MTT Strategy

[Sentinel]

When in an MTT, I look to play good hand as in position and I don't panic about folding, folding, folding, folding. My typical hands seen ratio is 12 - 14% and somewhere along the line, I get a good hand that I make strong inroads with, usually a double up.

This tactic I have used and FT 2 of the past 7 MTTs. I also cashed in 2 more. One time I was down to 2 big blinds, trying to get a money finish, before I picked up and hit the FT for a 4th place finish. Naturally, I dont recommend that as a paln of attack! The point I am making is that I don't panic about losing my blinds if the conditions aren't in my favour to make a move.

However, the 3 MTTS since, I have become card dead midway through. At first, like with my previosu cashes, I didn't panic and was willing to wait for either good cards or a chance to steal. Neither came. Then as the blinds increased, I was less comfortable with chunking out any of my stack for fear of losing the hand and dropping further down the chip ladder.

Now, I am aware of the fear element being a hinderence but my overall MTT tactic is right, isn't it?

If not, please explain and if so, any advice for when the cold run doesn't end?

[tame_deuces]

You can have so long dryspells in MTTs even if you do everything right that you should be vary of 'changing your game' just because 5-6 MTTs doesn't go your way. Sometimes you just run cold. You could even make a bad adjustment to your game, happen to do well in a couple of MTTs and think it was a good one. That's poker.

[LeeG]

I had a real bad run of cards in July, although I managed several good finishes. If I hadn't played a hand in a few rotations, I'd raise in LP with just about ATC. You can't always just wait for the cards, sometimes you have to just make up a good story and hope people believe it.

[Felting]

I play much the same way as sentinel. Prior to that I played the much more common LAG style and pretty much sucked at it. Now I've made at least one FT 3 months running and I'm looking good for my third profitable month in a row.

You will have runs playing MTT's, that's just the way it is. I just went 15 tourney's in a row w/o a cash followed by cashing 3 of my last 4 including a final table.

[lwestatbus]

I am relatively new to NL Tournaments but have made it deep enough times, and am doing well enough at SnGs, to be comfortable with what I am doing. And I do what you do.

The main reason I'm responding to your post, though, is to sympathize with you on being card dead. I like to think I play a pretty disciplined game but there is a difference between discipline and an unending succession of crappola. Even worse is those hands when you've got great "let's see a flop in late position" or even "I can raise with these if I'm first to act" cards after a long dead period and someone raises in front of you and forces you to muck them.

Nice post and good luck.