Hold'em strategy articles tagged "mtt".
Right after late registration, you are not on the money bubble yet, but ICM pressure has already begun. This article breaks down practical adjustments for BB defense, opener steals, and postflop sizing at a 20bb stack.
Postflop ICM is not simply a skill of playing tight. To make accurate in-game decisions, you need to consider the chip EV baseline, payout structure, remaining stack distribution, and opponent tendencies together.
Even when everyone has the same stack, like on the first hand of a 200-player MTT, ICM already changes postflop decisions. On low rainbow boards in particular, OOP should reduce medium-sized betting and shift toward checking and smaller bets.
A complete breakdown of the key decisions needed for deep MTT runs, from ante steals, BB defense, and stack-based 3-betting to selective c-betting. Use numbers and example hands to build practical in-game standards.
Big Blind Ante (BBA) increases steal profitability by 40–50%. Learn how to adjust your preflop ranges in ante environments.
In Progressive Knockout (PKO) tournaments, bounty value dramatically widens your calling range. Learn to adjust your strategy for knockout formats.
At the final table, every elimination creates a pay jump. Learn ICM-based strategies for navigating the most critical stage of any tournament.
The bubble is where ICM pressure peaks. Learn the optimal strategies for chip leaders, medium stacks, and short stacks to navigate this critical phase.
At 5–10bb, there's no complex postflop play. Just know your push range by position.
