Are you a Racer to the top of leader-board or a Closer for the finish in Replay MTT’s ?
Do you prefer getting to the top of leader-board quickly and holding the lead or just hanging in the tourney, as a closer for the top of leader-board, near the end of a tournament and why?
Nice question!
It is always great to get the luck and the cards early on, but I find if that happens I seem to be sliding down when the blinds get big and the hands dry up.
Lately I have tried to be much more patient and to wait until a few others crash and burn, but I find mostly it is a feeling for the board and the cards at the time. Each tournament is different and I cannot personally say which method pays off!
Be interesting to see the other comments!
Agree, for me even if on top with huge chip lead, very difficult to maintain that chip amount lead, due to blinds going up plus, I believe being at the top makes me too conservative with the bets. I do see players being successful, being at the top and look forward to see other’s comments as well.
I kind of believe that if you win at the biginning you will lose in the end. I suppose I might get more conservative with a big stack at the start, thinking that I can make it last, but it depends on the other players. I do know that when I get switched to another table I don’t assume my luck will carry as so many others do.
I play a wide range in the biginning while the blinds are small, dropping out after the flop if it doesn’t suit, but obviously I focus more on getting to the finish - that being the point of it all:)
Every hand, tourney, etc. is a new experience. Getting an early lead is great, but that usually doesn’t really matter much. First off, I want to make it to the break, hopefully in half decent shape. After the break is when I’m really looking to work my way up, and that’s when the betting gets a little more serious. By then, most the fish are gone, so you need to stay focused. I don’t play low end tourney’s, the play is so awful I just can’t take it. So, guess you might say I’m a closer, but I’ll race with anyone if I believe it’ll pay off. I usually dislike getting premium hands early, want them later, early on you don’t get many chips or get beat and lose a bunch. It’s a funny game, hate it so much, but love it just the same, one must realize there’s a lot of luck, good or bad , involved all the time. Enjoy!
I won’t turn down chips if my opponent wants to give them to me early, but I don’t worry about my position until we close in on the bubble.
Has to depend on the cards. If you are in a tournament where you have 5,000 chips to start, you usually need to be at or over 8,000 chips at the end of the first hour. After that the blinds are higher, and you are going to have to tighten up.
To go for a large stack early on, you usually need to get all in against an opponent to take his whole stack. This can be done by calling an all in raise if you like your hand, or else by betting all in on the flop, possibly in pursuit of a straight or flush.
To my mind the risky strategy is less worthwhile, because I can usually reach my target by the end of the first hour by playing fairly tight. You only need to win one or two big pots in the first hour to remain at a competitive stack size, and usually you can achieve this by knocking out some of the weaker players who will bet the whole stack on top pair, small kicker on the flop.
Once you get into the second hour, luck is more important. You are going to need to knock out the small stacks. If you’re going to the second hour with a very big stack, then you can afford to take some losses.
Thanks everyone and looking forward to more comments. I wish I would have added a poll now to see the results later!!!
I must say, personally I have never been a racer to the top even in my earlier years in life for anything. I learned that first in my Nascar short track experience with the best of the Alabama Gang. I then learned if I’m not still in the race or here the game I can not win or even place. Closer forever for me 
race to the early top leaves only one way to go. be patince, stick to your game, and pray to the poker gods. be their at the end. any one agree with this game plan?
Play smart and you’ll make it to the money in MTTs
Not true. You can take the lead early, and thereafter you can increase your big fat stack!
Hi @Cleo999 , I definitely have seen folks do that, but not for me. GL at the tables
yes, after all, that should be the goal.
I shouldn’t say not for me, because I have taken a big lead and hung on for the win a few times. However, I also have lost many trying to hang on for the lead. Have to play the hands dealt as best as possible, but jumping out front and holding lead, just not in my game plan. GL at the tables!
Then what is your game plan. Getting in the lead and maintaining it is a true testament to skill
Yes it truly is, unfortunately for me I am on that skill level yet. But I sure am enjoying the ride to get there!!
Play your ranges. Don’t force things - in any stage of the tournament. That said, having a big stack is nice because it lets you widen your range and play more hands, putting more pressure on short stacks. That goes double for bounty tourneys.