Yesterday I've played another satellite live and after playing my A-game for that tournament,
I busted out 17th/120 with 8 people winning. I definitely had a good edge in this tournament, but I'm still not sure whether I played the most exploitive style in this format and against these players.

My Image: As I'm young, they think that I'm stealing in late position. On top of that, with their "experience" they think they can outplay me postflop. Some of them notice that I can fold 30 times in a row and pick spots carefully, they talk about my playstyle and they never say the same things (sometimes I'm tight, sometimes a maniac, ...)

The player pool: Half the player pool haven't heard that limping in this format isn't good. They usually limp QTo and complain if they lose all their chips vs AA on Q33. They setmine with about 20% of their stack sometimes. They don't like folding, unless they are playing an old player, who's always more credible than me (they got it slightly more often than me, true). Then there are some young players like me who I consider the strongest opponents as they know online poker too. (Obv some of them think too much and call a shove with A7, which is horrible in this format)

My sizing: I 2x-2.4x most hands from any position, sometimes 3x versus people who fold way more often on that sizing preflop. When some people limp, I make it 1x more for any limper. When below 12bb's, I push all hands.

Now the main problem with this format is, that I'm 100% sure some players have a bigger edge than me, only because they can use their image. (5%-10% of the player pool, mostly older players). They don't have to know that much about online poker either, they know all the players by their names, are regulars.

Some facts:
-They don't get reraised by AK, even if they have the same opening range as I do
-They get more folds on their Cbets
-They take down the pot uncontested more often

Now, in a regular tournament I will have no disadvantage, as I'm more likely to win the tournament (as bad players defend their big blinds with inferior hands) I don't care about some ITM cashes there. All I want in this sat-format is consistency, which I don't have, how on earth can I achieve that same consistency those players got?!?

My ideas (adjustment)
-Friendly talk (creates foldequity imo)
-Raise and take it down (5x-7x sometimes to make limpers fold)
--> haven't done it that often, will start trying that
-Showing down some strong hands when nonbelievers think you're bluffing

What are your experiences with this format? Any advice?


//hand examples

1) Blinds 3k/6k, ante 500 (stack 180k). MP calls 6k, I raise (BTN) to 19k with 99. BB (Ax) calls, MP calls. Flop AJ3dd, BB donks, MP calls, I fold
--> take it down with a PFR of 40k? 

2) Blinds 3k/6k, ante 500. I open MP (99) with 12.5k, BB calls (again). Flop A72 and he puts in half his stack (!)

3) Blinds 3k/6k, ante 500. I open LP (77) with 12.5k, 3 people call. I have to give up postflop.

Pocket pairs are bad in my position unless I flop a set as someone usually hits a higher pair.