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fade177
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12-01-2005, 06:42 PM
Post subject: Lessons from the Gauntlet III
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#1 (permalink)
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Straight
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 144
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This is my first season of the Gauntlet, and some of the most solid tournament poker I've played. I've now finished back to back 6th's, right on the friggin bubble in the two tourney's I have played. However, I've learned some lessons. I thought i'd list them and see if any of you have any lessons you learn from playing in the Gauntlet as well.
1) Do Not Call All-In's in Coinflip situations! This has cost me valuable chips in the midsection (The time before the final table and the blinds are becoming a significant portion of ur stack) of tourney's. Especially in the Gauntlet where half the field is not eliminated by the first break, losing valuable chips to short stacked players can make a huge difference in how you sit arriving at the final table. It is better to not push even slight edges for the sake of survival and finding better spots. Sklansky even says this in Tournament Poker for Advanced Players.
2) Blind defense is important. The value of protecting your blinds is important in such tight game. Steals are occuring often and it may be difficult to pick up on, but don't give your blinds away everytime. Throw a fight to open raisers once and a while and show that you can not just be taken from.
3) It can be a Bluff Fest. I've pulled several off myself, but the players in this format are quite adept at post flop play. Any sign of weakness and someone will cut your throat. Pick your spots wisely, and understand that there is a great deal of psychology going on at the table. "He overbet the pot. No one over bets the pot with the nuts! But what if he was thinking that I would think that and wants me to call with TPTK. Or...." The list of moves is endless. Bets that seem a little strange hold value, Pay attention!
I'm sure there are more, but I thought writing these out would help enforce them a bit more.
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Xianti
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Administrator
Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: facebook.com/xianti
Posts: 5,289
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This is a great topic!
It should be noted that (as you'd suggested), since the FTR Gauntlet generally represents the best of online tournament play, some of the strategies you would apply may be different from how you'd play in a typical MTT you'll find online.
{Moved from MTT Tactics}
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zarry
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Flush
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NY
Posts: 329
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These are some things i learned from my first gauntlet will be updated as i complete each one.
Lessons Learned For Playing in The Gauntlet
1) DO NOT CALL ALL-IN's ON COIN FLIPS!!! Fade said it perfectly. The players in this tournament are all quality and you can not risk half your stack on a coinflip situation, this isnt a little SnG that you are trying to double up and sit till the money. A better spot will always come along if you can just wait it out.
2) The blinds do not hurt as much as most people believe. The blinds are on 15 minute intervals and despite what many believe they dont hurt that much. The field is full of all solid players so there is a majority of the field remaning after the first break. This means that the tables will be more full therfore taking the blinds more time to hit you. Granted they may get somewhat high you are only being hit every 6-8 hands most of the tournament. So usually you can see a hand in there and either play and take down a nice pot or take some blinds to cover you for the next rotation. Dont get me wrong, Im not saying you shouldnt be weary of the blinds but just dont get too worked up over them.
3) This is a bluff fest. I myself made some very challangeing plays into some people at times with absolutely nothing and took down some pots. Although Midas made a nice play into me with 74o when i had aq suited preflop and I laid it down when i was low stacked... This is not one of those tournaments you step into and do something else as you are playing and expect to place well. You have to be attentive to everything every player does. This is really the biggest difference between those who place in the money and those who get forced to move on a mediocre hand because they lack the chips. Dont bluff at a pot unless you are posotive enough in your read on them that you have it, you will get re-raised in a second on these tables and then question your decision or even your hand strenth if you have a hand.
4) Dont talk shit. Its that simple, you get busted on a catch say gg and get over it its poker bad beats happen. Someone makes a bad play into you and they hit, too bad they thought they had you in there mind. Nothing is ever 100% except those occasional situations. Just be a gentlemen there will always be next time. All you do when you talk shit is make a jackass of yourself and make other players on these forums carry less respect for you.
