Frustration-I can't close a tournament to save my life!

Willing2die · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010, 11:56 AM

Last night, I logged my 95th mid-stakes MTT cash since my last win on 9/11/09. Included in that is 7 final tables and a staggering 23 finishes between 10th and 36th.

Ironically, I model my game after my favorite sports team, the San Diego Chargers. I'm great during the regular season (except this year) but suck in the playoffs.

I wish I knew why I can't close the deal. I am clearly missing some fundamental aspects to my game that would/should allow me to close some of these things. I'm back reading Harrington on Hold-em, Volume II Endgame and I've considered joining TournamentPokerEdge.com but the bankroll isn't exactly flush.

End of rant...any advice is appreciated.

Brian · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010, 12:13 PM

Post some hands of tourneys your running deep in. How are you playing when you get to 3tables do you think your tightening up or playing to loose? Are you adjusting your opening/3bet amounts the deeper you get? As for TPE 20$ for a month of videos and access to the pros is worth the price.

rrumsey · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010, 01:07 PM

what kinda tournies? i would recommend a lot of min opening and playing very aggro late to attack ladderers. push hard short or with a big stack on a FT when effective stacks are short. also, how many tournies you play? seems like your volume is just low

Hughes4 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010, 06:46 PM

Do you use a HUD?
If not, I definitely recommend at least OPR-ing your opponents when it gets deep. Makes things easier.
If you haven't read the Apestyles, Turner, Rizen book, that's my one recommendation for improving your game. I think it's pretty affordable in the FTP store.

listening · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willing2die

Last night, I logged my 95th mid-stakes MTT cash since my last win on 9/11/09. Included in that is 7 final tables and a staggering 23 finishes between 10th and 36th.

Too willing to die? srsly

It is possible this has been bugging you and when you get into late stages you are subconsciously expecting to go out and start sabotaging your own play. Like when you get on a downer and don't realize your play changed.

You could just try not playing them for a while. Go play some SSTs, play some Heads-up, close a few of those deals. Get a few of those pop-up boxes that say, "You finished the tournament in 1st place" and have some fun.

Fun is the best luck, yanno.

Those're some kick-ass stats, BTW. Be proud. I wouldn't mind having your problem.

rrumsey · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hughes4

Do you use a HUD?
If not, I definitely recommend at least OPR-ing your opponents when it gets deep. Makes things easier.
If you haven't read the Apestyles, Turner, Rizen book, that's my one recommendation for improving your game. I think it's pretty affordable in the FTP store.

this book?
Amazon.com: Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time Volume I (9780974150277): Eric 'Rizen' Lynch, Jon 'Pearljammer' Turner, Jon 'Apestyles' Van Fleet: Books

Hughes4 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-2010, 11:59 PM

Yeah. That is a must-read.

More specifically to OP, volume 2 deals with end game. However, it isn't in the FT store.

5carab · #8 (**permalink**) 10-28-2010, 01:30 AM

You've probably been too LAGgy. Our strategy of folding into the money (I assume w/ that many cashes you have been using it) can then be used to reach the FT where we can fold into the top 3 then suddenly start stealing pots w/ our image, get HU and win!

Jeremy Silva · #9 (**permalink**) 10-28-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5carab

You've probably been too LAGgy. Our strategy of folding into the money (I assume w/ that many cashes you have been using it) can then be used to reach the FT where we can fold into the top 3 then suddenly start stealing pots w/ our image, get HU and win!

This exactly. Once you have a decent stack in the middle stages, you have to calculate your PFM% (Probability of Folding to Money). As soon as your PFM reaches 75-80% (this is known as the 'Green Zone') you should immediately sit out and/or fold every hand (except AA, ship it pre, ldo), as every chip you lose is valuable equity slipping away.

5carab · #10 (**permalink**) 10-28-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Silva

This exactly. Once you have a decent stack in the middle stages, you have to calculate your PFM% (Probability of Folding to Money). As soon as your PFM reaches 75-80% (this is known as the 'Green Zone') you should immediately sit out and/or fold every hand (except AA, ship it pre, ldo), as every chip you lose is valuable equity slipping away.

Exactly. Once ITM we now must calculate our PFFT (Probability of Folding to Final Table) - I assume you have been a bit meh at this given stats - and then our PFTT (Probability of Folding to Top Three). It's only once we reach the final three that we should open our game up to include speculative hands like AKo or JJ (even QQ, AKs and KK are considered loose in certain PFM, PFFT and PFTT spots - AA is always an AIPF hand). Hope this helps.