Difference between rebuy and freeze out tournaments

You will often hear a freeze out tournament player complain about the stupidity of the players playing the re-buy tournaments. This is because freeze out players cannot expect to sit down at a re-buy tournament and use the same strategy they use when playing freeze outs. Playing a freeze out strategy in a re buy tournament is like playing a holdem strategy in an Omaha game. You need to understand No Limit Holdem Freeze Out Tournaments are very different from No Limit Holdem Re-Buy Tournaments. Therefore, you need to use a different strategy.

Rebuy Tournament Strategy

It is advisable to re-buy as soon as you sit down at the US Poker Room table if the tournament allows. This will give you twice as much chips as anyone who does not, which will give you an advantage over some of the field. The next thing you need to realize is that re-buy tournaments are the most aggressive forms of poker tournaments. In addition, it is not unusual for players to be pushing all-in with fairly rubbish hands. This can usually be seen until the re-buy period has finished. This is because players are always looking to double up and reach a large chip stack before the re-buy period is over.

Therefore, the best strategy is when you decide to play a hand that all your chips are eventually going in the middle before the end of the hand. You will see players just shoving all-in with nearly any two cards. Usually this player plans to use multiple re-buys and is willing to risk all their chips for the chance to double up. This strategy can actually work in re buy tournaments; however, it can get very expensive. The ideal strategy employs shoving all-in and calling all-ins with hands slightly worse than normal if playing a freeze out tournament. For example, one might not call an all-in with 7-7 in a freeze out. However, in a PokerStar re-buy, you have a good opportunity to double up – as players are much more likely to push with any Ace or any pair. Thus, you actually have a good chance on being in front. Thus, the idea with re-buys is to accumulate a chip stack that you will be happy to play after the re-buy period is over, then hold on to your chips until you hit the break.

Therefore, here is a list of things to consider before choosing your rakeback deal:

Does the poker site offer the games I play?

It is no good signing up to a room that has a massive Full Tilt Poker Rakeback deal, but does not hold the type of games that you play. If you play a less popular game such as Omaha or Limit Holdem, not all poker rooms or networks offer those games or struggle to fill those games. Be sure your potential rakeback room of choice supports the games you wish to play.

What is the traffic like?

If you find a room that offers you rakeback and the games you want to play, you also need to work out if there is enough traffic on that site for you. For example, if you like to multi-table, which can be good for increasing your rakeback, the poker room might only be able to support one or two quality tables of the game you play. In the end this will actually cost you money, compared to a poker site that offers less rakeback but can handle multiple table of your game of choice.

Does the site offer the stakes I play?

This usually runs side by side with the traffic of the site. If the poker room has plenty of traffic, it will usually support various stakes and buy-ins. On the other hand, if a site has low traffic, the likelihood is that it will struggle to cope with higher buy-ins and higher stakes in cash tables.

If you follow these simple steps, you should end up with a small list of poker rooms that will suit you game preference, playing style and desired stakes. Once you have compiled a short list, then you are ready to discriminate as to which room offers the best rakeback deal out of the rooms that fit your game and playing habits. You may even be well served to utilize a few of these rooms for rakeback, as it does not hurt to have an occasional change of venue when playing poker.

Here is a list of the most common excuses you will hear at a poker table, and I am sure you have heard them all.

Pot was too big – This excuse is usually used when a player calls either all or most of his chips on a bet by his opponent on the river. It can also be heard when a player bluffs on the river for no other reason than the fact he thinks the pot is too big to give up. Both reason are bad reasons and are only excuses for playing bad poker.

I was in the big blind – This is another excuse you hear players use. It can usually be heard when a player gets involved further in a hand that he should, or for calling a raise with weak hands. Like before, both hands are invalid reasons for playing a hand that way and are both poor excuses.

I was suited – Most often said when greasy cards happen to be suited. This is one of the quickest ways to go bust in a poker tournament. You will hear this excuse often at a poker table, players playing citing the hand was playable on the grounds of suitability.

I had a feeling – Probably the worst excuse out of them all. In addition, it is amazing how often you hear it. “I had a feeling.” what does that mean? It means you cannot even come up with an excuse for playing that hand.

I cannot win with good hands – This is the battle cry of the bad and whiny poker player. If you cannot win playing good hands what chance do you have winning playing bad hands? The logic behind this excuse is beyond belief. Because you are not good enough to play good hands properly, you think you can out play your opponents with bad hands. And what is even more surprising is how often you hear this excuse.

So this is a list of some common excuses heard around the poker table. You will truly be surprised how often each of these words are uttered.

Remember when I talked about not only playing safe and smart at the best online poker sites, but acting on your opportunities to position yourself as a chip leader as early as possible? Now’s the time you’ll wish you had listened, or thank me for that reminder. Because if your stack is the big obstruction at the table, you can and should start playing more aggressively to put the pressure on the rest of the table. Let’s say instead of 8-9, there are now 6 players left. Of the 4 that might stay in on a pre-flop betting round, you can estimate half are probably limping. It’s your job as the chip leader to put them to a decision before they can limp themselves to a leap-frog position over you in terms of hand strength. Be careful not to cross over into the bully realm, though, as one player is likely to call with a good hand and turn the tables on you. Getting a limper out isn’t worth a major risk to your chip lead on one hand, so don’t apply the heat if you don’t have enough lighter fluid to back it up and keep it going.

If you’re not the big stack poker, it’s important to change your strategy from the earlier rounds, which was playing tight. The bully stacks will be looking for you to continue your auto-fold mentality, so you have to throw them a few curve balls, and I guarantee they won’t be expecting it, either. All it takes is one well-placed “against the expected grain” bet to change the dynamics of the game. Suddenly a decent player leaning on a huge chip stack is falling over and subconsciously allows a timid, “just burned” mindset to affect how he plays. That opens the door to you or someone else making the kill and further narrowing the field.