THE GOAL
Your first goal when entering a tournament should be to get to the money (in a 9 player game, only the top three get paid). The second goal is of course to win the tournament. You can’t win the tournament until there’s only 2 players left. So focus on the first goal first - to get to the money. This basically means - avoid getting knocked out and play very tight and selective in the early stages of the tournament.
Your goal is NOT to get as many chips as possible at this stage - the goal is to survive until you get to the money.
EARLY STAGE (9-7 people in the game)
Goal: To survive and not get knocked out
At the early stage of the tournament, there are usually some lose players that bets and goes all-in with terrible cards. They may get lucky and draw out on you, so the initial strategy is to avoid entering pots with those players. Let the other players knock each other out at this stage. Do not enter pots unless you have monster cards.
PRE-FLOP PLAY
Only play monster cards:
AA - KK - QQ - JJ and AKs
Fold anything else
Open with a raise (3x big blind) with the
starting hands mentioned above.
If somebody re-raises all-in or re-raises big,
fold unless you have AA.
If somebody re-raises a small amount,
call them (re-raise with AA)
POST-FLOP PLAY
If you hit a set (3 A’s or 3 K’s etc) play very aggressively
consider gong all-in.
If you hit nothing on the flop, chances are you still have
the best cards, play aggressively, but manage the pot size,
so you don’t risk getting knocked out.
If there’s a flush draw, a straight draw or an overcard to
your pairs on the board and somebody bets big - fold
MIDDLE STAGE (6-4 people in the game)
Goal: To survive and not get knocked out
At this stage you can loosen up a little bit and take few more chances, but you still have to manage the pot and be patient and disciplined. The main goal is not to win, but to survive.
PRE-FLOP PLAY
Open raise with (3x Big Blind):
AA - KK - QQ - JJ - 1010 - AKs
Limp in (call) with:
AK - AQ - AJ - A10 - KQ - KJ - K10 - QJ - Q10 - J10
If somebody re-raises all-in or re-raises big,
fold unless you have AA.
If somebody re-raises a small amount, call them
(re-raise with AA - KK - QQ - JJ)
POST-FLOP PLAY
If you hit a set, top pair or flush/straight draw -
play aggressively, but manage the pot size,
so you don’t risk getting knocked out.
If you hit nothing on the flop, check or fold
(call small bets if you have over cards)
If there’s a flush draw, a straight draw or an overcard to
your cards on the board and somebody bets big - fold
FINAL STAGE (3 people in the game)
Goal: To win the tournament
Now you’re in the money and the first goal is reached. You’ve made a profit. Now you can take a few more chances and attack the remaining players by aggressive play when you have good cards.
PRE-FLOP PLAY
Play aggressively and open raise (3x big blind) with
AA - KK - QQ - JJ - 1010 - Aks
AK - AQ - AJ - A10 - KQ - KJ
Limp in (call) with:
K10 - QJ - Q10 - J10
Any Ax - Jx suited
Any pocket pair
If somebody re-raises all-in or re-raises big, fold unless you have
AA - KK - QQ - JJ - 10 10 - 99
If somebody re-raises a small amount, call them
(Re-raise with AA - KK - QQ - JJ - 1010 - 99)
POST-FLOP PLAY
If you hit a set, top pair or flush/straight draw -
play very aggressively and bet/re-raise.
If you hit nothing on the flop, check or fold
(call small bets if you have over cards)
If there’s a flush draw, a straight draw or an overcard to
your cards on the board and somebody bets big - fold
FINAL WORDS
The best way to start and to enhance your poker skills is to play, so sign up now to one of the poker rooms listed below and start playing, either for play money (to practice) or in the low limit tournaments. Good Luck!
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