Here is a GREAT online poker secret that I learned (and use frequently now) from Phil Gordon:

Take a shot at stealing the blinds the last hand before the break, no matter what your position is.  Many poker players will fold hands they would normally call with because they are either tired, need to use the bathroom, want to talk about their bad beats etc.

Phil Gordon gives some great online poker secrets in regards to how to play when you are the big stack at the table in a poker tournament:

1. Never limp into a pot
2. If the blinds consist of tight players with average stacks, play almost any hand in position
3. Punish limpers with big raises from position when you think they are weak
4. Call from position more often when an opponent with an average stack enters the pot with a raise
5. Rarely, if ever, confront a short-stacked opponent without a premium poker hand
6. Try to win more hands before the flop

Most online poker sites now have the programming to show you what the average chip stack is, but if they dont, you can use this easy calculation:

Average = Total number of chips in play, Divided By, Number of players remaining

While this shouldnt affect your game completely, it does help you in understanding how fast or aggressively you should play and more importantly, how fast your opponents are likely to play.

When in a poker tournament, no matter what stage you are at: PLAY TO WIN! DO NOT PLAY TO SURVIVE!!!

“There aren’t too many feelings in No Limit Hold’em that are better than when you flop a set” – Phil Gordon

And we all know that this is true, definitely not a poker secret!!!

But the online poker secret is: Play these hands.  You make the most money off these hands!