Dara O'Kearney (Satellite Specialist) - Ask Me Anything about satellites/knockouts

[Dara OKearney]

Hello . How you should aproach the mid strategy game in a satellite when ur the chipleader or second is good to be to agressive? Or u should play more careful?

It depends on how near to the target stack you are (the nearer you are, the more cautious you should be) and how the rest of the table is playing (play opposite, so loose if table tight, tight if table loose)

We cover this in a bit more detail in this video (you can also see lots of other free videos on topics related to the Poker Solved series on the channel)

Also, we just released a long form video on some of the material covered in my new book "Beyond GTO: Poker Exploits Simplified" on the Chip Race channel

 

[Dara OKearney]

Hi Dara,

I started to study strategies to play knockouts and I was surprised by some spots where you have to shove with 72o to try to win the bounty of a short stack opponent (for example: 8bb deep).

Do you think this play is correct ?

Yes, it's definitely correct. There are quite a lot of any two card spots in bounties.

While I'm here, wsop have just announced that all their live satellites this year will be Landmark/Milestone/Target Stack satellites.


Barry and I did a training video on this satellite format and we just halved the price of it to $25 for a limited time only

 

[Dara OKearney]

Hello Dara.

Have you ever broken the bankroll? Is it common nowadays for you to face bankroll reduction due to satellites?

Hi,

Never gone fully bust but went close a few times in the early years! bankroll management is an essential skill if you want to make your living from the game.

Thanks for your question!

 

[Dara OKearney]

Hi Dara

In your opinion which pokersite is best to play satellites at these days.

Thanks in advance

unibet, Ipoker, Stars, GG in that order.

If you're learning satellites, make sure you read my book Poker Satellite Strategy! It's recently been updated with a chapter on the newest satellite variant, target stack satellites (also known as milestone or landmark satellites). All this year's WSOP live satellites will be in the format. If you already know how to play traditional satellites and want to learn what adjustments you have to make in this format as quickly as possible. Barry and I made a video currently reduced to $25 (half price) for a limited time

 

[Dara OKearney]

-Question to Dara O’ Kearney:

I am in the mid stages of a tournamentwith a big stack, but there are quite few players till we get In The Money, and I am card dead. How to deal with that? Trying to make steals whenever possible or keep playing tight waiting for a good hand?

Interesting question and there's no fixed answer. It really depends on how your opponents are playing and how likely steals are to work. If they're playing tight or likely to respect your steals more having seen you fold for ages then by all means go for steals, but often they won't be paying attention or care, they'll still play the same range so your steals won't work often enough and your best strategy is to remain patient, as frustrating as that can feel.

My latest book Beyond GTO is all about identifying opponent tendencies and leaks and exploiting them, and Barry and I have also made a video covering the same material

 

[Dara OKearney]

Hi Dara. After winning a large amount of money in poker, does euphoria or something like relaxation appear and you start playing less recklessly?

I try not to let it affect me in either direction (so called winner's tilt). I don't always manage it though!

Following on from our work on “Beyond GTO”, Barry and I put together a webinar on live poker exploits for bucket list fields like the WSOP or the Irish Open.

We look at the most common live player leaks and show the exploits solvers make to beat them.

It's available to purchase on GumRoad

 

[Dara OKearney]

I congratulate you again. I started practicing satellites, but the buy-in is very low, 0.1-1$, what can you tell me about such limits?

Thank you! At the low buy in events, you'll find a lot of players playing very far from optimal, so I suggest studying the chapter on "Adjusting for Imperfection" in my book on satellites (Poker Satellite Strategy)

Also, while I'm here, ahead of the Mystery Bounty event at the WSOP, check out this webinar we did on the topic.
It includes:

· How to adjust to Mystery Bounties
· Bounty calculations to do quickly at the table
· Understanding the impact of the biggest bounties still being in play vs being removed
· Late registration strategies
· Early vs endgame Mystery Bounty strategy
· When to gamble for more bounties and when to play a more standard strategy

The strategy in this format is very different to regular MTTs, bounty tournaments and PKOs. The advice is also relevant for PLO Mystery Bounties.



