Funny thing was, i went into this with a plan ?
It was around 6 00 pm (ish) when i entered knowing my dog still had to go for her walk....
So with 15 min levels and good blind structure, and it would be about a 6 hour game i had a couple of options, either sit out the first level or two, or be creative in those levels to build a stack, then take the dog out and come back with the first break imminent...
I chose the later, so with 2500 starting stack and blinds starting at 10/20 i started off by ..if i was coming into a pot then i was raising, no flat calls, either pass or raise...When the second level came in i was only just above the 2500 (around 2750) ..However the next 15 min level, (15/30) i found a nice couple of hands and quickly got to 6000 chips..It was at this point i made the decision to sit out and take the dog for the walk....
We were gone around 25-30 mins, i looked at my stack and i'd only lost about 250 chip in anti-es .. Also before i left i noted i was in the top 30 and on my return was still in the top 40..
After the first break (4 levels) the blinds were i think 75/150 and after that it was just a question of playing tight aggressive to the bubble..
At that point i was in the top 10, it then became a game of picking the spots and playing the players....
The reason i posted this analysis is, in these well structure games theres no reason to be busy all the time..
I don't agree with some of the experts who say, 'don't play or get involved through the first four levels'.
However it's for sure you cant win a tournament at that stage and of course as we have all experienced at some time, we can lose it there..
So for future reference, i do like to play in those first 2 levels because it can give you the power of a larger stack, as opposed to waiting for the big hand with a small starting stack, with no back up if your hand gets busted..
The big point for me though was the half hour break, and not losing any momentum but noticeable was while i was away 40 more players had left the tournament
good luck all, and thanks again for the congrats
