NO-LIMIT HOLD'EM TOURNAMENT TIPS
Playing online tournaments is pure excitement. With a small buy-in you have the chance to win huge money. However, to reach the paid places you will need a specific tournament strategy.
In cash games you have to play against your opponents, track their styles and try to take advantage from their mistakes. At larger tournaments it is impossible to concentrate on individual players because new players are moved to your table all the time or you are moved to a new table.
First of all, if you want to participate in larger tournaments play them at Party Poker, the poker room with the best tournament offers. When playing tournaments at PokerStars, BodogPoker and PokerCom you can always check the average stack size in the tournament lobby to determine your current tournament position.
Party Poker Titan Poker Everest Poker are the obvious choices for the tournament player: huge prize pools in the big events, many satellites and dozends of regular tournaments a day.
Starting The Tournament:
At larger online tournaments usually a third of the entrants are knocked out within the first hour of playing. Take advantage of this fact by playing very tight and selective in the early tournament phase. That means in the first hour you only want to play with premium hands and avoid the grey zone. Many players are trying to double their stack in the first rounds, these players are often the first to be knocked out. Be patient and dont call their all-ins unless you hold AA or KK. After the first phase there is only one important thing that matters: your stack size - your style of play will depend on it. Always keep in mind that you have a lot of time to increase your stack, dont panic if you have not made any progress in the first phase.
Short Stack Play:
If your stack is just 4-5 times the big blind you have a short stack – this means the critical moment has come.
If you fall below that number, you just have to find the hand to go all-in in that round, because if you wait for the next big blind your stack is already too low to play good poker. A stack lower than 4 times the big blind is often called from at least one (if not more) player to knock you out of the tournament.
So if your stack is about 4-5 times the big blind you will go all-in with hands like QJ and better.
In this situation you have to deviate from normal preflop play. You have a chance that everyone folds to you so at least you pick up the blinds, because your stack is still good enough to put pressure. Dont be scared, you know that you have a short stack and you almost out of the tournament. But the worst thing in tournaments is to be knocked out on the last big blind you can afford. Take advantage of the fact that your chips still matter. Try to double your stack with decent hands, dont wait for miracles.
Medium Stack Play:
Try to double your stack! With a medium to small stack dont just raise like in a normal game if the blinds are getting too high. Avoid a game that forces you to fold after you are raised and remain below the critical stack size. Move your chips in the middle of the pot when you want to play the hand, otherwise fold. Be selective - you still have enough time to wait for the premium hands. Try to pick up the blinds and build a new stack. Of course you are in danger to be out of the tournament, but in this situation it is the best decision. Everytime you consider a bet, no matter when, you get pot committed. You cant make a normal potsize bet without having the right stack. Move your chips in the pot and make it hard for opponents to call you.
Big Stack Play:
You need to start to attack the small stacks. With a big stack dont be too tight. Probably you will reach a good position in the tournament, but this kind of thinking prevents you from winning it! Dont just be happy to have a big stack, take advantage from it! Put attention to the size of the smaller stacks on the table. When the short stacks get pot committed, then attack them. The smaller a stack the more you can attack it. Dont be too aggressive if the smaller stack can be still selective in playing his hands. But occasionally you can test him for all his chips, no poker player wants to get knocked out of a tournament, so a short stack that is still alive will be scared to call you. Take their blinds and watch your stack grow and grow. Its the best way to run away in the tournament. If you have a big stack, try to make it bigger and dont sit back - play offensively!
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