MICKJENN1 TOP TIPS.................This article is intended to advise poker players on how to play No Limit Hold'em Multi-Table Tournaments (NLH MTTs). The ultimate goal, of course, is to win the tournament, but you can't simply walk up to the felt with this mindset. There are many more aspects involved if you want to win a NLH MTT. The following Top 10 NLH MTT Tips will help improve your stamina throughout long poker tournaments.MTT Tip #1: Be FearlessTimid poker players rarely last in an Hold'em tournament. You can sit back, folding regularly on a tight poker strategy and wait for the premium hands, but you cannot back down to big bets and raises each time they arise. The blinds will bleed you dry if you don't take advantage of the opportunities provided.MTT Tip #2: Aim for the BubbleThe goal of any tournament player, first and foremost, should be to make the bubble. This is the point where all remaining players are guaranteed to get something for their efforts. If there are 3,000 competitors, and the top 500 get paid, your goal is to make 500th place. Always know how many players remain and focus on that goal.MTT Tip #3: Watch you Opponents CloselyPoker tournaments are very long, tedious events. This gives you plenty of time to read your opponents, finding all tendencies that can be taken advantage of. If you can pen-point their behavioral patterns early on, you can predict their every move in most situations.MTT Tip #4: Put Yourself in Their ShoesIf you're reading your opponents as carefully as you should be, you have to assume they are doing the same with you. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment. Consider what they think of you and your game play. By understanding the type of player they think you are, and the predictions they are likely to make about you, the trap is set. Lure them into a predictable situation, and then set the hook. This strategy works best in the latest stages of the tournament, when only the strongest, most strategic players remain.MTT Tip #5: Low Stack - Push or FoldIf you find yourself low stacked, with only 10-20x big blinds left, you need to take on an aggressive "Push or Fold" stance. This means, if you don't have a premium starting hand - fold. If you do have a premium starting hand - push all-in. It's that simple. Limping in with a big hand will get you nowhere. Don't worry about everyone at the table folding.When your stack is that small, the biggest stacks around you will jump on the opportunity to call, even with marginal holdings. They have the same goal as you - make the bubble - and that means eliminating as many small stacks as possible. Push with the big hand and try to double up through a big stack.MTT Tip #6: Early Stages - Don't Go BrokeBe conservative with your chips, only placing big bets when you have the cards to back it up. You don't want to go broke in the first hour of a tournament. Never push your chips all-in during the early stages without a monster hand.MTT Tip #7: Middle Stages - Beware the Deep StacksAt this point, the field is dropping like flies. A lot of deep stacks will emerge, as well as the small stacks that are playing a Push or Fold poker strategy. When facing a big stack, make sure you have the hand to back it up. Often, big stacks will call with marginal hands just hoping to eliminate more competition. Because of this, when you have to goods, you can easily double up on a deep stacked playYour game play is now determined by your stack size. If you have a big stack, don't be afraid to raise, stealing the hefty blinds whenever possible. Low stacks will fear you, making them more vulnerable to stealing the blinds.Until you are being called regularly, keep pounding away with the raises. If you're low stacked, maintain the Push or Fold poker strategy, Folding all junk and marginal hands and waiting for the premium starting hands to push all in.MTT Tip #9: In the BubbleOnce you've made the Bubble, your first goal is complete. You know you'll be walking away with some cash for your efforts. Regardless of your stack size, it's usually a good idea to back off the blinds at this point. Go back to a tight poker strategy, playing only big hands for awhile. Your ultimate goal is now to make the final table.MTT Tip #10: Final TableYou've made it to the NLH MTT final table; well done! At this point, the short stacks will usually bust out quickly. If you have an average to high stack, play very conservatively, waiting for the shorties to be wiped out. This will move you quickly up the money ladder to guarantee at least 5-6 position.If you've made it this far, you should have been able to read your opponents very well. Continue to do so, playing your position and taking an aggressive stance anytime you honestly think you have the upper hand.
