Time To Build A MicroStakes MTT Plan

When I first started playing poker I thought I'd be playing mainly multi-table tournaments but I've barely played any lately.

Grinding SnGs and cash games brings a small but steady profit but tournaments have the possibility of delivering a nice big prize for finishing 1st.

Unfortunately I find that SnGs and cash games fit into my schedule better since I can start them whenever I like. But I think I can manage to fit in some more MTTs.

My goal is to try and play at least 30 (hopefully more like 50-60) MTTs a month. I should be able to swing that playing 3-4 tournaments a couple of nights a week. I'm hoping that's enough to get a handful of deep runs and one final table each month. As long as I still remember how to play :) I'll also try and find some time to study some more on MTTs and maybe get some new books.

To help me with my goal to play more MTTs I went through the PokerStars lobby last night to see what tournaments are available and when they run. There were a few criteria I used in selecting tournaments.

Tourney Buy-in

I started a new bankroll a few months ago using my MTT Bankroll Management Spreadsheet but I haven't played many games yet. Luckily I did final table the first tournament I played on the new bankroll so I have around $500 to work with.

I'm using a 100 buy-in rule which allows me to play tournaments up to $5. There are only so many $5 mtts a day so I've decided to play MTTs from $1.10 to $5.50 weighted more around the $2-$3 range.

I'll throw in a shot at the $11 Sunday 1/4 million from time to time since it's so soft and the prizes are so big.

The 180 and 360 man tournaments probably won't be part of this bankroll since I want to focus on games with larger fields and prizes.

For now I'm not planning on playing any rebuys. Micro stakes MTTs are already enough of a crapshoot.

Starting Chips and Speed

I prefer tournaments with 3,000 starting chips and 15 minute levels but I decided to include some tourneys with 3,000 starting chips and 10 minute levels as well as a 2000 starting chip 15 minute level tournament.

This gives me some added flexibility to fit tournaments into my schedule.

I didn't include any turbo tournaments in my list since I'm not very comfortable with them yet. Most of the PokerStars VIP Freerolls are turbos and I'll be playing some of those in this bankroll. I've only played a handful and I did final table one in the past so if things go well I might consider adding more turbos like the $5.50 $20k Guaranteed Turbo.

Tourney Seats

Most of the games will be full-ring (9 seats) but I've included some short-handed (6-max) tournaments. I'm comfortable enough with 6-max but I left out the 4-max and heads up games.

Tournament Type

PokerStars has a few different types of tournaments, rebuys, 2R1A (2 rebuy 1 addon), capped tournaments, Ante up, Shootouts and more.

For the time being I'm going to stick to the normal freezout games. All games will be No-Limit Hold 'em.

Tournament Calendar

After filtering the tournaments I found 11 tournaments that fit the bill and had 3000 starting chips with 15 minute levels and 11 tournaments with other starting chips or level durations for a total of 22 tournaments I can choose from each day. That should be enough to help me meet my goal.

I've added all the games to my calendar software to help remind me to play.

Below is a list of the tournaments I will be choosing from depending on my schedule:

1:00am	$3.30 $5k Guaranteed 3000 chips 15 min levels
2:40am	$4.40 $2k Guaranteed 3000 chips 10 min levels
4:00am	$3.30 $3k Guaranteed 3000 chips 15 min levels
6:00am	$1.10 $2k Guaranteed 3000 chips 15 min levels
7:00am	$1.10 $2k Guaranteed 3000 chips 15 min levels
9:00am	$5.50 $12k Guaranteed 300 chips 15 min levels
9:40am	$3.30 $4k Guaranteed 3000 chips 10 min levels
11:00am	$1.10 $5k Guaranteed 2000 chips 15 min levels
12:00pm	$3.30 $7.5k Guaranteed 3000 chips 10 min levels
12:20pm	$1.10 6-max $2.5k Guaranteed 3000 chips 10 min levels
1:00pm	$5.50 $20k Guaranteed 3000 chips 15 min levels
1:20pm	$2.20 6-max $2k Guaranteed 3000 chips 10 min Levels
1:20pm	$3.30 6-max $4k Guaranteed 3000 chips 10 min levels
2:00pm	$3.30 $5k Guaranteed 3000 chips 10 min levels
2:45pm	$2.20 6-max $7.5 Guaranteed 3000 chips 15 min levels
3:40pm	$2.20 $5k Guaranteed 3000 chips 10 min levels
5:00pm	$2.75 $12.5k Guaranteed 3000 chips 15 min levels
5:40pm	$4.40 $6k Guaranteed 3000 chips 9 min levels
6:15pm	$5.50 6-max $7.5k Guaranteed 3000 chips 15 min levels
8:15pm	$2.20 $4k Guaranteed 3000 chips 15 min levels
9:00pm	$4.40 $3k Guaranteed 3000 chips 10 min levels
9:15pm	$2.20 $3k Guaranteed 3000 chips 15 min levels