Tournament Tips...

Tournaments are one of the most popular ways to play poker and many online poker rooms offer them as a staple of the site. Playing in tournaments requires play that differs from single table or cash games.

The structure of these games is very straightforward. Each player pays a set amount known as a buy-in in exchange for a seat at the table and each player starts with the same number of chips. When a player busts out he leaves the table and the tables merge to ensure that all have the same number of filled seats. This continues until there are nine remaining players at the final table to battle it out for the winning pot.

So here are the best tips for you to succeed in multi-table tournaments…

• Early stage play should be extremely tight – the blinds may be small but you should be very choosy about the hands you play.
• Stick to playing these hands in early stages – JJ, QQ, KK, AA or AK suited.
• If you fold you lose nothing. To call you must have a hand that you expect to earn money.
• Never bluff in the early stages – with blinds so cheap you are bound to get called.
• Build up your chips early in the tournament by playing tight, winable hands.
  

• Loosen up your play and try to play your regular game.
• Bluff a few blinds – you’ve played tight along the way, players are closer to the money and blinds are higher – your opponents will be less likely to call you.
• Gamble a little to gather enough chips to see you to the final table.
• If your stack diminishes don’t assume you’re beat. Count how many blinds you can survive and make your move while keeping enough for later blinds.
  

• Chip power is greater than card power – those on a smaller stack will fold in the hopes of making it to the money.
• Loosen up a lot – be bold and take more risks.
• Don’t play foolishly – force those on small stacks to go all-in if you have a decent hand – the more opponents you knock out the closer you are to the money.
• Don’t get locked in multi-way pots – if you have a great hand then play but sometimes it’s better to bow out if two others are doing battle with each other!

Note: Tight play early, standard play midway and risks at the final table is a winning strategy!