First Tournament

[firemedic67]

Hello all,
Just joined the boards and having read several of Sklansky's books I look forward to some fun, educational times.

This coming weekend I am in my first tournament, probably over 100 people. This tourny is a fund-raiser and for a good time filled with all levels of competition.
Here's the rub. My only 'tournaments' are with the same guys at the firehouse where I usually finish second...after several hours my rump is killing me on the hard plastic chairs and I just want the game over.

Is there something I should be looking for, or a certain style of player I should keep my nose on?

Thank you,
Eric

[firemedic67]

re the above, it is a Hold 'em tourny...


E.

[niugnep]

Well... that really depends on the tournament you've entered. I understand it's a fundraiser, but is this a fun tournament? Or a tournament at a casino?

You're not going to have much choice about what table your sitting at... so, picking out a few players that you want to be gunning for is really luck of the draw... at your table, you'll probably want to figure out the maniac who is in EVERY pot. If it's a "fun" tournament, there will probably be several. This is a good person to gun for with big hands...

Other than that... bring your own cushion... it's likely to be a full day.

-David

[firemedic67]

It is not at a casino and they will have free alochol, so I am looking forward to some wild players and it is going to be fun, but I also know there are going to be some Very Good players which I really would like to be cautious of...

[Tjorriemorrie]

cushion, lol

ahem, what is your goal? to make as much money as possible and win the tournament? then all i can say is to play each opponent's weakness. good players can be loose/tight and loose/aggressive, so i don't think looking for a specific type of player is the answer. rather watch out for the players that is good and be more cautious of them.

then play the rest as you get in a pot with them. try to bet big with weak-tight opponents to make them fold and play more tight against loose ones (but don't be afraid to call them down either).

I hope my advice isn't too far off [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[DGenR8]

For what it's worth:

*Avoid marginal situations during the cheap levels

*Steal the blinds to stay alive once the big blind reaches about 15% of the starting stack (about once every round and a half will do)

*AVOID dominated aces (e.g. for simplicity, anything below AK unless you're very short-stacked)

*When you're down to no more than ten big blinds, open push if it's folded to you no matter what your cards are

*Adapt to your table (if it's tight, bluff liberally in position); if it's loose, play tight but VERY aggressively when you pick up a hand

*DON'T try to bluff bad players or calling stations

[doublerc33]

Just make sure you play "Squeaky Tight" in the first part of the tournament to stay clear of anybody playing real loose, looking to get some quick chips. Check out the Multi-table threads here on 2+2:

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/po...mp;Board=tourn