1. Be patient -
It is very easy to panic and become impatient as you see the players around you
winning pots and adding to their chip lead. You have to remain calm and wait
for a solid hand. A tournament is a marathon, not a sprint. You must bide your
time and chips so that when you do get a hand you have the opportunity to play
it correctly and win a large pot. Nothing is worse than getting a monster hand
and not having enough chips to make it pay off.
2. Let other players eliminate themselves -
Winning is always the goal in a poker tournament. Do you have to eliminate
players to win? Yes. Do you have to eliminate them all? No. By sitting back and
playing fewer hands (especially in later rounds), players will weed each other
out until you are guaranteed to be in the money. At this time, you can become
more aggressive.
3. Take risks early -
It is inevitable that sometime during a tournament you will need to take a risk
in order to have a chance at winning. The important thing to remember is to
take calculated risks. This usually means playing looser or taking more chances
in early rounds. The blinds are lower in early rounds so laying down a missed
hand in an early hand will not eat a huge chunk out of your bankroll.
4. Sit out a round when you join a new table -
You will be moved several times during a tournament. Each time you are moved,
sit out a few hands to get a feel for the table. Learn how each player plays.
This will prevent you from getting caught in a hand and not having any idea of
how your opponent plays.
5. Watch for traps -
This is especially true in no limit tournaments. One successful trap can make
you a winner or knock you out of the tournament completely. Be careful when
making a bet with a dangerous board even if you plan to fold if you get raised.
These small mistakes will eat away your chips quickly. Recognize the
possibility of a trap and try to make a smaller bet to entice your opponent to
reveal more information about their hand.
6. Don’t be afraid to go all in -
When you’re playing in any no limit tournament, chances are you’ll
have to go all in at least once. The key is to not fear going all in, but to
recognize when you have the best hand and force someone else to catch you.
7. Avoid pushing all in on a draw hand -
Going all in should be reserved for instances when you feel you have the best
hand. In order to go all in with any sort of draw hand, you must be getting
tremendous pot odds. Be absolutely certain that if you do hit your hand, it
will be good enough to win. And even then, think twice. Keep in mind that you
are not ahead and you will be putting your tournament life in luck’s
hand. By only going all in when you have a made hand, you will force others to
get lucky.
8. Try to steal blinds -
If you’re in a late position, do not be afraid to make a play for the
blinds. For every blind you steal, it’s like not having to post one the
next time around. Stealing blinds is great way to tread water while you wait
for a monster hand.
9. Be a bully -
If you see someone is low on chips, don’t be afraid to push them around.
Make them uncomfortable by making larger raises. When they are short stacked
they will think twice before risking valuable chips unless they have a lock.
Pushing around short stack players will not make you rich, but it is a great
way to win several small pots that will protect your lead.
10. Later rounds -
If you have a decent amount of chips you should play extremely tight in the
later rounds. This is when low stacked players will be looking to move all in
and chip leaders will only be playing the "nuts". Your starting cards become
extremely important because it is very likely every hand will result in someone
going all in. Adjust your game accordingly. Even if you’re not where you
want to be as far as chip count, be extremely patient and wait for a very
strong hand.
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