I need some tips for texas holdem TOURNAMENTS?

Question

Basically just give me some basic strategy and intermediate AND a good link or two.
I never wanted to play tournaments because on tv there are so many allins , but i thought to myself "why does everyone else like it"? So here i am giving it a shot!

great stategy tips!! @pokemon/michele

Answer 1

well, here's some of the very basic concepts of tournaments, and since i know your questions pertain to cash game play, how they differ from cash games:

in tournaments, obviously you only have one stack, as opposed to cash games where you can rebuy...as a result, your main focus should not necessarily be to make as much money as possible, which is the focus in cash games, but to attempt to gain maximum value while at the same time protecting your chip stack, since if you get busted that's it for you...so as a rule you should attempt to survive while accumulating, which often means trying to force people with drawing hands out, as you don't want your whole stack to possibly be put in jeopardy

in tournaments, being able to play the bubble is very important...you need to recognize who is trying to squeak into the money by folding every hand, and also those people who will play like you should, which is to take advantage of the "squeezers" at this point and rob them blind...once the bubble bursts, go immediately back to playing tight as you will have established a good table image

in online tournaments, which is what i assume you will be playing, the blinds get very high pretty quickly, and you will need to know how big your stack is compared to the blinds, as well as that of everyone else around the table...keep extremely close tabs on how many chips your opponents at the table have, it's really important especially later in the tourney...if you have 10x the BB or less, then you will want to start to push all-in before the flop to maximize the pressure on your opponents, since the blinds and antes are very significant additions when your stack is that short...also, recognize when someone is short on chips and pushing all-in pre-flop, they might have a wider range than usual as they are probably desperate...as a final note, when a really, really short stack pushes all-in, be able to recognize pot odds pre-flop, which is something that is very, very rarely considered in cash games, since you may be mathematically correct to call with any two cards in some spots, and you will want to take a shot to eliminate your opponent at that point

there are a number of strategies out there for tournament play, since i don't use what one would consider a basic or intermediate strategy i will just say that since i am assuming you are playing fairly small buy-in tournaments, you should just play TAG especially early, as that is how you can guarantee yourself money(in small buy-in tourneys)

one final thought, and i cannot stress this one enough...DO NOT BE THE GUY TRYING TO FOLD HIS WAY TO THE MONEY ON THE BUBBLE!!! PLAY TO WIN!!! NO ONE REMEMBERS WHO FINISHED SECOND!!!...the best way and the only way to play is to go for first place, and if you finish on the bubble because of it, so be it, the big money is at the top of the pay scale and that's what you need to shoot for

Answer 2

First and foremost: No one ever wins a tournament in the first 3 hours. Slow down and take your time. It's much more important to play solid cards in tournaments than in cash games.
Aggression works even better. You can be a lot more intimidating in tourneys, where the limited number of chips makes each call a risk.
Your goal should be to at least double up in chips by the end of each hour, or before each break. (Online that should be even larger, players get knocked out extremely fast online.)
Set your goals in stages. Survive....finish in the money....make final table....win it.
Attack the small stacks, avoid confrontations with the big stacks. If the goal is to survive and accumulate chips it's always better to go after the small stacks. There's little positive return in tow big stacks going head to head, at least until the last stages of the tourney.
When the play goes tight get loose, and vice-a-versa. When you're nearing goal points like finishing in the money or going up in payouts or when you're the big stack at a table, loosen up. Few players are gonna want to put chips out when they have a chance at the money or at more money.
Bet hard with good hands. The goal isn't to win very large pots or even to get the most money into a pot, it's to accumulate chips. Put out big raises, go all-in when you know you've got the nuts, push, push, push. You want those chips, baby!
Don't waste chips when you're a chip leader. Don't start thinking "what the hell..." or challenging a lot when you're ahead. You've still got a ways to go with the chips you have and everyone's gonna be after your stack. You have to defend as well as attack.
Always raise from the small blind if it's just going to be you and the bb. There are no chops in tournaments.
If you find yourself with only enough chips to last a few more rounds of blinds, go all-in immediately with any two decent cards. While suicidal in cash games, remember that statistically any two cards are only 3-2 against any other two cards heads up preflop. You've got to get hyperaggressive when you're behind. You can pull off some pretty amazing comebacks if you play the small stacks for all they're worth.
For good tournament info I've always liked pokerpages.com, Card Player Magazine (cardplayer.com) and thepokerforum.com. There are, of course, tons of others as well.

Answer 3

TV only shows you the final table, where most players are "short stacked". If a player has $500,000 in chips, but the blinds are $25,000/$50,000, then he's in no better position than someone in a 1-2 game with $20.

When you're short stacked, there are only two options for ANY hand: fold, or all-in. Because if you call, or raise less than an all-in, your opponent will immediately raise you all in.

Early rounds: Be tight and defensive, but be ready to be aggressive when you do have a good hand. Most hands will see one raise before the flop.

Answer 4

The following also applies to MTT's. The strategy is the same for both. This is taken from Learn To Win Hold em. For more tips and strategies sign up for the NEWSLETTER and receive 5 free ebooks as well.


