Has anyone tried Kill Phil in online tournaments?

HighStakesPro · #1 03-04-2006, 08:19 PM

I bought the book and played three $20+2 online tournaments. I busted out of the first one in the third level, but I got 17/180 in the second and 51/673 in the third. Has anyone else tried this strategy of mostly all-in-or-fold online, and with what results?

BigPoppa · #2 03-04-2006, 10:03 PM

They talked in the book about playing this in hundreds of online tourneys while testing it.

I think it has the best discussion I've seen about what hands to push and where, but I have no intention of using their overall strategy.

It seems much better adapted to SNGs than MTTs, BTW.

rockythecat99 · #3 03-04-2006, 10:05 PM

I hate kill phil strategy or as I like to put it the "I hate to put time and effort in being a good poker player so I will be a push monkey" strategy.

HighStakesPro · #4 03-04-2006, 10:25 PM

Why don't you play pot limit hold'em? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

HighStakesPro · #5 03-04-2006, 10:38 PM

And as far as putting time and effort into becoming a good poker player, that argument is totally bogus. Reading Kill Phil in its entirety and playing tournaments using their strategies (which range from Rookie to Basic to Basic Plus to Expert) isn't any different than readng, say, some book by Tom McEvoy about how to play No Limit Hold'em. You read the book, learn the strategy, and apply the formula in practice. Online tourneys don't involve visual tells or intricate psychological ploys (although seeing somebody move in all the time can be quite frustrating and annoying for someone like you). Online tournaments are basically the application of a successful poker formula combined with observations of your opponents' hand selection and betting patterns. Some of Kill Phil's advanced and expert startegies involve plays other than moving in preflop. It's not some raw, undeveloped hypothesis by Sklansky that's thrown into a general tournament book as an afterthought, but a detailed strategy guide that can be used in conjunction with other playing styles, like the ones found in Harrington on Hold'em. I would suggest that you read the book (available for 1000 FPPs on PokerStars) before insulting the people who employ its strategies. And if that isn't enough to convince you, think about this: which is more important; being a "good poker player" or a big winner in poker tournaments?

rockythecat99 · #6 03-04-2006, 10:59 PM

I bought the bought the book and read it. So don't assume that I am just talking to talk. The fact that you can't see people online doesn't mean that you can't learn to read a board or interpret your opponents betting. That book teaches you to push preflop and pray. That is not poker and even its authors say its not poker. YOu need to have EVERYTHING go perfect for you to win a huge tourney playing that way.

miketurner · #7 03-04-2006, 11:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
which is more important; being a "good poker player" or a big winner in poker tournaments?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don’t think those two are mutually exclusive. ...And I wouldn’t call your results "a big winner in poker tournaments" [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

rockythecat99 · #8 03-04-2006, 11:03 PM

what he said.

jonny quest · #9 03-04-2006, 11:16 PM

[ QUOTE ]
It's not some raw, undeveloped hypothesis by Sklansky that's thrown into a general tournament book as an afterthought, but a detailed strategy guide that can be used in conjunction with other playing styles, like the ones found in Harrington on Hold'em.

[/ QUOTE ]

In my judgment, some of the Kill Phil strategies are remarkably similar to Sklansky's NL "system" deatiled in TFPAP. Similarly, in Hoh vol2 a great many "when to push" scenarios are explored.

I add this not to disagree with the merits of Kill Phil, but rather to point out to those who often critique Sklansky's NL strategies as unproven afterthoughts used to update outdated Limit materials may fail to appreciate the timeless insights many of Sklansky's books contain.

For example, if one were to read TOP, master its content and excel in creating their own game-specific applications of the material, I believe he could crush any poker game through experience and without ever having to read another poker book again.

The trouble is TOP is dense theoretical material that begs the reader to use concepts to develop his own rules...and most people prefer how-to guides.

However the knowldege is obtained, most players can benefit from studying all of the books mentioned.

rockythecat99 · #10 03-04-2006, 11:22 PM

When to push in a tourney is definitely a skill. But the whole kill phill strategy is if you have aces the blinds are 25/50 push all in. Wtf is that? What happens all those times that you are card dead? And the you finally get aces when the blinds are 1/2k and your stack is 3k.

Read other books, read this forum learn to read a board. People need to stop trying to find a quick way to win at poker. Its a loooong process and that is why the same players keep winning over and over. Because they run through hands they played and how the betting went and how the board looked. Thats poker.