How do you keep it going til' the end?

[dlbauer]

Hey,

I have been playing quite a bit recently, and I have gotten good at pulling people in, and have them play their whole bank roll, knocking them out of the game. I've even been taking 2 or 3 people out in a single hand. But every time, I end up losing the game, when it becomes a showdown between me and the last guy.

My question is this:

How do I keep that rolling, as the blinds are raised, and others have more bankroll to fight back with. I usually have a good pile of chips, yet I always end up whittling them down, and get spanked in the end, because I suspect either A) I change my betting styles or B) something else I don't realize i'm doing.

If someone can give me advice on how to carry out the game all the way to end, it would be a great help. I want to know how to finish the game.

Normally, I play pretty tight through the beginning, but I can't say that is 100% true. I usually come out swinging in the beginning to get peoples chips into my pile, once I get established with a decent pile, I start to play tighter, only taking on the good pockets that I get dealt. Although, I must also mention that I usually bluff (in an obvious fashion) in the beggining, to let people get comfortable with the fact that I'm a loose player. That is what usually lets me knock them out, when I get a good hand dealt to me. I hope that is enough information to let you know how I play. Please feel free to ask me any other questions on my playing style, in order to help me finish a game strong.

Thanks for your help.

dave.

[Dave B]

Bluffing is much easier early. W/ blinds low, more players limp with poor hands and people are more likely to fold decent, but not powerful hands.

Later, as the blinds get bigger, people start to think about how many more hands they can see. If they are already in the pot w/ KJ and someone raise 2x the blind, they may call because they may not be able to wait for a better hand.

Also, bluffing is harder, but the payoff is much better. W/ 3 limpers, an all in bet can take down a pot preflop and net you 20-30% of your stack.


Heads up or very short handed play:
How many hands do you go into preflop when you are a 2:1 dog? Not many-so unless you are on life support, protect your big blind from a minimum raise.

Bet 1st if you think you can take down a pot. You J 8, he raise preflop, you call, flop 10 3 2. Bet. He likely has at least one face card and missed on the flop. Represent that you got a piece of it.
No real answers, just some stuff to consider.

If someone is betting after the flop each time, reraise them big 2 or 3 times their bet to see if they really have it. A preflop raise, followed by a bet gets expensive to keep doing if you come over the top 2 or 3 times.



You need to change your style thoughout a tourney. Others are, and you need to adapt as well.

[Alexz0r]

in sngs early on i like to play almost no hands at all. Most people will call with subpar hands. When a couple people get eliminated i play more aggresive bluffing and raising big with good hands. And when it gets into the money i play really aggresive raising everyhand i have an ok hand or better.

[Underbelly]

Very true. I watch a lot of people on line early one win a lot of bigs hands, mostly by luck. They stay in with hands they have no reason to stay in with and get a good flop or a great river. But there usually taking chips from player worse from them.

Finally as the blinds go up it catches up with them.

Early on in on-line tourneys I'll only play a hand if its really extraordinary early on because I know half my table will me betting crazy.

My advice is find yourself a good home game or start you r own. I started mine about a years ago and now we've got 40 players who play once a month and rotate house to play in.

[vegasholdem]

very good posts.