Hey all,

I've been playing for 6 years on and off now - with the last year really ramping up my game and trying to run with it full time. I run a twitch stream and have increased my online bankroll 8x over the last 2 months, and graduated to playing $40-60 BI's with the occasional $109-$215's. On weekends I typically grind 2/5 cash at the local casino. I prefer to play MTTs online as I feel they convert better to live MTT's. I stopped playing online cash and primarily focus on live cash, as the two games play exponentially differently.

I've satellited into a $5300 5 Day (10 Mil GTD) - The main event at Playground hosted by Party Poker, and I will also be playing the $1k.

I'm looking for some tips/suggestions from experienced high stakes MTT grinders to make this massive jump. (Biggest live event played prior was $500).


Cheers

Caveat: not a grinder and I don't play online. However, I don't hesitate to fly to an event simply because I like the event and can make the schedule work with my caseload.

Certainly something to remember is that, just as you got in via satellite, so to will have many others. Some of them will be playing scared (for lack of a better description) precisely because they will still not feel as though it is $5K of their own money at risk.

Don't be afraid to be social at the table...this will put some at ease but will also give you a better feel for who the scared money might be. Use this to your advantage. Don't volunteer that this is outside of your usual comfort zone or level of play...

Do have fun

Definitely plan to be social - I usually am at the table exactly for the reason of weeding out the weak players. Hopefully I get an easy table draw on Day 1 to ease me into it.

I am playing this $5K event as well.

in terms of strategy, the structure for the tournament is different from most that I have played. I would say for larger buy-in tournaments the structure is slower, so you can be more patient waiting for hands. Otherwise, it's basically the same. You get good and bad players, old nits and people who play reckless.

i've played 20 odd $10K+ MEs, here's what i've learnt:

1. remember to ante without being asked
   
2. a 2.3x 4! is a much better defence to a suspected light 3bet than calling and hoping to hit. be prepared to barrel 40% or w/e if called, because even the best opponents are trapping or fit/fold at that point. if the c-bet is called, don't dark tunnel bluff the turn because they have it.
   
3. you're likely to face pressure so be sure to balance your check and check-back ranges with some mid+ strength hands and expect bluffs.
   
4. don't hero call in spots you haven't deliberately set up to bluff catch. surprisingly enough, top class players scoop chips from amateurs making hero calls and overvaluing hands far, far more than running elaborate bluff lines against them.

See you on the tables and good luck! I'll be the tall white dude in the red jays cap.

These are all great tips - i'm definitely going to feel out the table before opening up my game with the structure being so slow. Cheers

Min cashed for $10k! Payout structure was awful though - 1950 runners, and 99-250 were all $10k min cashes. You had to make top 45 just to make 4x buyin for $20k, very top heavy payouts. (1st 1.4m, 2nd 1.2mil, 3rd, 1.0mil)

Lost a massive all in pot for a 55bb swing with my QQ vs J10o all in preflop which crippled me going into Day 3.