Sit and Go tournaments usually start with 9-10 players with varying buys ins, and in order to make money you must finish in the top three. The payout in most instances is 50%, 30%, 20%.

While playing, the blinds (and eventually antes) will go up based on a set amount of time.If you lose your chips, you are out and cannot reload as you can at a cash game.

The tournament is over when a player wins all of the chips in play.

There are several reasons why new players should play Sit N Go tournaments...


* It's Basic. Once you get use to basic Texas Holdem strategy, SNG's become almost automatic. The reason is that for the most part you, fold, fold, fold, fold, and then raise. Just sit back and watch the people knock each other out while you wait for your moment

* You can only lose your buy-in. This is important for new player's who are still learning to cope with tilt. If you buy-in to a SNG for $5.50, it will cost you $5.50. It does not matter if you lost your previous 1500 chips; it is still only worth $5.50. In addition, the previous tournament has no effect on your next. You start over with an equal amount of chips and the same chance to win.

Now let's look at the different stages and SNG strategies.


Sit and Go: The Early Stages

In the early stages of a Sit and Go tournament the strategy should be to play tight (remember tight is right), but aggressive when you get a hand. You are looking to avoid action unless you find yourself with AA, KK, QQ, JJ, and AK, suited. Never limp in bet 4 to 5 times the Big Blind and if you get re-raised go all in. Everything else you fold. Do not play problem hands such as K2 through K10 off suit!

Here are some key points to remember at this stage...

*

Play tight, but be very aggressive with premium hands.
*

Fold trash hands.



Sit and Go: The Middle Stages

The middle stages of a SNG tournament is when the field is somewhere between 5 to 7 players. By this time there will be chip leaders and you ought to be in a good position especially if the tournament leaders are not quality players.

Still maintain the tight aggressive play as in the early stage with one exception; if your stack is less than 10 times the Big Blind you need to become a bit more aggressive with lesser hands like AJ, AQ off suit, A10, KQ suited and start raising with them. Be careful,raise as close to the dealer position as much as possible.

One of the things you should do with AJs, AQs, or KQs when close to the dealer's button is raise in order to get position. You will be surprised how often you can do that with success and enjoy a real good chance to win the pot. This stage of the SNG is survival time and that is exactly what you want to do - SURVIVE!

Here are some key points to keep in mind...

*

You should know who the Maniacs, Rocks, Fish and Pros are.
*

Continue to play tight aggressive.
*

Remember this is survival time!



Sit and Go: The Late Stages

If you reached this point, you are either on the bubble or in the money. Now your strategy is to WIN BABY WIN! At this stage of the Sit and Go tournament if you are the chip leader, youcan loosen up your starting hand requirements and become aggressive.

Here is an example: You've got 8, 8 under the gun. Throughout other times in the tournament, you would either call with the hand hoping to flop a set or fold it instantly. This is not the case here. Make a strong pre-flop raise, and play aggressively post-flop regardless of the flop.

Don't "muck away" your blinds otherwise, you will be in trouble of blinding out. The blinds are high and throwing away your cards could leave you short stacked. During this phase of the game, you can't afford to wait for premium hands. Be aggressive! Play the player rather than the cards.

Here are some key points to bear in mind...

*

If you are the chip leader you need to attack and play super aggressive the 2nd and 3rd place players, who are most likely folding away their chance to win the tourney
*

When you have an average stack, you can't wait for the "monster" hands. This is the easiest way to "muck" your way out of the tournament.
*

If you're short stacked, you need to take risks! Play aggressively to try to double up
*

Never flat call a bet, either raise or fold.
*

Always raise with the "monsters", never call.

Answer 5

ok this is a nice easy strategy that is guaranteed to get you to do ok. as long as you stick to these rules you will be ok. to start you got the betting positions. you got the small blind, big blind, then 1st position, 2nd position and so on up to 9th position or the dealer button if its a short table. when you are in 1st 2nd or 3rd position you want to raise if you have AA,KK,QQ or JJ. usually you raise 3 1/2 times the big blind. you can call 77,88,99,1010, AK AQ suited and AJ.4th,5th,6th position you raise with all the hands you can raise or call with in the first three positions. you can also call with KQ suited, KJ suited, A10, QJ suited or maybe even J10 suited. the last 3 positions are really up to you. you can see a lot of hands in these spots because you can see what everyone else is doing in the hand already. any suited connectors are ok to call the blind with but only the high ones on raises. you could raise with any pocket pair in this position if no one raises before you but if it isnt a good pair be careful of someone re raising you for a trap. the rule of thumb is if someone is in one of the positions and raise think of what i just told you about what to raise with in what position because chances are thats what they are going to act with. if you stick to folding until you get those hands and get lucky a little you should be able to 1. figure out what people have, 2. not have to worry about all ins because if you stick to those betting patterns you will no what people have and the chances of you beating them,3. gather a lot of chips. just remember that you need to be patient. those hands dont come around often!!! good luck.

Answer 6

Informative texas holdem website: http://all.in.texas.holdem.tips.googlepages.com

Answer 7

www.absolutepoker.com is a great free site they have many running tables and free/play money tournements

Answer 8

uhh dont play it god you people are stupid play flipen video games