5) Dont come into this not expecting to take first. This should be a given but many players say hey, i was suprised i got 7th. Well then thats why you got 7th. Come into this tournament with first place on your mind. Dont play for just the money because that will hinder your full play ability because you worry too much about not making it past the bubble. You dont have the attitude to take first place you wont PERIOD
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I am that fish...
currently broke as a joke...
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chardrian
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I rarely,if ever, get pms
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,524
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The one difference I have noticed is that you see a hell of a lot more hands per hour than you do in a normal tourney.
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midas06
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4-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NZ
Posts: 2,196
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by zarry
Although Midas made a nice play into me with 74o when i had aq suited preflop and I laid it down when i was low stacked...
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It was a good laydown. 74o never loses.
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LeFou
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4-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 2,361
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I was pretty proud of my blind defense in this last one. I don't think I gave any of 'em up.
midas sucks.
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a500lbgorilla
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JESUS TAKE THE KEYBOARD
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: This room is a good place to be
Posts: 8,379
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Quote:
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4) Talk nothing BUT shit.
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FYP
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Smithers, use the amnesia ray.
You mean the revolver, sir?
Precisely.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by a500lbgorilla
Quote:
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4) Talk nothing BUT shit.
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FYP |
I'm afraid I must agree.
Also: Bet funny amounts, eg. open for 123 and make a continuation bet of 456.
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zarry
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Flush
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NY
Posts: 329
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by dwarfman
Quote:
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Originally Posted by a500lbgorilla
Quote:
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4) Talk nothing BUT shit.
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FYP |
I'm afraid I must agree.
Also: Bet funny amounts, eg. open for 123 and make a continuation bet of 456. |
lol, when i see that happening i know its a solid hand and i must lay my quads down cause a bet like that is just astrinomical
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I am that fish...
currently broke as a joke...
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fade177
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Straight
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 144
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LeFou, My section on blind defense was because of you. Do you have any ideas on how someone can improve their blind defense?
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We are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world
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midas06
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4-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NZ
Posts: 2,196
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by LeFou
midas sucks.
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I agree.
Also, Zarry, I figured out the odds of our hand. I was a 95% favourite preflop.
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zarry
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Flush
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NY
Posts: 329
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damn that was a good lay down i had then i guess, wouldnt wanna go up apgainst those odds
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I am that fish...
currently broke as a joke...
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midas06
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4-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NZ
Posts: 2,196
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 You gotta know when you're behind...
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fade177
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Straight
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 144
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I think the next lesson I have learned in the Gauntlet is to be willing to accept some risk. I was watching the WPT last night after I got knocked out of the Gauntlet and noticed there was a lot more calling than in most tournaments I play. I believe this is because the blinds are rarely as significant percentage of one's stack as the blinds are when we get to the final table of the guantlet. Because everyone survives much longer and there are less players, no one has such a gigantic stack that they can afford to play any 2 cards. The reason I believe I need to be willing to accept more risk is to win more of those necessary chips needed for the final table. I have very rarely had to showdown so far, and wonder if I'm playing post-flop too aggressively on hands where I'm more than likely to be the favorite and not maximizing my return.
Also, this is just common knowledge, but it's been brought to my attention, don't bet hands where you wouldn't welcome a reraise. You can welcome a reraise when you have a very solid hand or when you have a piss poor hand. It's easy to call when you have the goods and fold when you don't. But when you only have a marginal hand, getting reraised puts you in a predicament. It becomes nearly impossible to trust you have the goods, and will probably be forced to fold wasting money on your bet. Thus, it is best to try to avoid situations where a reraise does not give you the information you are looking for.
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We are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world
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RotterSod
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3-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 107
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by midas06
Quote:
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Originally Posted by zarry
Although Midas made a nice play into me with 74o when i had aq suited preflop and I laid it down when i was low stacked...
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It was a good laydown. 74o never loses. |
 It did last night.
