I’m sure a few PRO’s may chime in at some point, but from my perspective…..  it’s all about playing GOOD poker.  

I have plenty of examples the past two weeks. 

Event 1 Borgata 2 MILLY GTD.  Attached everyone.  from top Pro’s to the worst rec players.  The field got 5,100 entries.  WOW.  1st was 380k.  

Structure is ok.  30 mins lvls, 25k.  My table was pretty weak.  Wasn’t going to get involved unless I had hands or in position.  A known very good younger pro came to join us at the table.  So, my plan, don’t get into with him, unless good/big hands and attack the weaker players.  After 3 – 30 min lvls.  My plan was working.  I found out who the weaker players were from there play. (lots of limping/calling/showing bad hands and making bad calls)  Other then my sb/bb, I probably got into 4-5 hands in those first 3 lvls, basically winning them all and two of them were pretty BIG w/ ave hands.  Ex/  I’m on btn w/ 75o, fish raises, I decide to call because he’s been playing/imping/spewing so much.  Flop was J55…….  I won a nice sized pot because he believed JT was good.  I bet HUGE in the river.  

I know BigDog especially says in BIG or most online tourneys, he sits back the first few levels and plays tight.  Structure has a bunch to do with how active you may be.  

But, in this Borgata event, I felt like I could kinda sit back for a bit,watch others and play a few hands in position or play my BIG hands kinda tricky and fast.  BOTH worked.  

ex.  I have around 32k, playing vs guy who owns Blind Squirrel Clothing.  He opens UTG, I’m in c/o w/ TT, I 3bet, he calls.  Flop is T66, BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM !!!  I cbet VERY small…..  he raises, I call.  turn was 8, chk, he bets, I call.  Riv is J, I chk, he bets 20k which basically puts me all in.  I SNAP call……  he had JT for 2 pair.  I have a BOAT.  

Winning that pot put me at 72k or so and the table lead.  from there, it was the same when I went to a new table.  As a tourney goes on, the pots are going to get bigger & bigger.  

Ex/ at this new table. Tyler Patterson, a well known LIVE pro. comes with 105k, sits down.  20 minutes later he goes in a big pot and takes out someone.  AK v TT, he prob has 185k.  He’s one of the top stacks at table.  He gets into it PRE w/ someone who had 175k chips.  Tyler 4bets and other player 5bet JAMS 175k, Tyler snaps AA……  he wins pot and now has 390k+ and bags a top 25 stack out of 600 left.  

It’s about winning pots, making proper folds and getting value for your HUGE hands when you can.  

Lets be honest, some players are better and run better…….  that doesn’t mean that they are going to win.  I ended the day with 195k.  Came in Day 2 sitting on my right was #5 in chips guy w/ 455k to start the day.  I crushed his soul a few times and he barely won a hand all day.  Not sure where he finished, but he didn’t get a top 50 even though he started day 2 with the 5th biggest stack.  

So my opinion would be watch some vids, Esp……. BigDog, Danny, Cory’s, Marc A, some of the new guys vids going deep are great.  Some of the old vids still have great ideas.