Strategy help with a 1 re-buy tournament

daveyboy · #1 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 11:07 PM

I am heading to Vegas tomorrow and I was wondering about trying out a certain strategy in a tournament with 1 re-buy.

The tournment buy-in is $65 for 2000 in chips and 1 re-buy of $40 for another 3000 in chips. Blinds go up every 20 minutes and you must utilize your re-buy by the 1st break (1st 3 levels?). At the end of the 1st break, you may utilize your re-buy no matter what your chip stack amount is.

I am not sure why I never did this, but should take a chance early in tournament to steal some bigger pots by risking a large portion of my stack knowing that I have a re-buy that is bigger than my orginal starting amount. I guess what I am trying to say is that, "should I try to steal some pots with a marginal hand knowing that I have a re-buy opportunity".

Not sure why I do this, but I normally would play the same way as I would in a NO re-buy tournament. I never really utilized the option of a re-buy to take some early risk. I always used the re-buy simply to add to my stack at the end of the first session or used it to stay in the game after going broke on a hand that I felt that I was ahead. I rarely get a big chip lead in those tournaments eventhough I have done fairly well in them.

I've played aggressive/risky in a multi-re-buy tournies, but not one with 1 re-buy.

Do you get what I mean?

Any comments? Thanks!!

littlebu · #2 (**permalink**) 06-06-2007, 11:40 PM

I ALWAYS loosen up in a rebuy. I usually just try to play any made hand big as people are willing to gamble more bc they can rebuy

TheMightyJim2k · #3 (**permalink**) 06-07-2007, 12:11 AM

you should loosen up, but not in an attempt to steal pots, but in an effort to push small EV edges since you have a backup stack.

For example if 3 people see the flop and you flop a flush draw and there is a bet and call in front of you go ahead and reraise (push if the pot is big enough) in an effort to maximize fold equity. Basically you should semi-bluff more, but realize that other people are going to be gambling more and looking you up more often. It is kind of a tight rope to walk, but you definitely have to open up a lot more.

At the same time remember that just playing like a reckless lunatic is never +EV. You still need to play with decent hands pf, use position, and don't call off the stack weak. Just be willing to make a few more postflop moves and open up a little pf.