short table strategies

[couplecraft]

Although it's obvious that my game sucks overall, my short game really sucks. What do you guys do when you're in a tournament with six-seater tables? I really need help.

On a related subject, at Virgin Poker there are freerolls where, at any table I've been on, for the first hour, out of 10 players, there are six to nine sitters. It's not really a short game, but when I have at most three active opponents, how should I adjust my strategy?

cc

[WAYLANDER]

Generally speaking, the fewer players the more aggressive you need to play.
That doesnt mean all-in every hand, but controled aggression.
As the blinds go up, you have to look for opportunitys to steal.
There are no perfect rules in poker, but for myself if i find the blinds are big and im down to about 5 times the big blind, then if i am going to play a hand its only 1 move.... all-in! ( with the exception of AA or KK where you want action )

WAYLANDER

[ace4suited]

your question seems to deal specifically with freerolls with many sit outs. This is a common situation. I do not play freerolls very often but here are a few thoughts.

a) There is no harm in folding trash - eventually the sit outs will be blinded out or you will be moved taking time to play hands with trash is not neccisarily that good an idea.
b) remember when facing your opponents that given that there are fewer hands in the pot your opponents are more likely to have junk (could have 35 on 467 etc)
c) if you go all in with aa you are much less likely to get action so you need to underplay a lot of premium hands.

This stage will not last forever and by avoiding lots of pots you are doing two things - you are hitting the sit outs with more blinds and you are making sure you have the best of it when you play. If you play tight you are likely to end up a few hundred up at least before you are moved etc. Quite often the other players will actually knock each other out and often be replaced by more sit outs so there is definately advantage in keeping your cool, playing tight and picking your spots but being willing to stand up for yourself with middling hands that will probably have the best of it once a flop has been seen

[couplecraft]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I've been practising short games and have tried the tight strategy you suggest.

cc

[tennis_balls]

if i'm at one of those strange tourneys where there are only 2 or 3 live players at the table and 7 or 8 no-shows, I chat up the other player(s) and try to make a deal to fold every other hand (or sometimes it's easier if each guy takes takes hands in a row)

a lot of times, the other guy won't answer so then I get his attention by using all of my allotted time for every single bet thus slowing the table way down. most players will get the message if you do this and will at least start chatting and let you know. (of course, there will always be donks whose only reply is: "let's go all-in")

[couplecraft]

if i'm at one of those strange tourneys where there are only 2 or 3 live players at the table and 7 or 8 no-shows, I chat up the other player(s) and try to make a deal to fold every other hand (or sometimes it's easier if each guy takes takes hands in a row)

a lot of times, the other guy won't answer so then I get his attention by using all of my allotted time for every single bet thus slowing the table way down. most players will get the message if you do this and will at least start chatting and let you know. (of course, there will always be donks whose only reply is: "let's go all-in")

TB, I'm sure every casino has a collusion policy. Wouldn't your strategy be in violation of it?

cc

[tennis_balls]

i don't consider it collusion since the only players penalized by this are those who didn't even bother to show up to play.

[ace4suited]

actually it would be against most collusion policies but they would be unlikely to enforce it in a freeroll which is where this sort of thing normally occurs.

As i have said before i sometimes have connection problems. If i felt i was losing more chips to a connection break than seemed likely under normal play i would report the matter to support and action would be likely by them. But in freerolls who would care. And only the players at the table would be the ones likely to draw the matter to attention with support.