Online poker tournaments might best be described as the latest craze of online gambling. Most online poker rooms now offer some kind of tournament action, and they’re finding that these tournaments are wildly popular with all kinds of players. No matter what level of poker player you are, tournaments can be a fun and enriching experience that will leave you hungry for more. This lesson will take a look at the basics regarding tournament poker.

First of all, tournaments differ greatly from ring games in terms of the strategies and skills required to succeed. While ring-game play requires steadiness, precision and the ability to surrender a hand, tournament play requires the ability to win a high percentage of the pots you bet into. To be a successful tournament player you must understand these differences and adapt your game to suit them. Now we’ll take a look at the first steps to take when playing in a tournament:

In the beginning

Before you take your seat, make sure you’re aware of the blinds structure and how the prize pool is to be divided. This information is available in the FAQ section of most online casinos, or will be announced when you register for the tournament.

The next thing to consider about tournament play is that it is fast. The blinds go up every 10-15 minutes so you need to keep a close eye on how many blinds are left in your stack, and how long it is before the blinds increase again.

While the cost of the blinds is relatively low compared to your stack size, you can play much more marginal hands than normal. It can often be worth risking a small part of your stack to see the flop with small pairs, suited connectors and other marginal hands to have the chance to double your stack if you hit big on the flop.

By the same token, it can be right to play good hands relatively conservatively, pre-flop. If you hold A-K in late position and there are several callers, it’s often better just to call. This minimizes your loss if the flop is not to your liking and you have the added benefit of disguise if you hit a monster hand on the flop.

There are two ways to play the early stages. You can try to build a substantial stack by playing aggressively, or you could try for a steady accumulation of chips by playing more tightly. Both of these approaches have their advantages and disadvantages; you should play the way that more closely fits your natural style.

Finally, in the early stages don’t be concerned with eliminating other players. You are too far from the prize list to worry about how many players are left, and it’s more important to concentrate on keeping your stack in good condition. You should also remember that players on the brink of elimination are bound to go all the way, so if you do have a good hand it’s an excellent opportunity to increase your stack.

Be sure to read Lesson 12 and Lesson 13 for more on tournament poker!