General Poker Tournament Strategy

Though Sit ‘N Go online poker tournaments are all the craze these days, there are still some really nice values out there in the multi-table tournament world. No matter which online poker site you use, there are likely going to be a ton of available tournaments. The best thing about this format? It offers the chance to make big money and win big prizes. These tournaments can be especially challenging, though, since you have to try to beat a bunch of really good players to take home the big prize. So what should your approach look like as you head into multi-table tournaments in the near future? Let’s start with the basics.

Navigating your way through a real money online poker tournament is like working your way through a maze or playing a chess match. It requires specific strategies and a bit of luck. Of course, you can’t control your luck. However, you can choose your strategies. Which strategies you employ depend on a variety of factors such as: the type of player you are, the type of players you’re playing against, how many people are in the tournament, your overall ability and much more. It is difficult to develop one overall strategy, as every tournament presents its own set of unique challenges. Some tournaments require a tighter style of play, while some will need you to be a little bit looser in order to make a run at the goods. Whatever the case, the ability to adjust on the fly will serve you well as you attempt to place high in the tournament field.

Early Stage Poker Tournament Strategy

Many experts will tell you in the early stages of a tournament that your mantra should be tight is right. They don’t want you to play a lot of hands or take many chances early. Your goal in the beginning is to just survive. Sure, you should play better hands at the beginning of the tournament than you would in later stages because there are more players still in the game, and you don’t really know what anyone’s playing style is yet. This doesn’t mean you can’t take any chances. You should also never ignore your gut. If your intuition tells you to play a hand, play it! It’s usually right. That’s not to say that you should play like a crazy man on every hand, though. A conservative approach in the early going will allow you to settle into the format of the tournament, see your opponents and their tendencies, and get used to the action before you make a mistake.

Middle Stage Tournament Strategy

In the middle stages of the tournament when about half of the field has busted out, you must continue to play conservatively. You should also pay careful attention to how much people are betting and in what position they’re doing the betting. You might be able to steal some blinds. You will also open your play to include a few more hands such as suited connectors and low pocket pairs, especially if you’re at a tight table. By now, you should know a little bit about whether you are or not. However, you still need to be careful. Don’t forget - other players might be loosening up at this time, too, so it’s worth keeping in mind.

Late Stage Tournament Strategy

If you are fortunate enough to hang around until the later stages of tournament play, it’s going to be on you to figure out a style that works. Simply put, at this point in time, it becomes much more about getting back to the basics of poker and making solid decisions. By this point in the tournament, you should have a firm handle on how each player in the tournament is playing, and you should be able to make solid decisions from that knowledge. You would be well served, at the late stages, to play aggressively, as the high payouts at the top of the rank will be worth the risks you have to take. This will set you up for success against more conservative players who might want to just move up a couple of places.  Following the strategy presented here will have you cashing more often, making a poker deposit less frequently.