Deep Stack Touney thoughts, do you agree?
These are 3 things I would like to pay more attention to when playing in a Deep or Double Stacked tournament (specially Deep Stacks with longer blind levels):
1) Position
Everybody always talks about the importance of position while playing poker, but when you are in a MTT with deep stacks, it becomes even more important. If you play tournaments online, you will often be in situations where the blinds are big realitive to the stack sizes, and it becomes a preflop game where you are taking most pots down preflop, but with deep stacks it is a different game, position will let you play more creatively, trapping and drawing with a wide variety of hands.
2) Bluffing becomes more difficult
When trying to bluff in a short stacked game you put alot of pressure on you opponents, because they have less room for error, and don't have as wide of a selection of starting hands. In deep stack MTT players have room to splash around into many pots, as their range for starting hands gets wider, and their implied odds get greater. They are not risking as big of a percentage of their stack to play those suited connectors or draw to the flush. So when bluffing or stealing blinds in a deep stacked game, do so carefully and have a good read on your opponents.
3) Building bigger pots
In a deep stack event most pots wont affect your stack greatly, so you need to build the pots up. That means betting out on the flop with good hands, trying to get your opponent's chips into the pot any chance you can. Four-betting is going to be an option when you have a large stack. People will be more willing to steal pots if their stacks have some room for error, so trust your reads. Semi-bluffing becomes more valuable and should be used more frequently. When making a semi-bluff you are giving yourself a chance to win the pot right there, and giving yourself the potential to win a bigger pot if you connect. (Like semi-bluffing draws)
4) Hand values change
When playing with deep stacks hand values decrease, expecially preflop. Your AJ has a good chance of winning the pot preflop with a raise if you are playing in a short stack game, but more people will be likely to call a raise with Q9 ect. if they have a larger stack. So now your AJ is most likely going to have to hit the flop to take down the pot. Although your AJ and A10 values decrease your suited connectors and small pocket pairs have greater values. The reason that suited connectors and pocket pairs have greater values is because if you hit the flop and have trips, flush, straights ect. you have the potential to win a larger number of chips. But be careful! Big stacks will call you down!
Anyone have any other tip worth using on deep stack tourneys?
I am planning on playing one of these at least once a week. The 30 min blinds make you be more patient :)
