and your skills to take advantage of their weaknesses, they do have them!

20 – 30X = Comfort zone. You will be in the middle of the field.
Early and late strategy is to play cautiously, protect and build. Avoid the big stacks and loose players. Pick on the tight players and the short stacks. Survival is your first priority. You still have ample time to get back into the game, be patient!

10 – 20X = Danger zone. Playing only the best starting hands allows you to play out of position and be aggressive with everyone. At the later stages of a tournament you must play good hands aggressively in order to build your stack if you want to be in position to take it home.

Under 10X = Push or fold. Pick your time. Late position or when you’re already in the blinds is best. Good luck!

Some addittional tips and advice
Avoid going all-in preflop even with AA or KK. By committing all your chips before seeing the flop, you eliminate any chance of bailing out. The exception to this is when you are in the push or fold mode.

A substantial raise often receives more respect than an all-in. Sometimes underbetting the pot shows the most strength, try it.

Beware the limper. Advanced players will often limp in or ‘smooth call’ to disguse the strength of their hand.

Go with the flow. Cards often come in streaks. Run with it, it won’t last forever.

Pay attention to the board. Even when you are out of a hand, remember what you’ve folded and watch what cards fall. There are trends, look for them. This may not be the most scientific approach but it works. Why? It could be the RNG or the way the dealer shuffles. Whatever the reason, trends will become visible to the most observant.

Study the players. Whether you are in a hand or not, pay close attention. Every player has a tell. Watch betting patterns, the time it takes a player to make a decision, etc…

Calculate your hand odds, pot odds and determine the strength of your hand in relation to possible opposing hands then make your decision. Never rush your decision process. Think everything through.

When in doubt, fold!