mookie99

This is a couple weeks late but since NewinNov has won 3 of these tourneys it was tough finding something to put up for him. TripJax had a great idea…

“…why not have him do a guest post about how he pwns the Mookie tourneys.”

So without further ado here is the guest post from NewinNov:

How to pwn The Mookie by NewinNov

Patience – Exhibit patience. Don’t force the action, especially early on. Keep the pots small if warranted and don’t risk all your chips early on unless you have the nuts. Remember you are playing a tournament, not a cash game, so make sure your risks are in line with your rewards. No chips, no play. The old story about a chip and a chair is really true and it has happened to me several times. There were several times during the Mookie where I was below average in chips after the first break but still managed to make the final table.

Hand selection – Generally only play strong starting hands, especially from early position. If your table is tight or weak and lets you limp without getting raised, expand your range. If several people have limped, definitely call with any pocket pair or suited no gap or one gap connector in late position. Since premium hands only come along so often, make sure to enter the pot with a raise to protect the hand from junk.

Position – Carefully consider your position. The old adage that you can increase your starting hand selection the closer to the button you get is good advice. If you are the first to enter the pot, enter with a raise in an attempt to get position. If you are on the button and there are only limpers in front of you, consider raising, as you will have position for the rest of the hand.

Folding – Be able to fold. I have a problem with this at times and it usually will either cost me a significant amount of chips or let my exit the tournament early. If your continuation bet is smooth called or the board is very scary, don’t be afraid to give it up.

Opponent – Know your opponents. If you are playing the Mookie for more than the first time, you will see the regulars who all have a generally distinct style of play. Remember who is passive and who is aggressive. I don’t keep notes of each player but it is a useful aid for some players. But remember that even a crazy loose player sometimes actually gets cards. Be careful when playing against a player that can stack you.

Luck – Without luck you aren’t going to win a tournament. You are going to have to survive bad beats and perhaps even suckout to make it through. Since luck is such a big factor, remember that generally none of your decisions are 100% guaranteed to win the pot. While you want to make +EV decisions, remember that tournament play is a game of survival.

Read the board – Be able to read the texture of the board and determine how the board could have helped anyone’s hand. Be able to realize when straights and flushes are possible and how people will make a call with a draw even without proper pot odds. If the pot was not raised and you are in the small blind or in particular the big blind and the board flops with two small pair like 22x or 44x, consider playing the hand like you have a set whether you do or you don’t. How would most players play a made set from the blinds? Normally they would check. Then if you get a bet, make a small reraise which just screams that you have the set but want to keep your opponents in the hand. Be ready to release if the other blind continues to play or you get too much pressure as the old Ax hand might be out there.

Blinds – Remember that for every time you steal the blinds, you are getting to see your cards for free for one round. Test the waters early and determine if the blinds will defend the blinds and how often. Determine what type of bet is needed such as 2x the BB or 4x the BB. I almost always complete my small blind unless there was a raise. If I am low on chips, I will generally fold my SB to converse chips for when I’m ready to make my move. Don’t lose all your money on SB versus BB battles. I see too many big battles between the blinds when they are the only two players. Remember that even the blinds can wake up with a hand.

Big chip stack – Ratchet up the aggression when you are the chip leader or have a large number of chips yet don’t loosen up too much. Go after the blinds more aggressively. Don’t double people up unnecessarily, you still need to be able to fold if the situation warrants. Don’t be afraid to target small stacks when you have a good hand such as pocket pairs 66 and higher or AQ/AK. Be wary of small stacks that hardly play a hand and then bust a move looking for a double up. Target those small stacks that appear desperate and are getting impatient and bleeding chips.

Short stack play – Don’t let your small stack get so small that any player will call with any two cards just because of the pot odds. Pick you spots and make all in moves, especially if the preflop pot is 1/5 of your stack or higher. The best time to make this move if you are first in the pot and the later in position the better. As the blinds to higher, don’t be afraid to race. I especially like to do this with any pocket pair generally higher than 55.

Betting amounts – The size of your bet helps to define your hand. When you enter a pot, generally raise to eliminate the blinds or better determine the hand selection of those players who decide to play. I like to alternate between betting a consistent amount for a few round to changing the size of my best with no relation to my cards. So for a period of time I will always open raise 3x the BB regardless of what I have. Then for a period of time I will alternate the size of my raises from 2x the BB to 5x the BB.

Betting patterns – Analyze betting patterns of other players. Remember how much they bet in what position and with what type of cards. Do this even when you aren’t involved in a hand as it will become helpful when it’s your turn with that player.

Ego – Don’t let your emotions get in the way of your play. This is part of the don’t tilt idea. Don’t get mad that the button constantly is stealing your blind when you have junk hands. Bid your time and wait for an opportunity to strike back. Don’t take too much stock when other players show their cards along with a complete stone cold bluff. There is a reason they are showing you their cards as they will probably tighten up for a few rounds.

All in moves – The all in move is the new slow play. Sometimes, if I have a comfortable position, I’ll make an all in move with a premium hand. This will help to demonstrate that I am an action player, tilting, or just don’t know how to play. This especially works well after I won the last two hands and some players will not believe I have a good hand and decide to race me with decent but not premium hands because of course I wouldn’t make that move with a premium hand as most players would want to make money with their premium hands.

Showing cards – As a rule I don’t show my cards. This keeps your opponents guessing. Also, this way I don’t have to remember what I showed when and when to alter my play.

Slow playing – Don’t slow play unless you have the nuts and quickly recover if the board turns dangerous with a possible straight or flush. If you decide to slow play, remember that your hand now may be compromised and don’t get too involved if there is too much pressure.

Semi bluff – I love the semi bluff where you don’t have a made hand and might be behind but have the opportunity to improve. This helps to reinforce the idea of aggressive play which is the only way to win a tournament. Semi bluffing allows you to win the hand right there on the spot or later when the pot is larger. I especially like to do this with a flush draw or outside straight draw.

Pressure – Part of aggressive play is to apply pressure to the other players. By being the raiser or pressure maker you always have fold equity on your side which helps to increase your chip count over the long run.

Thinking – Get past level one thinking about just your hand. Start to develop the idea of level two (what does my opponent hold) and level three (what do I think he thinks I have). This will help you to determine whether to proceed and how to bet.

Real Scoop – I generally am watching TV, talking to the kids/wife, and playing several tables when I begin to play the Mookie. So this means that I play ABC poker early on. I am not observing anyone and not really concentrating on the game. I play loose and like to see many hands if it is cheap. Once the blinds start to increase I will only start to pay attention if I am below average in chips. Otherwise, it’s business as usual. If I am down to two tables, I then start to employ several of the techniques mentioned above. My focus will be on attempting to take out the short stacks. If the play is very aggressive I’ll tighten up and let others take each other out and move up the ladder without effort. If the table is passive, I’ll attempt to get the dead money. The key at the final table is to adjust to the players at the table.

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