Poker Tournament Strategy - The Final TableIf you have been successful up until the final table of a multi-table tournament, then your strategy has worked well so far. At this point you may be entering the final table with a short stack, average stack, or perhaps as the chip leader. Each of these situations will require a totally different style of play.Your opponents at this point are most likely skilled players as well, and particular plays may not be made as easily as they would have been against weak players. Odds are you have not had much interaction with these players prior to the final table, so for the first few rounds, you may need to study the way your table is proceeding, and act accordingly in order to build a stack and gain a lead on your opponents.Because each player being eliminated guarantees a larger payout for the next consecutive player, expect play to become much tighter than the previous few tables you have experienced. At this point many players are trying to climb the payout ladder rather than build a major stack, which is especially evident when it comes to the short stacks.To gain a feel for the table, tend to play extremely tight for the first round of play around the table. This first round will give you an insight into your table: who the aggressors are, who is willing to wait out and rise up in cashes, and skilled players that are presenting your same tight/aggressive style of play. After this first round, depending on your stack, players will have pinned you as a fairly tight player which will be in your favor when you open up pre-flop to steal blinds from tight players in the future.Playing the Short StackEntering the final table with 8-12 blinds will qualify one as a short stack at the table. With the blinds most likely very large, this leaves you with some quick decision making. You may not even have the opportunity to wait an entire round as discussed above if you receive a hand in which you can push all-in, which at this point is one of your only two moves, all-in or fold. However there are some keys to pushing all-in in the right positions because each player is playing the pay-out ladder.Attempt to push as often as possible on medium size chip stacks. This is because the larger stacks are more likely willing to risk their chips in order to knock out smaller stacks. The low stacks are also going to be willing to risk their entire stack on marginal hands because they are in the same position as you, hoping to double as soon as possible. So stick to pushing all-in on the medium stacks in the blinds whenever possible. The players with medium stacks are most likely to sit on their chips until around 6 to 7 players left, and then begin making moves.The Average Stack at the Final TableThis is the point at which you have the opportunity to sit back for a round and observe your opponents for some insight to how the final table will play out. After observing which short stacks are willing to double up often, and which large stacks are stealing blinds far too often, you may have an idea of which players you are going to involve yourself with.At this point, focusing on the smaller stacks and aggressive big stacks are the most advantageous opportunities you will have. Your most dangerous situation is entering a pot against another tight/aggressive medium sized stack such as yourself that is hoping to build his or her stack solely through very strong hands. As discussed before, and like you should do if you find yourself in the situation, smaller stacks will be pushing with fairly marginal hands.Your best opportunity to gain chips at this rate is through knocking out the smaller stacks that will push on your blinds in late position. It is nearly impossible at this point to avoid coin-flip situations pre-flop, and if you want to win the tournament, you will have to gamble at some point with a coin-flip. Therefore, if you are going to gamble with a coin-flip, your best option is against a small stack that risks only around half of your stack.Another decent opportunity to build your stack is through pushing back at large stacks that attempt to steal blinds too often. When these large stacks are re-raised by a medium stack pre-flop after trying to steal blinds, odds are they will not be willing to risk potentially half of their very large stack, and believe you are exceptionally strong, surrendering their hand.Entering the FT as a Chip LeaderFortunately, entering the final table with a large chip lead on your opponents makes your play slightly less nerve-wrecking, but unless you play precise poker, you have no better chance at winning the tournament. Considering how the aggressive the short stacks are to enter the pots, and how tight the medium stacks are playing, you will have to adjust accordingly.Continually applying pressure to the medium stacks is very important, especially when the medium stacks are sitting in the blinds. These stacks are more likely than anyone to wait out for other players to be eliminated. Focus on isolating these stacks in a hand, and if you raise in late position and are called by a medium stack, never give up the opportunity to apply pressure again on the flop. If your opponent has not hit the flop strong, you will receive the most respect for a continuation bet now than you have the entire tournament. The player will undoubtedly fold in order to save chips, unless he or she has hit the flop hard.Your best chance for eliminating players is obviously through the smaller stacks because they present the least threatening blow to your chip stack. Most small stacks will probably avoid pushing into larger stacks in the blinds with marginal hands, so you will have to be careful when they do, as they may present a strong pre-flop hand. However if you sit behind a small stack that is pushing in late position to most likely steal the blinds, you can lower your hand selection to call down to any pocket pair, and even KJ, K10, and Ax. These are all potentially dangerous hands for a short stack to face, especially when they are most likely pushing with any two cards solely to steal the blinds.