It's currently available at half price ($25) for a limited time only

 

[renegatul]

Welcome aboard, the community is warm and friendly I am sure that you will have a great time here.

 

[lilypond]

Hi Dara. How do you play differently in satellites compared to MTTs? Do you take less risks since there is no advantage to winning a satellite?

 

[Foxjoke]

Hi Dara

I have 3 questions regarding satellite strategy to ask.

How to calculate COC when it is not stone bubble yet, like 3 paid, 6 left. How do we calculate COC for this scenario?

How do we combine pot odds and COC together? if our COC is 70% and we getting very good pot odds, do we still need 70% equity to call off?

GG now has hybrid target stack satellite where players can win a seat if he hits target stack or he is the last few remaining. How does the strategy change with this type of satellite?

Thanks in advance!

 

[AKQ]

Hi Dara

I have 3 questions regarding satellite strategy to ask.

How to calculate COC when it is not stone bubble yet, like 3 paid, 6 left. How do we calculate COC for this scenario?

How do we combine pot odds and COC together? if our COC is 70% and we getting very good pot odds, do we still need 70% equity to call off?

GG now has hybrid target stack satellite where players can win a seat if he hits target stack or he is the last few remaining. How does the strategy change with this type of satellite?

Thanks in advance!

Dang thats kinky
Sry the blood left my brain and went to..

Whats Coc exactly?
and I would say it highly depends on your (coc) stack size compared to the field and current depth + your committed chips+ table dynamics

If you think you are gonna be in a bad place on the table with those villians and small chip stack after this fold
don't fold

If you think you can make up the folded equity on the next hands with high success
fold

Really depends on depth and sizing of MTT satty(forgot this is daras thread) xD
satelite bubble specialist

 

[Dara OKearney]

I congratulate you again. I started practicing satellites, but the buy-in is very low, 0.1-1$, what can you tell me about such limits?

Play tighter than normal, people don't fold much at those stakes!

 

[Dara OKearney]

Hi, Dara!

What are some key strategies or tips you recommend for players looking to excel in satellite games, based on your expertise and success as a satellite specialist?

Please disregard if similar question has been raised. I'll find time to backread. Thanks!

I'd sum it up as shove more, call shoves less.

 

[Dara OKearney]

Barry and I just released Tournament Poker Study Simplified. It's a new video course which breaks down the fundamentals of poker while also giving you a framework for how to study poker on your own, without a coach.

Since I started writing books, demand for my one-on-one coaching has skyrocketed, so much so that I often have to turn away a lot of potential new clients.

Whatever level they are, I always like to start with the fundamentals: GTO, exploits and ICM. What I often find after working with a client for a while is they are often missing these foundational building blocks which would allow them to study on their own.

The course replicates the process I go through with my one-on-one clients and Barry sits in to play the role of the student. We cover all the major aspects of poker including

• Preflop opens, flats, 3-bets and defends
• How to study post flop hands
• How to play different board textures
• Bet sizing strategy including leads and overbets
• Turn and river play
• Blind vs Blind
• Bubble and final table bubble play
• Short, Medium & Big stack ICM strategies
• Final table strategy
• Exploits and node locking

We have over 20 hours of video and we will be updating the course in the future with more stuff. This is all for a fraction of the price of my private coaching.

In addition to all of that, for a short time only you will also get our three exclusive webinars on Milestone Satellites, Mystery Bounties and playing soft live fields, for free! As an additional incentive exclusive to Cardschat members, anyone buying using the discount code CARDSCHAT gets you a $50 discount.

My hope is that by the end of this course, you will not only have developed a solid understanding of the fundamentals of poker, you will also have developed a framework for how to study poker alone, without the need for a coach.

 

[pirateglenn]

Hi Dara,

Thank you for giving up your time to support Cardschat and take member questions.

