Top Five Tournament Tips
October 18, 2005
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
|
 |
||
 |
 |
- The last hand before the break is an excellent time to try a steal. Many players are desperate to go to the bathroom/bar/smoking area and will not play a marginal hand which will cut into the time they have got to tell their friends the various bad beat stories which have occurred in the previous couple of hours. A word of warning however: If you get played with preflop, proceed with extreme caution, you may well be facing a monster.
- In a big tournament, which pays a substantial amount to the players who creep into the money, be very aware of the players who seem intent on making the cash paying spots before risking any hard earned chips. These are particular easy blinds to steal and you can raise with almost any two cards and have a positive expectation.
- If you are playing a tournament with a lot of chips to start, don't be afraid to play very loose during the first couple of levels, especially calling raises when you have position over the raiser. The benefits are twofold: Firstly, you might flop a monster and crack a big pair to win a huge pot. Secondly, the other players will mark you down as a loose goose and that image might pay off later when you are playing more snugly and a possible opponent remembers a pot where you showed down 86o!
- Never, ever give up. An obvious point maybe, but you would be shocked how many players lose a big pot, maybe through a bad beat and then chuck their last remaining with any old rubbish. Jack Straus won the World Series after being down to one chip at one stage. This is your one shot to win this particular event. If you don't try 100% with a short stack you shouldn't have played in the first place.
- Don't worry about chip averages. Just because the average stack in the tournament is 50,000 and you've only got 25,000 don't panic! You don't have to double up immediately. Just play the players on your table, they are the only ones who you can win chips from, you can everyone else in the event doesn't matter until you have to confront them.
|
