Volume 12: 'Fūrin Kazan'! Offensive-Defensive Transitions and Chip Plundering in the MTT Middle Stage

2025-04-25 9

Ninjas, the time of 'Hidden Dragon, Do Not Act' is over! As the blinds and antes relentlessly rise like the tide , the seemingly calm lake of the early stage has transformed into a turbulent 'Sea of Chaos' ! Welcome to the Middle Stage of the MTT! This is a core battlefield full of variables, opportunities, and dangers!

At this moment, you no longer possess the deep stack of the early stage as your 'protective armor' ; the average stack size relative to the blinds may have dropped to 30-60 big blinds, or even less. Tables are constantly merging , you will frequently encounter unfamiliar opponents, and the appearance of the Ante, like igniting an 'enticing flame' in the center of every pot, has drastically changed the mathematical foundation and player psychology of the game!

The extremely conservative 'turtle defense' strategy of the early stage is unsustainable in the middle stage! If you continue to wait only for premium hands like in the early stage, the blinds and antes will devour your lifeline bit by bit like relentless 'sandworms' ! The middle stage is the crucial time to test your ability to switch between offense and defense , to show your 'Aggressive as Fire' side! You need to transform from a 'lurking assassin' into a 'battlefield general' , taking the initiative, actively plundering, and carving out a path in the ever-changing situation!

This volume will reveal the core secrets of the MTT middle stage, teaching you how to adjust your strategy under pressure, how to use the Ante to launch 'plunder' attacks, how to deal with different stack depths, and how to strike precisely in the chaotic battlefield to accumulate strength for the final battle, or even secure victory directly!

I. The 'Catalytic Effect' of the Ante: Igniting the Flames of War, 'Aggressive as Fire'!

The Ante is the most important game-changer in the middle stage! Every player needs to contribute a small amount of 'dead money' to the pot before the cards are dealt. This seemingly minor change brings significant strategic impact:

The 'Temptation' of the Pot Increases Sharply: Because of the Antes, even if no one raises pre-flop, the pot already contains considerable 'dead money'. This makes the act of Stealing Blinds extremely profitable!
Defense Has Both 'Costs' and 'Benefits': For players in the big blind and small blind, because the pot already contains Antes, the pot odds they get for calling a standard raise from a late position player are much better! This means they need to Defend their blinds more frequently.
'Wind' Rises, the Horn for Initiative Blows! In short, the existence of the Ante makes every pot more valuable, greatly encouraging players to take more aggressive actions! You need to be swift as the wind to seize opportunities, leverage positional advantage, and more frequently attempt to steal this tempting 'starting pot'!

II. 'Swift as the Wind': The Art of Blind Stealing and Counter-Stealing!

In the middle stage, due to the increased profitability of stealing blinds, the frequency of Open Raises from late positions (Cutoff, Button) and even middle positions will significantly increase, and the raising range will also become Wider! This marks the beginning of the 'Blind Stealing War'!

Become a 'Thief', Strike Frequently: When the action folds to you, especially in late position, don't hesitate! You need to significantly increase your open-raising frequency! Your range can expand to include many seemingly mediocre hands, such as Axo (offsuit Ace), Kxo, QJo, suited connectors, and even some speculative junk hands (if your position is good enough). Your goal isn't just to hit a strong hand, but to directly steal the 'unclaimed treasure' containing the blinds and Antes!
'Signal Fire of Counterattack': The Power of the 3-Bet! When you realize an opponent (especially one in late position) is frequently stealing blinds with a wide range, you need to raise the 'signal fire of counterattack'! This is where the Light 3-Bet comes into play! When you are in position (e.g., on the Button facing a CO raise) or in the blinds (facing a late position raise), even without a premium hand, you can 3-bet with hands that have good blockers or potential (like Axs, KQs, suited connectors, or even AJo, KQo)!
- Purpose: Force the opponent to fold the weaker parts of their stealing range, winning the pot directly; or establish initiative post-flop.
- Note: Light 3-betting requires some understanding of your opponent's tendencies, and you must control the frequency and sizing to avoid being exploited.
The Wisdom of 'Defending the Castle': Blind Defense Strategy! When you are in the big blind or small blind facing a raise from a late position, due to the tempting pot odds, you cannot fold as easily as in the early stage. You need to defend more actively!
- Call: Call with a wider range, especially against min-raises or smaller raises. Include various potential suited hands, connectors, and even seemingly mediocre Ax, Kx.
- 3-Bet: Besides value 3-betting with strong hands, also mix in some light 3-bets (as mentioned above) to counter overly frequent blind stealers.
- Key: Position is your disadvantage! Play cautiously post-flop; don't get overly attached to the pot if you haven't hit a strong hand or draw.

