Skip to forum
Notifications
Clear all

Mental issue in MTT

9 Posts
8 Users
5 Reactions
1,966 Views
jiffybag
Joined: 21.12.2010

Sup dudes.

I don't know if this should go here or in the MTT section. If its in the wrong place please move it, thanks.

I mainly play cash and SNG. But over the last few months I've been playing more MTTs. I've noticed that I am struggling during the mid stages of the tournaments after accumulating some chips or taking the chip lead.
This is what happens, in the early stages, I fight for chips, once I get them, its almost like I don't wanna loose them so I end up playing way too tight and end up blowing the chip lead or the blinds get too high now and I am forced to make moves with marginal hands after folding the premium ones that I was dealt earlier when I had the lead. If you compare this to the way I play a SNG, if I am the big stack I bully the smaller stacks. I don't do this in a MTT. I just watched myself fold QQ to a AI shove pre from one of the biggest fish at the table, all because villain had me covered. And on Sunday night at the FT I fold AQo pre to a min raise from one of the most aggro fish at the table (I had him covered).
Has anyone else dealt with this? And how did you over come it. Thanks.


Reply
Quote
8 replies
BorisovVal
Joined: 09.05.2021

:f_grin:


Reply
Quote
Lazza61
Joined: 23.03.2011

Hey jiffybag,

I used to have the same problem. Eventually, I got around it by instituting a new play in my game called the sigh call. The sigh call is for those times when you don't want to call, but your hand is too good to fold.

I also play where possible with my chip display in BBs rather than chips to make sure that I am MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS according to stack sizes.

Making the right decisions is the key. If you are happy with your decision making then the short term result doesn't matter. Keep making the right decisions and eventually you will succeed.

Good Luck :gl:

Laz


Reply
Quote
thebomb
Joined: 02.05.2015

You can learn about shifting gears during a tournament in the poker tournament formula books.

Sometimes we have to press the accelerator during a tournament and sometimes stop the march, depending on our stack.


Reply
Quote

Originally posted by thebomb
You can learn about shifting gears during a tournament in the poker tournament formula books.

Sometimes we have to press the accelerator during a tournament and sometimes stop the march, depending on our stack.

Which book would you recommend first?


Reply
Quote
Super Moderator
VorpalF2F
Joined: 02.09.2010

Originally posted by JamesBerri

Originally posted by thebomb
You can learn about shifting gears during a tournament in the poker tournament formula books.

Sometimes we have to press the accelerator during a tournament and sometimes stop the march, depending on our stack.

Which book would you recommend first?

A very old book, but it has the basics right: Harrington on Hold'em by Dan Harrington.
Also be sure to read all the PokerStrategy.com strategy articles on MTTs that you can.
Also old, also basic, but also right.
Review as many of Collin Moshman's videos that you can as well.
They are mainly for SNGs but there are multi-table SNGs that he covers where the material applies directly to larger MTTs


Reply
Quote
Moderator
PriscoInline
Joined: 05.05.2012

That happened with me when I started playing, specially when I tried a bigger or more expensive tournament. If I remained on my comfort level, with a safe bankroll, it was harder for me to feel scared to play correctly and lose chips. I try to see poker always in the long run. In a tournament we should aim for the first place, not ITM. Also, it is not about one tournament, it is about playing the best in all of them.

If you are playing scared in a tournament, be it near the bubble or when you have too many/too few chips, try understanding why. Are you insecure about your plays? Review the hand and try to find out if you played it correctly! Nowadays I only get annoyed when I clearly made a mistake and lost, if that is not the case feel proud to have played well!

MTTs may be stressful, you may try a format with less variance (STTs, MTSngs), or buy ins that do not make you nervous or anxious.

I believe the more you play, the faster you will deal with that situation. Keep reminding yourself not to be afraid to make the right decision. If you lose by doing the right play, eventually things are going to workout.


Reply
Quote
ASSO1976
Joined: 18.08.2007

Thanks for sharing. Had the same problem. The discussion here helped.


Reply
Quote