An Unfortunate Asymmetry

[Fletch46]

I experienced this first hand recently. My friend and I were in a tournament and we play at about the same level. At the dinner break we had exactly the same number of chips. Neither of us was getting cards but right after the break my friend's table broke and he was moved to a very active table that had had lots of turnover. When he got cards he won big pots. On the other hand, I played with mostly the same players all day so when I won, the pots were much smaller and it was hard to get ahead. Thanks for the advice on how to deal with this situation.

[DesertCat]

[ QUOTE ]
"Newsflash : getting a good table draw is a big part of the luck needed to win tournaments!"

Yes, but my point is that part of the luck of the draw is related to whether your table will be broken up that day. If it is you are better off even if the table you move to has equally skilled opponents.

[/ QUOTE ]

David, if your table draw was bad, why didn't you ask for a table change? As a WSOP poker coach, I've advised many of my students that your FIRST task of day one is to evaluate your table, and if it's bad, ask the TD for a table change. You have to do this quickly before the list fills up. I'm surprised that most of you "alleged" pros don't pursue this basic strategy.

My students who follow this strategy also benefit by standing out in a crowd, i.e they are instantly recognised by the TD as special people, deserving special attention, which pays off in the long run.

[uclabruinz]

1. You have no control over your table draw or being moved, so why worry so much about it?
2. There is no prize for most chips after the first day.
3. It's more important to know what your image is then to try to create or manufacture it (which is not to say that isn't important either).
4. Accumulation in the middle stages (depending on table) may be easier then early on, and presents a second opportunity if the early opportunities didn't present themselves or work out.

I think worrying about table draw and things like that which are out of our control can tend to put players in the wrong frame of mind, or make them press situations that don't really need to be pressed. I should clarify that this is more directed at lesser players like myself that already have enough to worry about without getting caught up in the luck of the table draw.

[Buzz-cp]

Mr. Sklansky,

Tell us about when you owned Hyde (i.e. Danny Masterson).

Buzz

[nineinchal]

Hi David,

Nice essay.

WHY AREN'T YOU REPRESENTING TWO PLUS TWO AND ALL OF US IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP?

nineinch

[shaniac]

[ QUOTE ]
1. You have no control over your table draw or being moved, so why worry so much about it?
2. There is no prize for most chips after the first day.
3. It's more important to know what your image is then to try to create or manufacture it (which is not to say that isn't important either).
4. Accumulation in the middle stages (depending on table) may be easier then early on, and presents a second opportunity if the early opportunities didn't present themselves or work out.

I think worrying about table draw and things like that which are out of our control can tend to put players in the wrong frame of mind, or make them press situations that don't really need to be pressed. I should clarify that this is more directed at lesser players like myself that already have enough to worry about without getting caught up in the luck of the table draw.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really good post.

[mornelth]

When I hit a table like this REBUY - I just start raising and going all-in for no apparent reason until the table loosens up. I'm not sure what the WSOP ME equivalent of this is....

[mornelth]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Also, it hurts rocks way more than loose players to switch tables since image built up goes back to scratch at the new table (if you aren't known from TV)


[/ QUOTE ]

The exact opposite is generally correct.

[/ QUOTE ]


yea, you have to build a loose image, tight is the default.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd venture to say that building a loose image is a lot easier than the tight one. Takes people a LOT LESS to notice taht you'er in every other pot and raising, then for them to notice that you haven't played a pot in an hour (and it takes at least an hour).

[Jimbo]

Isn't this the akin to standing in the slow line at the grocery store? It's not like one chooses to be in the slow line or enjoys being there, you just have to deal with it.

Naturally it is better to have more chips on day two than other people, I think we all understand that. I would think the EV from being assured of making it to day 2 either outweighs or at least offsets the lower chipstack. Now this may not apply if your only goal is to win the tournamant but I've never seen anyone win if they didn't make it to day 2 (since there have been day 2's).

Jimbo

[Shroomy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"Newsflash : getting a good table draw is a big part of the luck needed to win tournaments!"

Yes, but my point is that part of the luck of the draw is related to whether your table will be broken up that day. If it is you are better off even if the table you move to has equally skilled opponents.

[/ QUOTE ]

David, if your table draw was bad, why didn't you ask for a table change? As a WSOP poker coach, I've advised many of my students that your FIRST task of day one is to evaluate your table, and if it's bad, ask the TD for a table change. You have to do this quickly before the list fills up. I'm surprised that most of you "alleged" pros don't pursue this basic strategy.

My students who follow this strategy also benefit by standing out in a crowd, i.e they are instantly recognised by the TD as special people, deserving special attention, which pays off in the long run.

[/ QUOTE ]

lmao ... "alleged" pros ... get recognised ... said to DS
oh [censored].. I better breath.

but thanks for the giggles