Changing gears in a tournament

[spiderman637]

I'm sitting here playing a 5000 guy 6max tournament on pokerstars. I haven't played very many large man tournaments before, and came up with a bit of a question while playing this one. Everyone says you have to switch gears for the different stages of a tournament. I was wondering if this was not so much a direct result of where you are in the tournament or just the fact that you have played a few hundred hands with the people you are playing with and know a good bit more about how they play. I could be way of but was just curious...

[freeringo]

Switching gears to me is all about the blind levels and cashing.
I have 3 different styles which I use during the first 3 hours of each tourney. There are more experienced players than I, so I will leave the rest up to them.

[ferrengi]

I don't think you really have to switch gears in a tournament, just that it is usually a good idea. If you're at the same table with for a long period of time, people might start to notice patterns in your betting or other trends (tight, aggressive, etc). This applies especially to a 6 man tourney where people will be watching you more closely.
However, if there are 5000 people in this tourney, it is probably a micro-limit so I don't think it is necessary to make any adjustments or change gears. The vast majority of your opponents are not paying attention to what you are doing and are only playing based on what cards they are holding. So, if your strategy is working well, I wouldn't worry about having to change gears.

[ffcowboy76]

I will generally change gears as I spend more and more time at a table. If I have been raising only good cards, I will start to slowly work in different (weaker cards) into the mix. After a while I will start raising hands I wouldn't and limping or min raising strong hands. Alot of how I play depends on the play I get back at me. If I'm at a super tight table I will start to raise more and more hands, knowing if I get a call and big cards come I'm WAY behind. If the table is looser I will start to limp/min raise stronger cards knowing I should get a raise behind me. This will allow me to reraise and isolate the raiser.

I don't have a specific period in a tournament where I change gears, rather it depends on the dynamics of the table.

[freeringo]

I will generally change gears as I spend more and more time at a table. If I have been raising only good cards, I will start to slowly work in different (weaker cards) into the mix. After a while I will start raising hands I wouldn't and limping or min raising strong hands. Alot of how I play depends on the play I get back at me. If I'm at a super tight table I will start to raise more and more hands, knowing if I get a call and big cards come I'm WAY behind. If the table is looser I will start to limp/min raise stronger cards knowing I should get a raise behind me. This will allow me to reraise and isolate the raiser.

I don't have a specific period in a tournament where I change gears, rather it depends on the dynamics of the table.

That's what I wanted to say.

[stevenmick12]

i dont really think u have to switch gears..but u just have to know that there are gonna be alot more people that u have to beat out and that u just need to take your time when playing in such a big tournament...and wait for the right hands to do so with...hopefully this tip helps u..good luck!!!