Small Tourney results w/ questions (long)

I play poker in the Chicago-area where the Rockford tournaments are generally the only tournaments in town. The structure is as follows:


The tournament is a $110 buy-in (T1500) and $55 rebuys (T1500) for the first 4 levels. At the end of the first 4 levels, there is an optional add-on $55 (T4000). The levels are 15 minutes in length. The first five levels are LHE and the remainder is NLHE. They pay four or five spots depending on # of entries. The blinds are as follows:


1) 25-50

2) 50-100

3) 100-200

4) 200-400

5) 400-800

6) 500-1000

7) 1000-2000

/images/glasses.gif 2000-4000

9) 5000-10000


Yes, it jumps from 2000-4000 to 5000-10000. Crapshoot time!! At this level, the blinds freeze until a winner or deal is decided. At the final table there is generally only 240K - 280K in play.


I have made it to the final table 8 out of the last 9 tries and made the money 4 times (w/ one "chop/win"). On all occasions except for one, I was one of the shorter stacks when we drew for final table seats. Anyway, here are my questions.


Am I not playing aggressive enough towards the end? What factors should I consider towards the end? I'd like to be able to arrive at the final table as one of the big stacks but it seems that I am barely surviving to get there.


Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!


Thanks,

Steve (Dru)

I have played in this tournament about 3 times, making the final table once. It seems to me that the blinds go up too fast compared to the amount of chips issued. If you are not a big chip leader then it seems you are always at risk of being blinded out within a few rounds, especially near the end. In this tournament I try to see the final table and make a strong all-in move at some point, unless you can coast into the money with a large stack.


It would be nice if there were other tournament choices in the Chicagoland area besides the Rockford games.

I have played in this tournament several times as well. If you want to win the tournament, you are probably going to have to give up some consistency. In order to gain the big stack, you have to risk being busted out more often. The only tournament I ever won, I made several risky plays, got lucky at the right times ands was the chip leader at the final table. (This was a limit tournament).


Become more aggressive pre-flop, but be ready to put on the breaks and save some chips when you know you are beat.