Hi Mick nice post regarding poker, played my "proper" game last night £22 slow was interesting but tiring. I have seen players talking about and showing their playing graph how do I get it?, and can anyone see it as I have had people in the chat say to me they have seen my graph or stats and tell me I am a losing player I also cant understand how players constantly slagging other players off especially about their play I enjoy poker because its fun and it does give you a buzz (when winning) but get put off by other players running my play down or just saying card rack if I win, I have played a couple of live games even went to DTD and everyone at live play are really nice people and even try to help, but on line its all slagging off. Even on your post there are people who are slagging you off for just trying to help us mere mortals I will take tips from anyone and then decide if it is going to work for me, be nice if you could give how to play a hand i.e. I have top pair but there is a straight or flush draw on the board if I check he will bet If I bet he calls so still don't know where I am. plenty more to say but don't want to bore people cheers
I dont know, top 10 in the world at hold'em, Superman, Elvis Presley. One of these would suitably amaze me, however i guess id settle for knowing why theres a tourney named after ya m8!
I dont know, top 10 in the world at hold'em, Superman, Elvis Presley. One of these would suitably amaze me, however i guess id settle for knowing why theres a tourney named after ya m8! Posted by LyingqEyes
Hi Mick nice post regarding poker, played my "proper" game last night £22 slow was interesting but tiring. I have seen players talking about and showing their playing graph how do I get it?, and can anyone see it as I have had people in the chat say to me they have seen my graph or stats and tell me I am a losing player I also cant understand how players constantly slagging other players off especially about their play I enjoy poker because its fun and it does give you a buzz (when winning) but get put off by other players running my play down or just saying card rack if I win, I have played a couple of live games even went to DTD and everyone at live play are really nice people and even try to help, but on line its all slagging off. Even on your post there are people who are slagging you off for just trying to help us mere mortals I will take tips from anyone and then decide if it is going to work for me, be nice if you could give how to play a hand i.e. I have top pair but there is a straight or flush draw on the board if I check he will bet If I bet he calls so still don't know where I am. plenty more to say but don't want to bore people cheers jononzie Posted by JONONZIE
Hi Jono
Sorry if i caused offense last night, it was merely banter... i think you played well personally, that tournament has been made for the people in the forums after we requested it thats why there is so much banter going on. It was not ment to be slagging you off at all. Was just a frustrating trny for me right from the 1st hand where i flopped the nuts and eventually had to fold by the river, i folded flushes straights sets, everything in that trny cos i felt i was outdrawn... But none of my comments were ment to be offensive... I hope you play the £22 deepstack again as we need all the players we can get in it.
In terms of the graphs, they are probably talking about www.sharkscope.com you get 5 free searches a day where u can search any player from any site... Hope this helps
Mick .. cheers for all the MTT info. I'm going to print if off and read at leisure. If I cash big in the next month or so, you're on 10% !! Thanks Posted by inka2003
nah dont b silly u asked for sum info pal so i sat n did it
Comments
nice post regarding poker, played my "proper" game last night £22 slow was interesting but tiring. I have seen players talking about and showing their playing graph how do I get it?, and can anyone see it as I have had people in the chat say to me they have seen my graph or stats and tell me I am a losing player I also cant understand how players constantly slagging other players off especially about their play I enjoy poker because its fun and it does give you a buzz (when winning) but get put off by other players running my play down or just saying card rack if I win, I have played a couple of live games even went to DTD and everyone at live play are really nice people and even try to help, but on line its all slagging off. Even on your post there are people who are slagging you off for just trying to help us mere mortals I will take tips from anyone and then decide if it is going to work for me, be nice if you could give how to play a hand i.e. I have top pair but there is a straight or flush draw on the board if I check he will bet If I bet he calls so still don't know where I am. plenty more to say but don't want to bore people
cheers
jononzie
I dont know, top 10 in the world at hold'em, Superman, Elvis Presley. One of these would suitably amaze me, however i guess id settle for knowing why theres a tourney named after ya m8!
Sorry if i caused offense last night, it was merely banter... i think you played well personally, that tournament has been made for the people in the forums after we requested it thats why there is so much banter going on. It was not ment to be slagging you off at all. Was just a frustrating trny for me right from the 1st hand where i flopped the nuts and eventually had to fold by the river, i folded flushes straights sets, everything in that trny cos i felt i was outdrawn... But none of my comments were ment to be offensive... I hope you play the £22 deepstack again as we need all the players we can get in it.
In terms of the graphs, they are probably talking about www.sharkscope.com you get 5 free searches a day where u can search any player from any site... Hope this helps
Hope to see you on the tables
Flash