rebuy strategy

m_dolens

just curious about other people's strategy for the first hour of a rebuy tournament. if you are facing a very loose table with a lot of calling stations (who are willing to push/call all in with almost any hand), how do you approach such a table? should i be playing only premium hands (knowing that if i hit anything i'll most likely get paid off)? or should i be trying to mix it up more (i.e. taking more 50-50 chances)?

perhaps more specifically, how should you play against opponents that you cannot bluff at any time?

GTA Poker

I like to gambooooool a lot preflop to at least triple my starting stack (assuming this is online you always rebuy right away). ie -- stars I'd like to have at least 9-10k at the break assuming a large field mtt.

ReefAquarium

0. Ask if 100% of the rebuy money is going to the prize pool. If it isn't don't even bother showing up.
1. Honestly assess if you have and advantage over the field especially with post flop deep stack play.
2. If you don't think you have an advantage don't rebuy.
3. If you think you have an advantage then rebuy.
4. If you think you have a huge advantage then go into "Maniac Flip for stacks mode."
You can even take slightly the worst of it if you feel your edge is enough to make up the prelop -EV.

actyper

m_dolens;153665 wrotejust curious about other people's strategy for the first hour of a rebuy tournament. if you are facing a very loose table with a lot of calling stations (who are willing to push/call all in with almost any hand), how do you approach such a table? should i be playing only premium hands (knowing that if i hit anything i'll most likely get paid off)? or should i be trying to mix it up more (i.e. taking more 50-50 chances)?

perhaps more specifically, how should you play against opponents that you cannot bluff at any time?

How much significant bluffing should you be doing in the first hour of a freezeout anyways?

I like to gamble, but as the aggressor. I will play my strong hands strong. I don't bluff, but I will semi bluff. My pf raises are normally larger than i do in a freezeout. Sometimes I just open shove.

Now this is also different if its a cash tourney or a satellite tourney. Satellite I won't play as reckless due to the flat payouts.

ReefAquarium

m_dolens;153665 wrote
perhaps more specifically, how should you play against opponents that you cannot bluff at any time?

Value bet.

But for the most part.
I'm in the Maniac flip for stacks mode in the rebuy period. I try to get my whole table into gonzo mode.

The rewards increase exponentially but the cost increases linearly.
If you have 20-30X the buyin you have a much better chance of ending in 1st.
Compare your chances to the grinder who now has 2x the buyin stack size.

GTA Poker

Also, you want lots of chips on your table after the rebuy period (live game) even if you don't have the majority of them.

m_dolens

actyper;153674 wroteHow much significant bluffing should you be doing in the first hour of a freezeout anyways?

yeah this is true. i don't necessarily bluff a lot in the early going, but during the rebuy time i sometimes question even continuation bets since my preflop raises are most likely called by multiple people and if i miss it's almost guaranteed someone has hit something.

i think i'll try a more open style next rebuy.

blackmagicz

With rebuy tournies I tend to play the same range I would with a freezeout but I value my bets a little more.

For the most part I have always usually built my stack up 4x before rebuys end because someone will call your shove with a looser range than you and you will double up.

I guess the easiest way to play a rebuy tourney is to do the opposite of everyone else I find. If the table is loose I am tight but when I go in with a hand I trying to pot commit myself as quickly as possible to eliminate multiway pots (especially with PPs)

In a tight table I am normally playing more position and trying to pick on the weaker players who continuation bet with anything and I float them then pick off the turn after they check.

Nayr_Eh

I'll take a strat that has worked for me in a live Satilite at Brantford Casino
Seats to 1500 3 day tourney $150k first prize
Seat to 1000 day tourney
Left over cash from $150 to $60 (they try and make as many seats as posible)

Buy in $60 +5 for 1500 chips
rebuy $20 for 500 chips
add on $20 for 1000 chips (after 4 lvls)

Note: you can top up if you have 975 chip count for 500 or 475 for 1000 most people put 25 in and fold first hand and top up.

Blinds are:
25-25 25mins(I could be wrong on timer correct me if i'm wrong plz)
25-50
50-100
75-150
Break :end of rebuy, add ons
100-200
200-400
300-600
500-1000
1000-2000
2000-4000
3000-6000

Fields tend to be from 35 to 60 people depending on day

First off most people want to get there money all in because of the rebuy and try to double up. So expect one raise followed by all ins and calls.

I go the oposite way here while rebuys are on.I just play AAs KKs if heads up QQs AK. Yes it's a small hand range but it builds your tight image and thats what you want when the rebuy ends and every one starts playing poker.

So lets say you didn't play any hands and have blinded away your chip stack. If it's a fast table you'll see your blind come around about three times every two lvls. So lets say your down to 475 chips you now rebuy and add on for 2000 chips for $60 you now have 2475 chips with the blinds now at 100-200 you have a M of 11 (or so) plus the image of a tight player.

This is where the poker begins you now can steal blinds in position and yes even out of position. Make plays at pots with out fear of getting called and increase your chip count in the next few lvls.

