Help! I can't crack MTTs!

#1 08-31-2005, 12:32 PM

First, lets make clear that my money game is $200 NL 6-Max. I play $10-$20 MTTs to blow off some steam or help keep me focused at a ring game. I think they're fun and often much more exciting than ring games. But the fact is, I'm just not beating them. I mean, I've placed in the money a few times(out of about 40) but those were right on the bubble, making maybe 1.5 times the buy in.

A typical bust hand happened to me last night. I'm about halfway through a 200 person tourney and get dealt A9o on the button. Folds to me, I raise 2.5 times the blinds hoping to steal and get a call from the big blind. Flop comes AJ7. Not bad. I check, he bets min, I call. Turn comes 9.(suits unimportant) I bet, he raises, I call. Rag on the river, he puts me all in, I'm pot committed, I call and lose to AJ.

Of course its not a bad beat, I was behind in the hand the whole time, but it just seems kind of unlucky. Without the 9 on the turn I would have had no problem laying it down. This seems to happen often.

I'm looking for any advice. I've been trying to play more and conservative and just look for the places to double up or add big to my stack. It got me close to the bubble the other night but then I went bust on QQ(to AK. Again, unlucky). If anyone has any great advice, I sure would appreciate it, particularly if you think my ring game play is negatively affecting my tournament play.

nightlyraver · #2 08-31-2005, 12:37 PM

Ring game play is very very different from tourney play when you get to the point where the blinds and antes equall a significant portion of your stack. At this point, the "inflection point", your play must change. I feel that your ring game play is preventing you from adapting. This is not the time to play conservative poker. If you have not done so, read Harrington on Hold'em II

DemonDeac · #3 08-31-2005, 12:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
If you have not done so, read Harrington on Hold'em II

[/ QUOTE ]

read volume I first, but both are fantastic for ur tourney game

augie00 · #4 08-31-2005, 12:41 PM

Here is Augie's Advice to Winning MTT's (AAtWMTT)

Play your stack according to the blinds
Get lucky a lot

That is all the advice you'll ever need to win MTTs. Now in the future, please spare us these glorified bad beat stories.

burningyen · #5 08-31-2005, 12:50 PM

The advice in this thread is good. Also, playing out of turn from the button is probably a significant leak.

augie00 · #6 08-31-2005, 12:52 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The advice in this thread is good. Also, playing out of turn from the button is probably a significant leak.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol. I was going to leave in my comment how badly he played the hand he gave as an example to his crap play, but I didn't even notice that the action is completley wrong.

DemonDeac · #7 08-31-2005, 12:54 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Also, playing out of turn from the button is probably a significant leak.

[/ QUOTE ]

nh. i was thinking that myself

JJJ88 · #8 08-31-2005, 05:45 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Playing out of turn from the button is probably a significant leak.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess OP made a typo or wrong memory.

DemonDeac · #9 08-31-2005, 05:47 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Playing out of turn from the button is probably a significant leak.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess OP made a typo or wrong memory.

[/ QUOTE ]

obviously. we're just bustin his balls