Tournament strategy - Early position

gosplan

Right so it's become obvious to me that the worst part of my tournament game is misplaying hands in early position.
I have a horrible habit of compensating for my poor position by over-raising and trying to limit the field. Then all of a sudden I'm pot committed and first to act with a medium hand on an ok flop.

I've a feeling that this is giving about as good implied odds to people behind me as possible.

Assume that you're in mid stages of a large tournament on an average stack with a mix of players at your table.

What's your course of action PF with the following hands when you're BB+1?
How does this change if you're the BB?

1010
JJ
AQ
AK

slegs

For me the action is not much different preflop on these hands..maybe you raise a little more earlier position than you would later. Its all about how many callers you get and the post flop play.

Postflop, depending on the flop obv, if you are out of position to 2 callers you may have to assume a weaker stance than you would in position because in position you have the knowledge of their flop play before your move.

LuckyLloyd

This post has been deleted.

ntlbell

It is far too general.

But me and AQ/JJ don't get on from the SB/BB and I play JJ alot from the blinds very cautiosly almost mostly for set value.

I'll fold AQo from the blinds on a tough table a lot.

Although not many people will belive me.

Hitman Actual

LuckyLloyd wrote:

When I am the BB I make the same raise with all four hands adding on an extra amount for each additional limper. If it is raised I might reraise depending on who re -raises me, whether that initial raise also has a caller and play from there with all and further decisions dependant on the texture of the flop, stack sizes, my table image etc, etc.

I don't think raising out of the blinds is standard with these hands, game-dependant of course. Although maybe it's a questions of styles as well.

Gosplan, post up some situations where you're having trouble, and include stack sizes, blinds, general standard of table, how the game is playing etc. The question is very hard to answer.

gosplan

Wlico,

Generally I only get the chance to play large tournaments on Sundays.

I'll save a few hands and post each week.

'Gosplans weekly tournament cry for help'

LuckyLloyd

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ntlbell

Phil Gordon I think it is has an interesting strat.

He always raises the same amount from EP/MP/LP regardless of his holdings.

so for example EP 3 X BB MP 4 X BB and LP 5 x BB

It's very hard to put you on a range of hands from your bet size and position here because it's always the same.

So when you're in Early to Middle positions you play small pots (which is good as you're out of position most of the time)

and in LP you play bigger pots and you mostly have position.

boba_fett3099

ntlbell wrote:

Phil Gordon I think it is has an interesting strat.

He always raises the same amount from EP/MP/LP regardless of his holdings.

so for example EP 3 X BB MP 4 X BB and LP 5 x BB

It's very hard to put you on a range of hands from your bet size and position here because it's always the same.

So when you're in Early to Middle positions you play small pots (which is good as you're out of position most of the time)

and in LP you play bigger pots and you mostly have position.

This is probably the best strategy for PF bet sizing and i will almost always make it 2.5-3 times the BB if i'm raising UTG for the simple reasons that you want to play the small pots OOP anh the big ones in position. Also most hands that your raising UTG are more likely to be able to withstand some action.

The_Chopper

ntlbell wrote:

Phil Gordon I think it is has an interesting strat.

He always raises the same amount from EP/MP/LP regardless of his holdings.

so for example EP 3 X BB MP 4 X BB and LP 5 x BB

It's very hard to put you on a range of hands from your bet size and position here because it's always the same.

So when you're in Early to Middle positions you play small pots (which is good as you're out of position most of the time)

and in LP you play bigger pots and you mostly have position.

Hey I like this strategy - tks

On a full handed table, middle stages I'll probably fold AQ under the gun. It's a terribly hard hand to play especially out of position.

From out of the BB I play differently depending on the hand and the action in front of me.
Generally though I'll rarely not reraise with AK out of the BB with normal action in front of me.