Note: i have played at least 20 of these and it tends to be the same crowd that plays them. Most play aggressive while rebuys are on and when there over they go into super tight mode trying to protect there stack and get on to the final table.

That strat gets me to final table three out of 4 times.

By the time blinds get to high and you have to play bingo your on the final table with good players that tend to make more final tables then not. On the table i'd say two of the ten are amateurs. But it doesn't matter pick your hands and play well and you'll get your seat.

$125 to win $1500 and a chance to win 150K

This is the way I play and it works well for my style of play. It may or may not work for you. Agree or disagree I was just trying to give a idea on how to play a rebuy.

ScoobyD

you now have 2475 chips with the blinds now at 100-200 you have a M of 11 (or so) plus the image of a tight player.

Your M is actually ~8, so you're in orange zone and really you're looking to be making BIG moves preflop, not "pick up blinds here and there". One failed steal attempt costs you about 1/4 of your stack (assuming you lay down to the reraise). Now you're squarely in all-in or fold territory...and this is all before the next blind level.

FWIW, I don't care where you are, you aren't going to find a "tournament structure" with a buyin for <$100 dollars live. They become pushfests early. Casinos don't have any interest in running a real structure since it eats up tables. If you've done well, congrats, but variance and a host of terrible players may be more of a factor than your weak-tight strategy...

Nayr_Eh

If you read it right thats if you don't play a hand. You have 4 blind lvls to increase your stack. I usualy sit around 4k-8k in chips when rebuy is done. I should have included that in my post. Was trying to get the point across that you could play tight befor the rebuy and aggressive after and do well.

There are good players that play these most are donks but you get that every where you play.

Kristy

Nayr_eh, you're 100% wrong.

There is absolutely no way that a rigid pf hand selection is appropriate as your primary approach in a rebuy, sure there are exceptions; but if this is your starting point- you are telling me that you are not able to play post flop/deep stack/with a good grasp of your players and your implied..

In short you are playing above your level.

Nayr_Eh

LOL your funny, I've played with you at west side unless you've improved your play don't talk plz.

Go play a rebuy at bratford then post. I took a example of a rebuy tourney I play frequently and do well in. If your so good post your strat and let others see how you play.

m_dolens

rebuys on party poker could be one example of where it is okay to play tight during the rebuy period. you start with a double stack (3000) and rebuy right off the bat (to 6000). the add-on at the end of the first hour is 2500 (up to 8500) and the blinds after the first break are at 150-300. obviously it isn't ideal to sit back and not play a single hand for the first hour, but if you play tight and double up even once, you'll have a decent playable stack after the rebuy period still (approximately 14500).

ReefAquarium

Nayr_Eh;154960 wroteI'll take a strat that has worked for me in a live Satilite at Brantford Casino
Seats to 1500 3 day tourney $150k first prize
Seat to 1000 day tourney
Left over cash from $150 to $60 (they try and make as many seats as posible)

Buy in $60 +5 for 1500 chips
rebuy $20 for 500 chips
add on $20 for 1000 chips (after 4 lvls)

Note: you can top up if you have 975 chip count for 500 or 475 for 1000 most people put 25 in and fold first hand and top up.

Blinds are:
25-25 25mins(I could be wrong on timer correct me if i'm wrong plz)
25-50
50-100
75-150
Break :end of rebuy, add ons
100-200
200-400
300-600
500-1000
1000-2000
2000-4000
3000-6000

Fields tend to be from 35 to 60 people depending on day

First off most people want to get there money all in because of the rebuy and try to double up. So expect one raise followed by all ins and calls.

I go the oposite way here while rebuys are on.I just play AAs KKs if heads up QQs AK. Yes it's a small hand range but it builds your tight image and thats what you want when the rebuy ends and every one starts playing poker.

So lets say you didn't play any hands and have blinded away your chip stack. If it's a fast table you'll see your blind come around about three times every two lvls. So lets say your down to 475 chips you now rebuy and add on for 2000 chips for $60 you now have 2475 chips with the blinds now at 100-200 you have a M of 11 (or so) plus the image of a tight player.

This is where the poker begins you now can steal blinds in position and yes even out of position. Make plays at pots with out fear of getting called and increase your chip count in the next few lvls.

Note: i have played at least 20 of these and it tends to be the same crowd that plays them. Most play aggressive while rebuys are on and when there over they go into super tight mode trying to protect there stack and get on to the final table.

That strat gets me to final table three out of 4 times.

By the time blinds get to high and you have to play bingo your on the final table with good players that tend to make more final tables then not. On the table i'd say two of the ten are amateurs. But it doesn't matter pick your hands and play well and you'll get your seat.

$125 to win $1500 and a chance to win 150K

This is the way I play and it works well for my style of play. It may or may not work for you. Agree or disagree I was just trying to give a idea on how to play a rebuy.

Thanks for posting your strategy.
How does your stack compare with the others at the final table?
Getting to the final table 15 times out of 20 seems pretty good for a field of 35-60.
How have you been doing at the final table?
How often have you been finishing 1st? How often 2nd?
Are there any huge stacks when you get to the final table from tables doing flipaments?