MTT Strategy: First: Basics, Fundamentals

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Hi all. While I am waiting for the right MTT’s to play in. I’m going to do a MTT strategy series.

Going to start with the basics, fundamentals to lay the foundation for, into further strategies to come later, as if I skip the basics, and just go into more nonbasic strategy now, it might get some players into trouble.

The thing to remember about these things is that its in general, depends on situation, etc.

  1. Watch, observe everything opponents do like a hawk. Its hard to exploit mistakes, have the right GTO, etc, if dont know about them.

  2. Related to point 1 above, if you notice, and even if dont notice, if a TIGHT BUT NIT raises 4,4.5,5,5.5+ x bb, preflop, dont call with garbage.

  3. Related to point 2 above, there is a principle taught by Skalansky(poker pro author). Its called the GAP CONCEPT. Which is that you can Raise more loosely, widely then can call with. Example: If you are raising A7 suited, then you should not call a big NIT raise out of position with A6, and only call with A8 suited+, if the raise is not too big, and player not to big of a nit.

  4. Be patient, but not be too patient. Do not play absoloute garbarge. In later strategy I will cover what is garbage, what is not garbage, the EXCEPTIONS when, if ok to play garbage.

  5. POSITION. Position is EVERYTHING. Position relates to spots, seats at a poker table in relation to blinds. They are First to act, called UTG, (Under gun), UTG+1(Lo Jack, early position), Middle position(Hi Jack), Late Position(Cut off, button), then SB, BB(Blinds).

Hi Jack, Cut off, Button Position is EVERYTHING in MTT’s, just like cash games.

MONEY, MTT chips between some to semi lot of time FLOW to the LATER positions

With Position you can see what others do, before deciding what you do, which is, can be a BIG, STATISTICAL EDGE, ADVANTAGE, in MTT’s, just like in Cash games.

Next strategy topic, is going to cover things like basic GTO frequency hand range recommendations based on position, stack sizes, early, mid, late tourny, some general MTT strategy, kickerology, etc.

Please feel free to comment on, about this.

Thanks, hope this helps.

2 Likes
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Good post! I think the 3 most important things most beginners need to hear about MTTs are:

  1. don’t play too many hands and realize what “too many” looks like.

  2. punish limpers by 3betting pretty big when you have a good hand, and don’t limp very often (or ever, for starters!) yourself

  3. there will come a point when you have a good but not great hand and your opponent is putting pressure on you. try not to worry too much about losing–if you think there’s a good chance you have them beat, and there’s either a lot in the middle or you’ve already invested more than 1/2 your stack (or both), sometimes you just have to go for it. better to go out on your shield than die a slow death getting pushed off your hand by some random bluff or draw. beginners are often too leery in these spots and overfold, so just be mindful of that

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I agree and understand No.1 out of curiosity what would in your opinion be … to many hands? to give beginners a rough idea
No.2 I have been on both sides of that and find the more I limp the more your opponent wins 3Betting? is that 3 x pot size? For clarification
No.3 Understood but is that not the wonderful world of poker? The game that can make grown men cry that also makes heroes out of some?The game that can cause massive meltdowns the game that gets you infuriated at times but also the game that can teach you the meaning of patience! respect? (possibly) but also the game that gives your brain some well needed overtime in its thinking processors lol good post 2 u both

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Is your Reply, replying to Younguru or the thread, posted MTT strategy?

If its in reply to my, the Thread, topic, on, about MTT strategy, then:

  1. See my, the related MTT strategy thread, title, topic, about VPIP, See the flop, playable hand range recommendations, etc.

But garbage hands are hands like: 23 to A2 off, 34 to A3 off, 45 to A4 off, 65 off to Q7 suited or not, K7 suited or not, 22.

Any hands in that garbage range USUALLY should not be played, unless on Big Blind, and check, go to flop, and unless a exception, unless in the right late position, situation, etc.

  1. Limping is not mentioned by my MTT strategy advice here in this thread, altho it is mentioned in the other MTT strategy thread I mentioned.

Limping is something that should only be done occasionally IF play postflop good, IF have good pot odds, good implied odds, IF monster hand mining, IF, its a hand like a T9 suited, A8 suited, KT suited, KJ, QJ suited, 44,55,66 type of hands that can have great postflop playability, can flop monsters, can escape from, etc, IF have limpers in front, IF its specifically A9 suited, KJ suited, QJ suited, 44,55,66,77,88,99 thats limped under the gun, first to act, and IF when, if up against extremely loose, extremely aggresive players, that almost guaranteed to raise preflop, then limping QQ, KK, AA, AK suited in early position to trap the crazy players, and by doing that, balance limping range, so that not always just limping marginal hands.

  1. You lost me on your point 3, as your point 3, does not have anything to do with the MTT strategy I posted, etc.
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Ty very much