So I feel like my game has improved dramatically over the past little while but I've noticed one lingering problem. It's a small sample so maybe it's just that, but it's happened several times and seems to be one of the main things that has prevented me from deep runs. I also only play turbos so I'm sure that's a factor too.

The problem is I get off to a good start and build up a nice stack, say top 5, but as we approach the middle-bubble stage my stack stagnates and proceed to drop down the placement list. Sometimes I end up busting before the bubble, while others I end up with a min-cash.

Now I know the objective is to increase aggression and look to pick off small stacks but I find myself struggling to find those spots. In fact it's the presence of the shortstacks that often interferes with aggressive opportunities. Here are a few typical examples (assume I don't have any specific reads on opponents that would be helpful in these spots):

1) I have 50bb and I'm dealt T9s on the BTN. I think, "Great spot to open for a raise." Then a player shoves 11bb in early position and I have to toss my hand.

2) I have QJ in the CO and I'm ready to raise but there are two 10-15bb reshove stacks behind me, so I just fold my QJ.

3) I have AQ in the SB and a shortie opens in MP. I'm ready to pick him off but then a bigger stack iso 3-bets him from LP, so I toss my AQ.

Is this just typical stuff that makes it difficult to run deep in turbos or am I focused too much on chip preservation in some of these spots?

Does anyone have any specific tips or moves you like to make with a big stack to avoid this problem?

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Sure, I run into this problem often. You don't have as many BB's for post flop play like early stages and you don't have so few you need to be squeezing in less than desirable spots. I don't have any specific advice for you currently besides to keep in mind that blinds are larger so your stack doesn't seem as big as it once did and you are bound to fluctuate.

IMO.

1 - Fold

2. Fold.

3. Depends more on my stack size.

1. Open shove
2. Open shove
3. 4b/gii
Lets go!

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The more I think about it, the more I think the turbo element is a huge factor. Not only does it cause the tourney as a whole to progress much more quickly, but it creates more shortstacks in the middle stages than you'd see in a slower tourney. So you get a lot more shoving and a lot less standard raising and postflop play. Unfortunately I never have 10-12 hours to devote to a regular speed tourney.

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Umm, I'm not the shortstack in these spots...

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1) Standard

2) You could actually argue open shoving if the shorties are tight.

3) Depends on LP's stack size and opener's stats.

Btw...to any beginning MTT player, these are great discussion points. You can win tournaments just by understanding stack sizes and push/fold poker.

I think we need more specific info regarding the proximity of the bubble.

As in, 5 players left before ITM, all of these are folds.

After the bubble, in a turbo, most of these are calls or shoves.

In a turbo your stack is dwindling right before your eyes.

I say let it rip, unless you risk a mincash, or you are cruising to the final table deep in the money.

These players may be compelled by the escalating blinds to be quite wide and your ranges need to defend wider, imo.


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1) Fold.

2) Raise and calling off a 12ish BB or under rejam.

3) Stat dependent but usually 4-betting and getting it in during turbo MTTs.

As mentioned by others, these decisions might be heavily influenced by ICM/stage of tourney.

I think T9s on the BTN is always a fold to an 11bb EP jam. Aside from shorties range, which you can't expect to be a favorite against, the blinds will sometimes wake up with a hand and then you are in a gross spot. I think it's likely a losing play to call T9s vs 11bb EP range from BB, unless antes are > 12.5% or its a KO tourney.

QJo is a very profitable shove from CO vs <=15bb stacks (QTo and JTo are unexploitable shoves for 20bb assuming 12.5% antes), but it depends how many blinds the other player has. If bigger stack is nitty you can probably shove vs <=30BB but if he's a reg I'd guess ~ 23BB is the cutoff, and if you think he's gamble happy I'd probably pitch your hand if he's sitting on 20BB or more. I think open fold is probably better than raise-fold, but if stacks were a bit deeper I think raise-fold is likely the play, as long as you've constructed a relatively balanced raise-folding strategy.

The AQo hand is really dependent on stack sizes and observed tendencies. Some situations it is a clear shove and others you are lighting $ on fire by not snap folding. Experience and post-session review are the only ways to figure out the difference.

You aren't necessarily doing anything wrong if your big stacks aren't translating into big cashes. Variance in turbos is even higher than normal speed MTTs, which is insane to begin with. Keep trying to make the best decision in each hand and you'll get your deep runs sooner or later.

In general when a spot is close in turbos I tend to err on the side of gamble. Especially right after the bubble bursts. However, if you've got a massive stack relative to the table and blinds (like >60bb in a turbo), taking marginal gambles with shorties is one of the best ways to give it away, so paradoxically you may want to tighten up a bit when you are sitting on heaps of chips.

They're all pre-bubble spots. But they're not necessarily actual hands, they're just representative of the kinds of spots that frequently arise. So the purpose of the thread wasn't to focus on the specifics of those hands.

But I suspect you're right robert that I'm probably not effectively adjusting to the turbo speed and I'm passing up on some spots I should take.

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10-12 hours is on the extreme end, very few go that long. Play the smaller field mtts they shouldn't take more then 5 and a half hours tops.

Hmm, I'll have a look

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