How to get out of the micros MTT style
So, last time I gave this a whirl I labeled the thread incorrectly and most of the information was passed on and forgotten. This time it is labeled correctly and I am going to discuss only one way of building a BR and getting out of the micros even though the term micro is relative. I will be focusing on how to move past the $1-$5 level. This was not the way I did it but it is the way I would recommend in hindsight. You are going to learn a ton more and when you do face some more difficult decisions you will have prepared yourself to face most situations. Last note: This is hard work and will not come easy but if you put in the time you will have results! On with the show!
INTRODUCTION
When you first make an initial deposit the amount is usually in the $50-$100 range. Some people go crazy and do the full $600 right away for the bonus but to be honest. You’re not really going to be able to get the full bonus grinding small stakes. So I recommend buying in with the said range above and use it to learn as much as you can.
SNG's
This is where you need to start. If you wanted to buy in with $50 then this is the route I would HIGHLY recommend you go. If you are just starting out and brand new to the game. Put $50 on PS and play the smallest single table sit n go’s that you can. You should start out playing 1 table at a time and really take the time to learn the following (I won’t go too into detail because these topics are covered better elsewhere):
1) Ranges and how to put people on them. A range is simply the number of hands villain will make the exact same play with. Example: Villain raises pre-flop in early position. What hands would villain raise pre-flop with? AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, AK, AQ, AJ<-----range.
2) Find pokerstove and learn how to use it.
3) Get the program SnGWizard (google it) and when you are done playing a tourney. Export the hand history from poker stars and find the file. Load it up into SnGWIz and religiously analyze your play.
4) Use SnGWiz to figure out proper push/fold. I cannot stress the importance of this enough. When you finally get to the MTT stage and don’t need to grind SnG’s anymore. You will have to know this by second nature if you REALLY want to succeed.
5) Study villain betting patterns and what each raise size means. It’s going to make your MTT life 100 times easier if you know why someone is betting what they are.
6) Get the program Pokertracker or Holdem Manager. This way you can keep track of how you are playing. Either of these programs is infinitely useful and not one day goes by where I am not studying my game. On a side note, if you can’t afford either of these programs don’t worry. They aren’t completely needed as I started without either of them. But if you have the extra cash its VERY wise to grab them.
7) Learn how to fold! This is a HIGHLY undervalued skill set to have. The reason is because it can be profitable to make hard folds. You need to learn how to press the fold button. I’m not just talking about folding 72o. I mean sometimes it is profitable to fold AA pre-flop. Understand that your specific hand doesn’t really matter (hint: What does matter is your specific hand vs pot odds and villains range).
8) Learn pot odds. This tool alone is probably used more often than anything else. You need to learn how to make profitable calls and shoves. Learning pot odds will help you do these things.
9) Know how to play straight up and still make a profit. Tons of players run into fancy play syndrome at the smaller stakes and these usually hurt more than anything else. Play your hand and learn how to create bigger pots/smaller pots when needed.
I’m sure there are some things I left out but these are the most important things to focus on when first starting out. So, you have $50 online and you’re ready to go. How will you know what stakes to move up to?
Bankroll-----------Buy in Level
$50-----------------$1 SnGs
$100 ---------------$1-$3 SnGs
$200----------------$5 SnGs
$300-$400---------$10 SnGs
These are nothing more than learning levels. Do not get hung up on making money. Be in the game and really focus on learning how to play.
If you have made it to this point then there are tons of things you have learned. I’m sure you’re sitting there thinking how dumb it is that you don’t get to play any MTT’s! Once you hit the $100 mark you can play all tourneys $1 or less. I would recommend only playing them on the weekends however. Your main goal right now should be to learn the game and SnG’s will help you do that like no other. Whenever you want to buy in to an MTT take the amount it costs to buy in and multiply that number by 100. So if you want to play a $1 tourney, your bankroll needs to be $100. If you want to play a $2.20 tourney, you need to have $220 in your online account. This is a very good rule of thumb to keep you from going bust.
Ok, so now you’re at the $400 level and you’re sick of playing SnG’s. You’ve been playing over rolled for some time and want in on the action. Well good, because now you can be done playing SnG’s forever if you wish. There are 2 tourneys that are available to you with your new roll. They are the $4 180 mans and the $2 180 man turbos. The $4 will take about 4 hours to finish and the $2 will take about an hour and a half. The reason I recommend playing over rolled on SnGs is because if you really want to make money fast and move up in stakes. These two tourneys are going to be your cash crop and you need to know what you’re doing. If you have learned everything I have labeled above then you will be fine. Also, get comfortable at this level because you’re going to be here for a while (notice that you are now properly bankrolled for every micro tourney with a $400 bankroll).
NOTE: So you have played a few of the $2.2 turbo and the $4 regular 180 along with some other MTTs here and there on the weekend. I stress playing on the weekends and only playing the guaranteed tourneys (other than the 180’s) because the players will be worse on the weekends and the guaranteed tourneys will have a nicer pay out when you do go deep.
MULTI-TABLING
So now is the time you learn how to multi-table. Every good player that I know plays more than 1 table at a time. Reason being you get to play more hands and in turn gain more experience. I cannot stress enough how important it is to only add 1 table at a time when first starting out. For me, it went: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10 and I strongly recommend following the same pattern. Your brain has a tough time as it is remembering everything there is to know while playing. Now imagine how stressed it will become once you have to remember double, triple, quadruple what you had to when you first started out. Gradually increasing the number of tables properly exercises your brain while allowing it the proper amount of time to heal and adapt. Remember, your brain is just a body part and can be over worked like any other.
NOTE: There is no shame in removing a table if it gets to be too difficult. I had to move back tables and stakes a number of times before I was finally able to stay where I was at and move forward. Remove your ego and remember that you are now playing for money. However you make that happen is what you need to do. No one but you will know:-).
CONCLUSION
Once you’re able to play 8 tables at a time and you have a bankroll of $1500 you can move on and play the $7/$12 turbo (180) and $11 (regular speed) 180 man freeze out (You don’t have to be able to play this many tables to move on. I just recommend it because it will help you more as you move up in stakes). Keep in mind that once you’re past the multi-tabling phase you really have to keep good BR management to stay in the game.
For regular speed tourney: Take the buy in and multiply it by 100 to get what BR you need to play. So an $11 MTT would require an $1100 bankroll.
For turbo tourney: divide the buy in by 2 and then add that to the buy in then multiply it by 100. So a $12 turbo would require; $12/2=$6, $12+$6=$18, $18x100= $1800 bankroll.
NOTE: If you fall below a certain tourney buy in requirement. Don’t play that tourney until you win back enough for proper bankroll needs. You have to be comfortable with the idea of dropping down because it does happen and the best players take it with stride.
Once you hit this phase you should have an idea of what grinding feels like. You should know proper push fold methods and putting villains on ranges should be becoming clearer. Never be afraid to make mistakes and always be aware that you are following proper bankroll management. If you ever have questions make sure to post them as that’s why we are all hear, to learn. Thanks for reading.
