ITH Poker Forum

[ckrieger1]

Hi, I was wondering if anybody has had any success with auto-folding in a tournament to get to be one of the last 3? I don't know if you could do that in limit poker tournaments but with no limit the tournaments seem to end quicker. What does anyone think about this?

[BernardDogs]

If you do, it will most likely be a loose/agressive table where the other players are taking one another out. That will be rare, but I have had it happen.

You WILL have to loosen up and play in the mid game for most SNGs you enter. Play your position try a few blind steals and bluffs at pots that most likely have not hit your opponent. Know how to test the waters when you're first to act and how to get out when you know your opponent has the hand.

Tight and agressive play ... is still the golden rule. But if you find yourself on a loose/agressive table then do some coasting. Always tighten up on a loose/agressive table.

BD

[ThePaladin]

It wouldn't work if all you did was auto fold the whole tourny. You would get blinded out well before the final 3 positions. If you had played part of the tourny and had a big chip lead you might be able to get into 3rd or 2nd if you're lucky and certainly not 1st.

[Playforkeeps]

I think its not a good idea. I dont think you should auto fold all your hands til the field narrows down. This may pay off once in awhile but you would get much better results if you play tight-aggressive until the field gets narrow then you can open up some. Thats how I play..talk to legaleagle97, robrobrob, BernardDog and Scapegote...or some of the more seasoned players on the board. I think if you just fold and fold, and you do make it to the final 3 or 4 you will be so short stacked and depending on what the blinds are I think you will be too crippled to do anything.

[Piemaster]

Well lets not dismiss the idea immediately, lets think about it a little. Here are the blinds on PP SNG's and how much money you would have after that level if you were just autofolding (assuming low stake so 800 chips)

Level 1: 10/15 775
Level 2: 15/30 730
Level 3: 25/50 655
Level 4: 50/100 505
Level 5: 100/200 205
Level 6: 150/300 Blinded out

So basically you would make it until the end of level 5. The question is, how many are left in by the end of level 5? If the answer is 3/4 then we have a potentially good system here. You will still have 200 chips (enough to play 1 hand) so you may stil have some game left. Remember, you only have to get into 3rd place about 60% of the time to turn a profit doing this, especially as you could play about 6 or 7 SNG's at a time as you won't have to do much thinking.

So here's a question for the grizzled veterans of SNG's, how many people are left after 5 rounds?

[Cali]

Level 1: 10/15 775
Level 2: 15/30 730
Level 3: 25/50 655
Level 4: 50/100 505
Level 5: 100/200 205
Level 6: 150/300 Blinded out

So here's a question for the grizzled veterans of SNG's, how many people are left after 5 rounds?

I believe there is a slight problem with your calculations. Each level goes for 10 hands, so as soon as players start to drop you are going to be paying each level's blind more than once. By level 4 there may only be 5 players left meaning you'll pay it twice.

I've been playing about 3-6 NL SnG games a day and I just don't think this strategy would work.

-
Cali

[BernardDogs]

I've been in SNGs where I was final three by round three and I've been in SNGs where 9 of us made it to level 4.

You're foolish to go into auto-post mode and "check yourself out" of the tourney for that long ... I think you'd also tend to not pay as much attention to player trends that will be valuable later in the tourney.

You're also foolish not to play strong starting hands with the intention of picking up some stack along the way. It's really tough to be short stack with four players left. Show agression with 5 and 4 left ... steal some blinds, etc. This is when people are the most cautious.

If you buy into a SNG, buy into with the knowledge that you've got an hour's worth of work ahead of you. In the early stages, that is primarily note taking with the occasional bring-in with solid starters. On Poker Stars, plan to committ at least 90 minutes.

If you are fortunate enough to hit some big hands early and find yourself with a solid stack, then coast a bit easier and sit on that nest egg. Avoid pissing matches with the other big stacks and capitalize on opportunities to bully the small stacks before they become desparate and have to move all-in to stay alive.

Bottom line: You're there to PLAY your cards. Play them well.

BD

[Piemaster]

I believe there is a slight problem with your calculations. Each level goes for 10 hands, so as soon as players start to drop you are going to be paying each level's blind more than once. By level 4 there may only be 5 players left meaning you'll pay it twice.

-
Cali

Yes, you're quite right. Sorry I was being stupid.

[Voter]

Fold most, yes, but not with auto-fold.

One of my favorites in the early rounds is a suited ace. If you miss the flop or get raised preflop it only cost you 15 or 30 chips. If you make the nuts you can really make a bundle if someone hit top pair, two pair etc.

[Voter]

Where's the edit feature?

Anyway, last night I did this. Someone made a straight on the turn and slow played it, allowing me to make the flush. He then put out a tease bet, I went all in, and he jumped on it.

I also play any pair early and fold if I don't make the set.

I don't play high cards in early rounds. Too many people will stay in with anything and make a competely unpredictable two pair.

[robrobrob]

I'm gonna buck the trend here. I have had good success with the auto fold under some very specific conditions. If there are 5 maniadcs at a table (not uncommon in a $30 SNG at party), I will fold AA pre-flop because I have been 'schooled' so many times with theis scenario, and early in the tourney, there is no sense putting your stack at risk when these guys are going to just knock each other out.

I never just auto fold until I am in the oney, but I have done it until the animals, as I refer to them, have all eaten each other and are gone. I can make the last 5 with enough chips left to get decent play, and the decent players in the tournament think I am just playing really tight, and respect my raises more.

Once I hit auto fold, and then went and took a shower. I came back to the game and was in 3rd of 5 remaining, and took 2nd in the tourney. Usually I will sit and keep an eye on the game to jump back in when it settles down. I don;t like playing the lottery, I like playing poker.

I have done this in both limit and NL SNGs.


I love that 6.25 months experience makes me seasoned.

rob