Strategy in crazy betting tournament
I often play in a live no limit hold'em tournament. It is a $20 buy-in for a $900 stack of chips, with additional buy-ins allowed in the first 30 minutes only if you lose all your chips. Blinds start at $1/$2 and double at 15 minute intervals. We usually have 8-10 players at the table to start.
Most players limp in on the blinds, with a few frequently betting from $50 to $300 pre-flop in almost any position. This is horrible equity for them, but usually three or four players will call the bet. The normal strategy of betting 3-4 times BB to protect a hand is useless since there will always be 4-5 players who will call with almost any hand. This becomes a short stack situation quickly and it is virtually impossible to bet enough to get only one caller.
My strategy has been to wait for a premium hand in position before betting, but by the time that happens there will be 2 or three players with big stacks who are bullying the table. Even pocket Aces have less than 50% equity with 3-4 callers. I often am at the table with a small stack and 3-4 other players with big stacks as people are eliminated.
I welcome suggestions for a strategy to deal with this type of game.
1 Reply
This reminds me of the "midnight madness" tournaments at MGM in Vegas. Those are $100 buy-in with 10 minute levels, but in Vegas that's about the same as a $20 buy-in elsewhere. Guys were going all-in just about every hand and no bet was every getting through. In such a maniac structure, all you can do is try to get in with decent equity and hope to build a stack. Can't wait for AK or QQ+, so you have to play suited connectors and low pairs, hoping for sets. Sometimes 89ss is a great hand since anybody with a broadway cards will shove and you'll have two live cards. It's not poker -- it's roulette with cards. Lean in and enjoy, but don't think that any kind of normal poker strategy applies.
