Quote:
Originally Posted by ShouldFolded
Yes, I get that but in late stages of tourneys the average stacks are 20-30bb how aggressive i can become with these stack sizes? and aggressive doesnt mean looser I guess because then I be spewing money just to be aggressive
First you need to recognize which players behind you are playing too tight, and those who act before you are shoving smaller stacks with a wider range.
Start with the idea that around 20-25 BB, you are in shove/fold mode if it's raised when the action gets to you. Push/fold charts should give you a good starting point for estimating opponents' ranges.
When you're a bit deeper, like 35 BB, think of raising into stacks your size or slightly smaller. Be careful raising into small stacks and large stacks. Smaller stacks shove wider out of desperation (and you're often priced in and have to call) and larger stacks will call, leaving you tougher decisions post flop.
The Harrington on Holdem tournament books, while seriously outdated for higher level tournaments, still give you a reasonable basic understanding of how to approach lower buy-in tournaments.
I'm a big fan of trying this: Enter a tourney that's like 10% of your normal buy-in level (or less, if possible). Tape something on your screen so you can't see your cards. Now play only knowing position, stack sizes and opponents' tendencies, since those things, taken together, are actually at least as important as what cards you hold, and you have to learn those things to be successful.