Hi Folks,
First off, you've got to have "balls" (a.k.a. tough skin) to do this in a tounament online. I say that because other players on your table will be screaming and shouting the heck out of the chat window.
**This is not guareenteed to work to get you in the money every time but it is guareenteed to get you in a higher spot than you would otherwise be if you didn't do this.
Criteria for when this strategy is most beneficial:*
- Major poker tournament of any kind online.
- Halfway or more through the field. (i.e. Within 100 to 300+- players from making it into the minimum money spot)
- Semi short stack to really short stacked (or even large stack but this strategy is not as necessary if you have a big stack) and worried about if you are going to make it into the money at the least.
How To Execute This Very Easy Trick:
- Every time your receive you pocket cards, do not take any action, i.e. call, raise, and especially even fold, until the complete alotted time has been used up. (I.E. on poker stars you have about 20 seconds total). First they give you 6 seconds to reveiw your hand then they post a message in the chat window that you have 14 seconds remaining.
- Very Important: Use at least 15 to 18 of the seconds on every single hand you are dealt.
This easiest way to time it is just use this online STOP WATCH found at the following website (click the green up arrow):
http://www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screen-stopwatch/
And thats its!!
If you use this strategy, the following things will occur:
Pros:
- 1. Each hand dealt will usually take up to about a 1 minute or longer because you are using up almost 20 seconds of it vs. 3 or 4 seconds due to a fold.
- 2. You will notice that the field of players will be decreasing more and more and you will be inching closer and closer to getting in the money even though you've had weak hands and have only been folding.
- 3. The longer each hand takes, you will be subject to far less blinds the longer term.
Cons:
- A. Other players at the table will get super upset and start yelling at you to play.(Thus, the need for thick skin) Some will even just decided to sit out. LOL. Don't worry about them at all, just continue to do the same thing on every hand because you are trying to safely make it into the money.
- B. You may be slowing down your opportunity to play more hands and possibly get a good hand to double up with but at the same time, you could get that same hand and be knocked out the tourney just outside of the money.
Ultimately, by taking the maximum amount of time of each and every hand that is dealt to you no matter what your action is to be, you will end up being much closer to the money than you would otherwise be if you folded yours hands and played faster pots. EVERYONE LOVES TO FOLD FAST, BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG OR ILLEGAL WITH FOLDING SLOW.
Once again, this is most beneficial when you are semi short stacked and and close to or potentially only a small chance to making it in the money. (i.e when you don't have too many BB's left +-15 or so). The key is fold alot and make it in the money but slow your potential knockout blow by slowing your action on EVERY HAND and the field on other tables outside of yours will start to dwindle down.
Before you know it, you will have squeezed you way into the money.
Once you have made it into the money, then it is a good idea to relive your opponents on the table of your snail play and start playing at regular speed again.
This has worked for me numerous times.
To avoid having to deal with upset and angry oppenents, I just completely turn off the chat functions for the duration of my slow play. I turn them back on once I start playing regular again. I recommend others that use this strategy to do the same.
Try it, have fun and squeeze your way in the $! And remember its 100% allowed to do this on the poker website.
and hope to double up? ( <-- through Mr. Hellmuth )