My question is - Has satellite poker method play changed at all over the years and if so - how?

 

[Dara OKearney]

Hi Dara,

Thank you for giving up your time to support Cardschat and take member questions.

My question is - Has satellite poker method play changed at all over the years and if so - how?

Very much so. People play them a lot better, and most people understand when it becomes push or fold.

 

[Dara OKearney]

What would be your strategy in the final phase of the tournament?

Generally very conscious of ICM: I could write a whole book on the topic: in fact I have

Endgame Poker Strategy: the ICM Book

 

[Poker Orifice]

Hi Dara I recently saw a special sale on your books for all 6 editions. I actually have them all but one and am not wanting them for myself but my question is, are they available in Spanish? (I'd like to purchase them for someone on Cardschat).

 

[Nafor]

I didn't comb through this whole thread so if these are already asked and answerered my apologies.

1) Is it wise to play a satellite that is played so close to the main event itself that when you finally win the seat you already have to jump in during late registration?

2) There are main events take many satellite steps to reach. E.g. $1 buy-in can win $11 ticket, the $22, etc. Obviously, the more steps are involved it's less likely to reach the main goal.
Is there a golden rule that should be followed? For example, if there a more than x satellite steps then it's better to forget about it.

 

[AKQ]

Generally very conscious of ICM: I could write a whole book on the topic: in fact I have

Endgame Poker Strategy: the ICM Book

Excellent Read!

 

[Dara OKearney]

Hi Dara, first of all I'd like to say that I've found all of your books, which I am rereading, to be immensely helpful.

Secondly, I would like to ask you if it's correct to fold AKo multiway in late stage bounty MTTs when you have a decent stack?

The answer (as it so often is) is "It depends". In this case on just how big the bounty is and the exact ranges of other players. What i can say is that AK is hand that diminishes in value the more multi-way the pot is.

Thanks for your question!

While I'm here I'd like to announce Barry and I just launched our new site
https://simplifypoker.com

You can sign up to our free newsletter there and find lots of free stuff.

 

[Marshmalo1994]

The answer (as it so often is) is "It depends". In this case on just how big the bounty is and the exact ranges of other players. What i can say is that AK is hand that diminishes in value the more multi-way the pot is.

Thanks for your question!

While I'm here I'd like to announce Barry and I just launched our new site
https://simplifypoker.com

You can sign up to our free newsletter there and find lots of free stuff.

Thanks Dara! Congrats on the new project

 

[Dara OKearney]

Hello Dara, I just bought your GTO Poker Simplified book. I am running through some other stuff first, but am eager on reading it.

If I'm not mistaken you're an ambassador for Unibet. They want to be a site for the recreational players and therefore they don't allow HUD's (which might be good for beginners0, but they also don't have hand histories (not even anonymized).

So here comes my question (finally). I am being told over and over again to analyze my play. To study my game and find my leaks. But how do you do that when playing on a site like Unibet? Should I keep notes manually on (some/most) hands I play? It makes this part a lot harder. Do you have any recommendations, tips or advice on this topic?

When there are no hand histories, I think the best way to capture this information is to record your screen: I get students to do this all the time as it's a good way to spot and fix leaks

I just published a new strategy article: It looks at a question I’m frequently asked: how to put players on ranges.

Mastering Hand Ranging: How to Analyze Opponent Ranges for Maximum Profit

Learn how to effectively range hands in poker with tips from Dara O'Kearney, improving your decision-making and profitability at the tables.

www.tightpoker.com

 

[Dara OKearney]

please tell me what is the % of intelligence and what is the % of luck in playing poker, but it can be different

In the short term mostly luck: in the long term nearly all skill (or intelligence)

Barry and I recently released a completely free course: https://simplifypoker.com/free/

 

[pirateglenn]

Hi Dara,

What has been your strategy when close to bubble or ITM and you are short stacked and dealt a premium starting hand - in either early or late position, for context you have lets say less than 10 bbs.

Thank you again for your time.