How to improve at MTT?

BaldHead said:

If we speak in a structured and formal manner, the main problem most beginners face in multi-table tournaments is not a lack of “talent,” but the absence of a clear plan for playing different stack sizes. Players often act intuitively, without adjusting to stack depth, and this is what gradually leads to the loss of chips.
First of all, one must understand a fundamental principle: tournament play changes depending on the size of the stack. It is not possible to play the same way with 50 big blinds as with, for example, 10 big blinds. These are entirely different game models that require different decisions.
With a deep stack (approximately 40 big blinds or more), it is advisable to adopt a disciplined and controlled style. In early positions, one should play a relatively tight range and avoid weak hands. In later positions, it becomes reasonable to widen the range and apply pressure to opponents. The primary objective at this stage is to preserve the stack and avoid unnecessary risks.
When the stack becomes medium (around 15–40 big blinds), the game requires greater activity. At this point, stealing the blinds becomes increasingly important. A player should open more frequently from late positions while avoiding unnecessary calls. Preference should be given to simple decisions: raise with intent or fold. Complex postflop situations without strong hands often lead to mistakes in this stack range.
Particular attention must be given to short-stack play (up to 15 big blinds). In this situation, traditional postflop play is largely eliminated, and the strategy is reduced to a “push or fold” approach. Attempts to limp or make small raises with the intention of “seeing a flop” usually result in losing the remaining chips. Decisiveness is essential here: with a suitable hand, one should move all-in; otherwise, fold and wait for a better opportunity.
It is also important to understand why players frequently end up short-stacked. In most cases, this results from excessive calling, playing too many weak hands, and insufficient aggression when opportunities to steal blinds arise. As a result, the stack diminishes gradually, often without any major single loss.
To stabilize one’s performance, several practical habits should be developed. First, it is important to steal blinds more actively, especially when opponents are passive. Second, one should not wait exclusively for premium hands—in tournaments, a significant portion of profit comes from applying pressure. Third, it is essential to avoid impulsive decisions and the urge to “chase losses.”
One should also take into account the nature of freerolls. In such tournaments, many participants play chaotically and make numerous mistakes. This creates favorable conditions for a disciplined player: a simple, solid, and logical strategy is often sufficient to gain a meaningful edge.
In conclusion, successful play in multi-table tournaments is not built on complex techniques, but on an understanding of fundamental principles—stack management, discipline, and the ability to make simple yet correct decisions. It is precisely these factors that allow a player to gradually build a stack and feel confident at every stage of the tournament.

Click to expand...

marco198121 said:

Was this written by a chatgpt or did you have the patience to write all of this yourself?

Click to expand...

sob67 said:

What are yall's tips to improve at MTTs. I am currently trying to play freerolls to get a feeling of what tournament poker is like, but often end up with not knowing how to play as my stack gets shallow.

Click to expand...