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Tournament Strategy Tips
(December 18, 2006)
Tournaments are different from cash games and to be successful you must understand why this is the case. In this piece, we’ll outline the most important things to consider when switching to a tournament format. Keep these tips in mind:
You shouldn’t try to play every hand.
This goes for every form of poker but rings especially true for tournament play. In the early position, you should only be looking to play premium hands, such as Ace/King, King/Queen, Ace/Queen, Ace/Jack, and of course pocket Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, and tens. If you are in the later position and no one has made any big raises, you may choose to increase your list to include medium-strength hands such as Ace/10, Queen/Jack, or pocket nines. Don’t rush things if you aren’t getting the card. The option to fold should be utilised, particularly in a late position. Even if you fold a Jack-5 and jack-5 appears on the flop, it’s infuriating but you’ve still made the right decision.
Also, remember it’s important to maintain a decent-sized chip stack at the early stages of a tournament. If you get in a hole early, it will almost always result in a quick exit. And try to avoid close gambles when you have a clear edge in ability. If you feel your level of skill is high compared to others, sit back and wait for your opportunity.
Raise with high pocket pairs
It may seem obvious to you, but if you’re dealt Ace/Ace, King/King, or Queen/Queen in the early position, you want to raise in order to scare off players or else make them pay big to see your cards. No one should get the opportunity to see your cards without having to pay for it. If you are in the later position, there may already be callers and the pot could be getting big enough for you to try to win it without even having to see the flop. Either way, with these premium cards you should be aggressive. If everyone folds and the pot doesn’t grow that big, it’s still a good thing to win.
Know exactly where you stand with your chip stack.
Consider the shape of your chip stack before and during every hand. For example, if you have only $2500 of chips and the blinds are 1000/2000 and coming your way, then you need to make a move on the next two half-decent cards that come your way. If you don’t you will risk being forced to go all-in on the small blind, no matter what cards you are dealt. The importance of your chip stack is tantamount, and every decision you make should relate to its condition. You need to be aware of the chip stacks of your opponents as well, especially when going into battle with a particular player. You shouldn’t try to bully someone who has a larger chip stack than you, as it could spell disaster.
Risks are always necessary in the game of poker.
When faced with the decision to go all-in and play for the remainder of your chips, do it courageously. It will always be a difficult moment, but keep in mind that the best players in the world experience this same anxiety. If you have played a good game up to that point and you believe that you really do have the strongest hand, then go for it. You will never get anywhere in poker without taking the occasional risk. The key is to learn from your losses and try to prevent them from happening again, due to the same mistakes.
Capitalize on a nice flop but be weary of the suck out
This of course sounds obvious, but the key is how you bet in this situation. If you have made three of a kind, a flush, or a full house on the flop, go for the jugular. But keep in mind you don’t want to scare people off with overly-aggressive betting, so perhaps you might want to engage in a bit of slow play, particularly if your opponents are only checking. Watch the flop for dangerous hands which may be superior to yours, for example the possibility of running into a flush draw, etc.
Bluff at the right time
A well-executed bluff occurs when the board shows that you are likely to be the recipient of a very strong hand. In order for the bluff to be convincing you need to casts doubts in the mind of your opponent. If the river turns up and you’ve missed your straight draw, you may want to keep betting as if you’ve made it. The cards on the board will suggest that you have already made the straight, particularly if you have previously raised. This would be a good time to attempt a bluff. Many amateurs bluff just for the sake of it and without planting that seed of doubt in the mind of your opponent, they are taking an unwise risk.
Know the importance of late blinds
As the game progresses and the blinds increase, the more important they become. Stealing blinds is much more profitable towards the end of the game, thus making the risk more justifiable. When you’re on the big blind, it may even be worthwhile calling when you don’t possess a premium hand.
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