How Should you Play Tournament Where First Place Wins 99% of the Prize?
Should you play super aggressively to build a huge stack and hopefully get first place?
7 Replies
Well the main thing is that there isn't really any ICM in that scenario. That then removes the ability of the bigger stacks to bully the medium stacks since there is no ICM pressure on them to ladder. I think you just play each hand Chip EV. Playing more aggressively may have the advantage that you'll either accumulate chips quickly or get knocked out quickly but I don't think it's going to necessarily help you to win the tournament.
How would you play where first place wins all the money?
Exactly the same you would play any other tournament in the beginning. Except you play like that the whole time. There is nothing special about it, just focus on playing every hand the best you can.
I ran Queens into Aces with 10bbs and lost
That's a spot where you go broke at almost any time in almost any tournament (some satellite bubbles excepted).
This is like a satellite tournament. 1st place gets the prize and second place gets a handshake. There won't be a money bubble and we are more inclined to take gambles early on to build a stack.
