When there is no ante in play in a tournament, you should generally adopt a more conservative betting raise strategy. Without antes, the pot sizes are smaller, which means there is less incentive to steal blinds aggressively. Here are a few adjustments you might consider: 1. **Tighter Range**: Play a tighter range of hands, focusing on stronger holdings. Since the pot is smaller, you don’t need to take as many risks to accumulate chips. 2. **Smaller Raises**: Consider making smaller raises pre-flop. Without antes, opponents are less likely to call with weaker hands, so you don’t need to raise as much to achieve the same effect. 3. **Position Awareness**: Pay extra attention to your position. In early positions, be more selective with your starting hands, while in late positions, you can open up your range slightly to take advantage of the smaller pots. 4. **Post-Flop Play**: Be prepared for more post-flop play, as opponents may call more often with speculative hands due to the smaller pot sizes. Focus on post-flop skills and be ready to make moves based on the board texture and opponent tendencies. 5. **Steal Less Frequently**: With no antes, the blinds are less valuable, so you should be more selective about when to attempt to steal them. Look for opportunities where opponents are likely to fold, but don’t force steals unnecessarily. By adjusting your strategy in these ways, you can effectively navigate tournaments without antes and maintain a solid chip stack.
If you open from all positions with the same range as when there is no ante, you are making a mistake that costs you money.…