III. 'Steady as the Forest': Adjusting Course Based on Stack Depth!

Stack sizes vary greatly in the middle stage, ranging from a relatively healthy 50BB+ to a dangerous sub-20BB. Your strategy must be like a forest, adapting flexibly to different 'terrains' (stack depths).

Healthy Stack (40BB+): Large maneuvering room. Actively 3-bet, float, bluff. Focus on post-flop control when playing speculative hands. Goal: Accumulate chips, apply pressure.
Medium Stack (25-40BB): Crucial stage, less room to maneuver. Stealing, light 3-betting still important but require caution. Simplify post-flop decisions. Tend towards folding or going all-in against 3-bets. Focus: Maintain stack, look for double-up spots.
Short Stack (Below 25BB): Danger zone! Weapons: All-in or fold. Study Push/Fold charts. Look for Re-steal (Re-shove) opportunities. Actively seek all-in spots, avoid blinding down.

IV. 'Immovable as the Mountain': Stay Calm, Identify Key Moments!

Pressure significantly increases in the middle stage, and the table atmosphere becomes more tense. Many players make serious mistakes at this stage, such as playing too impulsively due to stack pressure or too conservatively due to fear of elimination.

Stay Calm, Avoid Tilt: Whether facing bad beats or chip erosion, maintain a cool head. Impulsive decisions are the biggest enemy in the middle stage!
Observe and Adapt: After tables merge, quickly assess the styles of new opponents. Who are the loose-passive players? Who are the tight-aggressive ones? Who is prone to mistakes under pressure? Utilize your accumulated reads and notes from the early stage.
Identify Key 'Turning Points': The middle stage features decisive hands, such as winning a large pot that vaults you into the chip lead, or losing a crucial all-in that leaves you on the brink of elimination. You need the ability to recognize these critical moments and make optimal decisions. This often requires comprehensive judgment based on opponents, stack sizes, game flow, and other factors.
Prepare for the 'Bubble': As the tournament progresses and the money bubble (In The Money, ITM) approaches, this is the 'Bubble' period. Although we will discuss bubble strategy in detail in later chapters, in the latter part of the middle stage, you need to start being aware of the bubble's existence and observe if opponents change their play due to fear of not cashing.

V. Information Update and Utilization: 'Strike like Thunder', Precise Attacks!

The opponent intelligence you gathered in the early stage will be immensely valuable in the middle stage! At the same time, you must continuously update your 'enemy map'.

Leverage Early Intel: Know who the Calling Station is? Value bet them relentlessly with strong hands! Know who fears 3-bets? Light 3-bet them more often!
Targeted Strikes: Adapt your strategy based on opponents' stack sizes and playing styles. Increase blind stealing against short-stacked tight-passive players; choose your battles carefully against aggressive players with similar medium stacks to avoid unnecessary clashes.
Shape and Utilize Image: Your table image established in the early stage (tight or loose? aggressive or passive?) influences how opponents play against you. You can use this image for reverse plays. For example, if you've been playing very tight, occasional steals or bluffs might get more respect.

Volume Summary: Balanced Offense and Defense, Winning Amidst Chaos!

The middle stage of an MTT is the turning point from survival to contention. You need to be like an experienced general, mastering the 'Fūrin Kazan' principles: 'Swift as the Wind' when stealing blinds, 'Aggressive as Fire' when counter-attacking, 'Steady as the Forest' when adjusting to stack depth, and 'Immovable as the Mountain' when facing pressure. Through active blind battles, flexible strategy adjustments, a calm mind, and precise opponent reads, you can emerge victorious from the chaotic middle stage battlefield, accumulating valuable chips and experience for the final victory!

Next volume, we will enter the most thrilling and human-testing phase of the MTT – the Bubble Play! When the money is just one step away, fear and greed intertwine. How should you respond? Stay tuned!