The World Series of Poker is coming, and if you have not tried to qualify, it is now about time. An alternative worth considering are so-called "Steps" tournaments.
Steps are basically a series of sit-and-go tournaments. You have to work through several steps and can end up with a prize package to the WSOP Main Event.
Who does not want to work through the whole bone mill can also buy in directly at any level.
Steps tournaments online are probably the safest way to the main event. Take for example the WSOP Steps Program of Full Tilt Poker.
The Full Tilt Poker Steps System:
Step 1, $ 3.30: Rank 1 and 2 increase in Step 2, the places 3-5 will receive a second chance at level 1, the other players get nothing.
Step 2, $ 8.70: Rank 1 and 2 increase in Step 3, and 4 place to stay 3 to Level 2, 5th place will receive a Step 1 ticket.
Step 3, $ 26: No. 1 and 2 increase in step 4, place and 4 remain 3 to Step 3, Step 2 Place 5 is downgraded to the courts and 7 and 6 are downgraded to Step 1.
Step 4, $ 75: No. 1 and 2 increase to Step 5, Place and 4 remain 3 to Level 4, the courts and 6 to 5 back to stage 3
Level 5, $ 216: No. 1 and 2 increase to Step 6, place and 4 remain 3 to Level 5, the courts and 6 to 5 back to stage 4
Level 6, $ 640: No. 1 and 2 increase on to Step 7, Place 3 remains at Level 6, the squares and 5, 4 back on level 5, 6 and 7, the courts have to return to stage 4
Level 7, $ 2100: 1st place wins a $ 12k WSOP Main Event, places 2 and 3 remain at level 7, which places 4-6 back on level 6
The optimal strategy Steps
The Steps tournaments are subject to a special system. To be successful, one must therefore apply a particular strategy.
First, one must of course be familiar with the basics of sit-and-go strategy. So I played a rather tight at first and avoid confrontations. When the blinds increase, increases one's own rank and always plays variable.
If you feel in SnG tournaments, probably not, the steps are a problem. If MTT are your thing more, you should keep perhaps prefer the $ 620 qualifier.
The key to success lies with the SnG format in the aggression. As shown in the list above, there is a single table up to four bubbles. So one has to pay close attention to how many players are playing and how they behave in different situations bubble.
It is quite normal that players on the bubble increasingly tighter. On the first bubble it is all about, not to stand with empty hands. On the second they want to at least remain at this level. And on the last Bubble is about to not be the one who does not get further.
Because of these dynamics, the Steps are perfect for stealing the blinds. If the other players are tight, you should "open" and even exploit this. We need to steal often.
An example
It should be possible to contest these tournaments successfully, regardless of whether you get tickets or not, by simply recognizes the crucial situations. A good example of a steal attempt for the need not even be a good hand:
They sit in a tournament at level 4 Five players are still at the table. The blinds are at $ 250 / $ 500 at $ 25 Ante.Der UTG player has another 600 chips and folds. Are you on the button, the next one. They hold $ 4800th Her hand beside the point. The small blind has $ 3200 and the big blind of $ 2900th
In this situation, you should go with virtually every hand all-in. The blinds know that the UTG player is ausgeblindet practically in the next hand. Therefore, they will not pay if they do not just a monster.
The blinds are therefore probably only with AA, KK, QQ, and AK might pay. You do not want to risk leaving if the table still sits a very small stack, which is also equal to the blinds. Situations like this allow to play off his own position completely.
This also works for re-steals. If you have a player at the table, the very much increased, you can start re-steals, knowing that the other not because of the small stacks at the table can pay. This creates a lot of discretionary money on the table.
Aggression: a double- edged sword
The goal is to get to the next round. Therefore you have to switch players. It makes no sense to embed as part of the step-size in a side pot, not sure if this has.
They want to take the small stacks from the table, so it is nonsense to bluff in such a situation. Better in a situation in which a small stack goes all-in and you yourself as well as more games are involved durchzuchecken the board and hope that the player is eliminated with the small stack - unless you have a premium hand.
Play aggressively, but smart. If you have a nice stack together and see how another player continually attacks the short stack, there is no reason to mess with him. Rather, you wait from simple, until it has completed the Short Stack and booked his ticket to the next level.
However, this is the exception. Most of it is, that even the aggressor must be.
In general, you should have at least ten tickets to the next level before you actually make the leap. The reason is that when using the optimal strategy is all fairly common-in. So you need some reserves, so as not to play with scared money.
If we can ultimately prevail, thanks to the aggressive style of play then. It is this style catapulted one but also from many a tournament. He is a double-edged sword, and therefore one should have a few tickets in reserve, no matter what level you are currently located.
If you already have a winning SnG player and have a bankroll that allows you to enter quite far up, then you should naturally do.
As I said, Steps tournaments are probably the best way to get online to earn a ticket. Look for the Bubbles and the behavior of other players, and get anxious from the game.
This is the secret of steps. Apply this strategy, and your chances of getting a place in the main event significantly increased.
Note: If you are looking for an alternative, you find out about our special program with WSOP WSOP freerolls.
