Re: [ba-poker] tournament alternates

[David Wallace <dave(deleted the rest)>]

Rodney Chen <rchen(deleted the rest)> wrote:
> I've started seeing this practice used more often in tournament poker, as
> folks bust out in the the preliminary rounds they are replaced by folks on
> an alternates list.  In the WSOP $10k event, apparently the 200 alternates
> to the 2400 in the main field have their chips "blinded" off at 50 chips
> every 40 minutes, a relatively insigificant amount against the starting
> level of blinds.
> 
> Is it generally an advantage (reduced exposure to being snapped) or
> disadvantage (missing playable hands) to being an alternate?

That one seems obvious to me: if being forced to fold every hand
for the first few rounds was an advantage, you could implement
that strategy even if you were sitting at the table.  Sitting
at the table gives you more options, not fewer.  And there are
worse things than getting snapped off early.  If I could
start every tournament with AA vs. KK for all my chips, I'd
take it in a heartbeat, even though I know I'd be getting snapped
off one time in five.

Dave W.