I need help...

[berz]

Hello!

I've been playing poker for a year soon. I started with reading hpfap and this forum, and later read most of the twoplustwo books on fixed limit holdem, and became quite good. Been playing professionally for the last 4 months, mostly 5-10 and 10-20 fixed limit shorthanded on a party skin, and doing really well.

A few days ago, the manager of my party skin called me, telling me since I was one of their costumers who paid the most in rake, I was one of six invited to a live tournament, where the winner gets a paid entry + travel to the next wsop. The tournament will be held this saturday.

This is an amazing opportunity for me, but I have a few problems. I never played tournaments (except for a few sng:s). Neither have I played live poker. But maybe most importantly, I havn't played much NL.

The tournament will start with fixed limit, since they don't want anyone to get out quickly. This is good news for me. I believe fixed limit tournaments with deep stacks is almost exactly like normal fixed limit. Right?

Later on the tournament will become NL. I have no idea what I should do here to maximize my winning chances. Being such an inexperienced tournament and no limit player as I am, what do you think would be the best approach? I'm thinking of maybe trying to implement "The System" from tpfap.

Also I'm really nervous for this whole thing. They told me there might be some coverage from television. The tournament will be held on one of the largest night clubs in Sweden, and lots of celebrities will be there watching. How do you experienced live tournaments handle the stress?

Well lots of questions and so little time to prepare... I would greatly appreciate any help of what I need to focus on. Also links to forum threads to read or anything else that could be of help.

Without the 2+2 forums I wouldn't have had this chance. I love you all /images/graemlins/heart.gif /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thx!

regards
berz

[Bigwig]

I won't lie to you--you're in trouble when it gets to NL. If you have enough time, I would seriously read every bit of this forum and the MTT forum that you can. Limit and NL are fantastically different. You going to be folding hands preflop that you'd two or three bet with in limit. Plus, tourney's have a whole subset of strategy.

Devour those forums, and then practice. Even if it's $10 MTT, and STT. It can only help.

As far as playing live goes, don't worry about it. Just learn the basics before you go. Learn to shuffle chips so you look like you've been to a casino before. Don't splash the pot. Announce your raise out loud. Guard your cards. Don't expose them when you muck. Don't do a lot of overacting.

[BillyKGB]

First of all: Grattis, mannen! /images/graemlins/smile.gif
(Congrats, man)

I can really understand what a big upportunity this must be for you!
What online poker room was it? /images/graemlins/wink.gif

I dont have any real pro tips, but my tip would be to get
your ass down to the local casino and/or contact some of
the poker clubs around town..
As you prob. know, experience is muy importante!

Lycka till!
(Good luck!)

[berz]

Thx, mannen /images/graemlins/smile.gif
It was multipoker who gave me this wonderful opportunity. Plz play more on multipoker everyone! /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[1C5]

Buy Harrington on Hold em and read it quickly also.

[Mez]

Are there only 6 people in the tourney? If so, start playing SNGs immediately. You can even play 6 handed ones on UB and Stars. I think you'll need to focus on shorthanded and HU play.

I wonder if the other 5 people mostly play high cash game limit as well. They're mostly likely NOT tournament players if they pay a lot of rake.

[adanthar]

It's winner takes all and you're not the most skilled player there, so the prescription is to take anything you perceive to be a coinflip. Try to be on the right side of each one, obviously, but don't be afraid to push hands like 99-77/AQ-AJ if the situation calls for it.

In the meantime, search for all mentions of the Gap Concept (read TPFAP right now to get an idea of what it is).

[skipperbob]

1.)Buildup a big chip lead at Limit
2.)Post & Fold at NL until 3 players left
3.) Go allin at every opportunity
4.)Kiss ur butt goodbye
5.) Learn simple Russian verbs /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[BillyKGB]

So berz.. done any drastic changes?
Playing SH SnG's sounds good too..

Can u give som more info about the tournament?
What club is it in?
What celebs are watching? /images/graemlins/smile.gif
What channel/time is it aired?

[berz]

Thx every one for the suggestions so far!

The club is cafe opera in Stockholm. Multipoker will have some kind of happening together with a Swedish mens magazine, so hopefully there will be some nice models there too, so I can combine business with pleasure /images/graemlins/wink.gif

They said something about Swedish channel 4 might do some coverage, not sure it's such breaking news that it actually gets aired.

Also there will be a screen outside, so the less privilegied people in the line can watch us play /images/graemlins/smile.gif

Thats about the info I recieved so far. Oh, I also know that one of the six players is one of Swedens best soccer pros ever. Not sure if he can play poker tough, but I guess I will find out.

[BillyKGB]

haha.. u got to concentrate on the game!

who is the soccer player?

gonna go anonymus, or do you wanna give out your name to the swedish audiance? /images/graemlins/wink.gif

certainly gonna watch it on TV!

[lacky]

ussualy when it starts limit then switches to NL, it does it when the blinds are so big that playing a hand basically puts u all in. Find out the exact structure and post back.

If it is as I said though, remember that if the blinds are 1/8 or more of you stack, any hand you play you want to go all in. Also, if any bet you were gonna make is half your stack or so, just push all in.

When it get's heads up the only deadly mistake u can make is folding too much, and thats is the classic beginner mistake. Pushing every hand is actually much better. Assuming the blinds are big by then (1/8 your stack ot more) try to push first in with your top 70% or so of hands. If u act second, push or call with your top 25% or so of hands. Lots of experience will let you adapt your play to the other player some, but the above gets you pretty close.

I'm having a good day, so I feel good enough to offer advice. Half the time I feel like an ass though, so if anyone contradicts this advice, listen carefully. This applies double is it's Zee, Dali, Irei or Eastbay. If his name is Gigabet, just do what he says and throw this away. Disreagared anything raptor says /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Good luck, bring shades so you look cool (make sure you can see your cards through them, it helps) and remember to have fun. It's costing nothing, so as long as you have fun you win.

Steve