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Server Time: 12/1/2008 11:52:07 PM PACIFIC |
 Pokerstars World Cup Qualifiers, pt_Gatsby, 21. Oct 2003 09:11 | ||
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| For those that aren't aware of what I am talking about, Pokerstars is holding an international teams 'World Cup' thing - you can read about it at http://www.pokerstars.com/wpt_worldcup.html In any case, I'm not sure what the field will be like for me (Canada), but I don't think its going to be small. If I had to make a guess, I'm thinking it will be 125 peopleish, giving some 12+tables. Not a huge tournament, but a very large tournament for just a shootout. Of course, it could be much much higher, or much smaller... just an estimate. If it ends up being some 500 registered before me, I might just get some sleep instead. Aimless ramblings as I try to put my thoughts together; I though I would get some opinions on this form of tournament. Almost all forms of tournament strategy (money management, bubble) and all that are gone - its all or nothing. How do you play this kind of tournament? My normal strategy is probably broken down into phases of the tournament - early, middle and late - with the concept that early risks are foolish, while middle risks are needed for survival, and late risks are for increasing the value (generally this is after you are in the money) of your holdings. In this case, there are two fazes: In sight of the goal, and out of sight of the goal. If you are in competition for making the final table, you simply play to make it there. If you aren't, you are looking to make sure you find a way to get there. Early, or late, the goal remains the same. The strategy will change as blinds vs chips changes, as your stack changes, but your entire focus is on whether or not you can make it to the final table. Not suggesting you fold AA or play 72, but being willing to back down or risk all your chips when you otherwise wouldn't, may be more critical. How much different do people play when there is only one place? I would think that there are two schools of thought - hyper aggressive to place as high as possible early (or go home early), and hyper tight to survive until you get your hand (or go home without a hand). As a freeroll, you are going to have some really bad players - but as a large payout for 1st and a freeroll, you are going to have all the good players flocking too. This will make for a really different environment My friend is thinking that hyper-aggressive makes sense. Keep pushing those chips in with any hand that you have any edge on, and sometimes not. I don't really agree - I have seen this work before and his tournament record says its a good concept, but instinct tells me its a sure way to go home early. I think its because of the 'minority' theory - if everyone is doing this, its ineffective. And I think the majority of good players will attempt this, and the bad players will actually manage to live fairly long because they won't be eliminating each other. They will be the ones with below average stacks, passively waiting as the aggressive players power ahead... and get eliminated. Those that are aggressive will thin out and begin taking out the smaller players, most likely making the final table. The question is - how do you become one of those that don't fall into either category. I'll probably use the same strategy that has served me well - it places me in the money all the time, but normally not that high. It tends to be more passive and tight until later in the tournament, only really being aggressive when my hand is made. I'm thinking that instead of carrying that strategy to the end, I'll flip to aggressive somewhere around 20-25% (assuming I make it there), and gamble until I either am in contention, or heading to bed. This basically translates to: Play the hands that win early, back down when you aren't ahead, and try to drag as much money towards you as possible but not at the cost of getting thrown out. In the middle, play much the same strategy, but add the small stacks and blind effects to your arsenal. Late (but not final), drag people all in, wherever possible - your goal is not to survive, but to be dominant. And final table - just play it like a shootout SNG. But that's all random thoughts - experience is far more telling. Any advice from those with experience in these kinds of tournaments? | ||
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| Re: Pokerstars World Cup Qualifiers, pt_Gatsby, 21. Oct 2003 12:08 | ||
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| A note: 230 have registered already - so looking tougher than I originally thought! | ||
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