On the Tourney Journey
Played in the “Saturdays with Pauly” PLO tournament last weekend and had a good time. Saw Poker Kat there, among other familiar names/avatars. I ended up finishing 10th, a few spots shy of the money. (Wrote about it Monday over on Hard-Boiled.) Looking like I might be able to try again this Saturday. Let me invite others to join in the fun (see the ad below for details & password).
Unlike nine-tenths of those who play online (it seems), I ain’t a big tourney devotee. There are a variety of reasons why I prefer cash games — the primary one being I usually haven’t the time to give to the long MTTs or even an SNG of uncertain length. So when I do play ’em it is usually a somewhat momentous occasion. To give you an idea, including last Saturday I think I’ve only played in four tourneys online all year, only one of which featured more than 50 entrants.
Granted I’ve got a limited sample from which to start talking about “trends” in my tourney play, but I have noticed a pattern of sorts emerging over the last few months in the relatively few tourneys I do play. Many times I find myself doing well early, sometimes even sitting among the chip leaders early on or even into the middle stages of play. Then somewhere along the way my stack begins to ebb away and I find myself near the back of the pack as we get within shouting distance of the money bubble.
I’m not bubbling these tourneys, per se, but often bouncing out right around the same place relative to the money — usually half the players left when I go out get paid. For example, if the tourney pays 10 spots, I’m hitting the rail around 20th place. Or last Saturday, when the tourney paid five places and I finished 10th.
While I do often gravitate toward a tight style in tourneys — tighter than my cash game play, anyway — I know I’m not that huge of a nit. (Usually, anyhow.) Meaning I don’t necessarily have to keep catching cards to get to my usual respectable-but-non-cashing finish. Still, I seem always to find the tank running low at right around the same stage in my tourney journeys.
Anyone have any handy tips for refueling once that final table starts to come in view?
Here’s that there aforementioned info:
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I should be playing again this week. Played last week and busted somewhere in the mid 20’s I think. Hopefully can do better this week. See ya SSS!!!!