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fade177
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Straight
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 144
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I must admit that I did not listen to my own advice last night. I called an all-in in a coinflip situation. And of course I lost. It cost me dearly, crippling to next to nothing and 3 hands later I was out of the tourney.
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We are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world
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fade177
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Straight
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 144
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It's come to my attention that you simply cannot play other tournaments the way you play the Gauntlet. In the Gauntlet you have to out play ur opponent, it's more about outplaying than having the cards. In a normal tournament, you can't bluff the fish, you need to beat them with the right cards at the right time. Getting fancy can really work in the Guantlet, but can get you burned out in other tournaments....
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We are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world
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zarry
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Flush
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NY
Posts: 329
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fade brings up a good point and it is amazingly true. This tournament is like the tournament of champions. There are not many fish on ftr or at least anymore . So outplaying the other guy is the way to go because we are all quality players who all know what we are doing or at least most of us. So dont expect to just sit back and take down fish in this you are playing solid people so change ur game up a bit if ur use to a fishy tournament.
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I am that fish...
currently broke as a joke...
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RotterSod
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3-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 107
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by zarry
fade brings up a good point and it is amazingly true. This tournament is like the tournament of champions. There are not many fish on ftr or at least anymore . So outplaying the other guy is the way to go because we are all quality players who all know what we are doing or at least most of us. So dont expect to just sit back and take down fish in this you are playing solid people so change ur game up a bit if ur use to a fishy tournament. |
Agree. I got a couple of odd calls the other week when I was a new player where people maybe thought I was playing trash cards and were surprised to find out how far behind they really were. And in my 1st one I tried to pull a move but still got called and busted out early.
Tonight Xianti kept wondering why I was going over the top of him at the beginning but he had the game to lay off and fold - good moves because my hands were good (or not, maybe I'm lying). Most MTT's I'd have 2 or 3 people calling me there and when I bet after the flop I'd get one who just couldn't part with that K9o with a AQ8o flop. I guess I shouldn't complain though.
So far I've found the quality of the ftr players to be good overall. I've enjoyed myself immensely and even blew off a pretty good football party last Sunday to play (and I came in 2nd).
And of course every time I see Tracey's pic I can't stop drooling all over my keyboard. Unfortunately I think I've busted her out late twice in the last week so she's probably not talking to me.
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Berksmickey
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3-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 102
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by RotterSod
And of course every time I see Tracey's pic I can't stop drooling all over my keyboard.
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Amen to that brother......
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donkbee
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WELP
Join Date: May 2005
Location: so close but so far
Posts: 3,604
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I need to stop checking the turn so often.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fnord
Why poker fucks with our heads: it's the master that beats you for bringing in the paper, then gives you a milkbone for peeing on the carpet.
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Muxy
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4-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Canadian LOLUH'S AND AMERICAN LOLUHS
Posts: 1,529
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by courtiebee
I need to stop checking the turn so often.
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yup
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Miffed22001
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Straight Flush
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Marry Me Cheryl!!!
Posts: 8,181
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Raising 3bbs with A9hearts in ep and then getting an all in behind you for 15-20% your stack is a stone cold call always.
Isnt that right lambchop
:P 
:P
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Lukie
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4-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: back with a vengeance
Posts: 3,307
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Lukie calls all-in's from his big blind with king-eight s0000ted. Do not attempt to steal Lukie's blind.
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lolzzz_321
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NO YOU
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: My ice is polarized
Posts: 2,797
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Yes Lukie, pot odds > stack implications.
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Lukie
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4-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: back with a vengeance
Posts: 3,307
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Hey man.. I had a feeling.
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Miffed22001
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Straight Flush
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Marry Me Cheryl!!!
Posts: 8,181
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stealing miffy's blind is like pocking a crocodile in the eye with a stick
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midas06
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4-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NZ
Posts: 2,196
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Miffed22001
stealing miffy's blind is like pocking a crocodile in the eye with a stick
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Extremely easy.
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