Optimal strategy for Stars 2x MTT's?

During this month, Pokerstars is having 2x MTT's, a single rebuy if you bust out.

What would be the optimal strategy for these, in your opinion?


I finished 4th out of like 960 for 226 in a 2 dollar one a few days ago, didn't even have to rebuy.

My thoughts:

Obviously catching good cards all tourney long helps a lot.

I think you need to be kinda loose in the early levels, try to catch some luck to build up a chip stack. If you bust, rebuy and build one up more gradually/cautiously.

I can't remember exactly how, but I got up to about 5200 at the 25/50 level, and just played super tight until the first break (when the rebuy period ends). Once the break ended, I started looking for spots to steal blinds and isolate limpers preflop and take pots down on the flop with c-bets. I started to play a little more LAG, but still pretty tight.

I'm mainly a TAG player, but will loosen up and go after more chips when the table allows it, so I probably just adjusted to the various situations and finally got into the money, abused the nits, got to the final table and caught some good cards.

Down to 4 handed, I misplayed a hand on the button and lost most of my chips to the BB, two hands later I busted out with A-10 offsuit against UTG's 44. I only had 8 BB's left, so I had no choice but to push to his preflop raise.



What is the optimum strategy for these tourneys?

My strategy is always to re-buy right away for a couple reasons. The extra chips have the most value each in the very beginning so I like having the chips when they're the most meaningful. The other reason is I like being deep earlier so I'm not getting doubled for half the amount when I could potentially double for the full amount earlier.
I'm curious others strategy - I guess I've must of though about this at one time or another a long time ago, but I can't really recall when as now just rebuying the minute the option is presented has just become natural to me.

Man, I should have mentioned. You can only rebuy if your stack reaches 0.


I think if you're going to bust out and rebuy, you need to do it before 25/50, because if you bust and rebuy at 50/100, you're going to be well below average, and if you bust and rebuy during 25/50, you don't have much time to build up another stack.

Seems like you gotta bust and rebuy no later than 15/30

I think what you posted is pretty solid. If I bust in the last level or 2 before rebuy period ends I will not rebuy. As you said, I think it is -ev to rebuy and be pretty shortstacked.

I would also add that early on you will have quite a bit of players who are willing to gamble and play back at you. As a result you need to lessen your standards to a degree when calling allin bets and reraise a little more frequently with your good but not great hands.

Overall I like a standard tight aggressive style early but not being afraid to gamble. I dont like playing real loose though. If and when you pick up a monster you will likely get payed by atleast one player so you do not want to bleed to many chips seeing a lot of flops since when you do get action you want to maximize the amount you get paid. If I get a big stack I like tightning up till the rebuy period is over.

Congrats on the final table.