[SGspecial]

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I think I have the most trouble in the first and last hours of a trny. This hand, which I included the results for, is an example of when I don't know what the optimal play is. A few hands into one of these, it becomes obvious that some are going to play really bad starting hands. One guy played QK2 later on. In a cash game, I think you just stay tight, but in these trnys, I watch these guys go out and give away their chips to my opponents while I wait for decent hands.

I was sorely tempted to call here. I am wondering if there is some specific early, loose mtt strategy for starting hands where you know you will get multiple limpers, many of whom will play any wheel card in the door? The $10 trny plays very differently.

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Funny you should ask this today prax since I've just had my first instructional razz video released by Stoxpoker this week, and I deal with this exact question. Even better, Stox has been posting free previews for new videos in the Stoxpoker forum so you guys can go check out the first 3 minutes over there.

I completely agree with your concern that by playing tight in the early stages of a tourney you miss out on the chance to collect chips from the players who have no idea how to play, and even worse your opponents who are lucky enough to catch hands early will build much bigger stacks than you. That's why I recommend a "fish 'n chips" strategy in the first 2 levels of a tourney so you can separate the "fish" from their chips while they still have some! The hand you post is good example of where to use it, where you can limp in to close the action with a "two card" hand realizing that your opponents probably don't have premium hole cards and may start giving away chips later in the hand. The beauty is this technique works in tourneys from the $1 buy-in, to an FTOPS satellite, to the WSOP.