Online Poker Secrets» poker tournament

Being the Big Stack

jen — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:04:47 +0000

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

Play to Win

jen — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:59:58 +0000

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

Know the Structure

jen — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:55:45 +0000

An important note about playing poker tournaments: Know the structure before you play!

This is important because, any changes in the structure can affect your overall play. If the structure is regular for the first 2 hours, and then afterwards, speeds up a bit – you will have to make a change in your game. If you arent aware of this before you begin the poker tournament, you may find yourself struggling to catch up and then you are not playing your A game.

Flopping The Nuts

jen — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:51:39 +0000

When playing a full ring table or full table poker tournament of Omaha, you must keep in mind – just because you flop the nuts, doesnt mean that you are going to win the hand! Generally speaking, when playing Texas Holdem, flopping the Nut Straight or Nut Flush is a great thing! In Omaha (especially PLO), you need to be careful.

Being that this is a drawing game, players are not going to let go of their draws to a “better nut” hand – and if there are more than 3 players that saw the flop, I can guarantee that you are getting callers.

Rules in flopping the nuts:

1. DO NOT slowplay on the flop – BET THE POT!
2. If you get called, and the turn is a blank – BET THE POT AGAIN!
3. If the turn pairs the board, bet – but be VERY cautious of a caller and FOLD to a reraiser

How Poker Promotions Help you

jen — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:56:37 +0000

Every online poker room offers poker promotions and extra value! And the reality is, every poker player has different needs.

Poker is about making a profit, it is not a popularity contest: You don’t have to play where everyone else is playing just to fit in! Poker is about putting yourself forward and doing what is best for yourself.

You may not think this is an online poker secret; however, this is probably one of the best peices of advice I can give you. Find what you need as a player. Are you a break even or small profit player, but you play often? Rakeback would be great for you. Do you like to try out different rooms and see their quality? Poker Bonus Hunting may be good for you. Are you a grinder? Both Rakeback along with Extra Value packages could be a great benefit. Can you rake a lot quickly? Rake Races would be a great bankroll boost for you! Do you dream about playing in a major poker tournament but dont have a bankroll? Many sites offer sponsorship by rake packages.

Remember, poker isnt only about playing the game itself; its about finding the best possible ways to make you the most profitable poker player.

Tournaments VS. Cash Games

jen — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:20:17 +0000

I have been playing in poker tournaments online for about 6 or 7 years and cash games for about the same. I have to say that when you are playing in a tournament you have to play tight and try really hard not to lose chips. Chips are so valuable in online poker tournaments that you shouldn’t play hands that you can play in a cash game. Hands like 10J suited under the gun or even AJ suited should be folded in an online poker tournament, but I would easily consider raising with them in a cash game (depending on the play of opponents at the table of course).

The biggest difference is that if you lose your chips unnecessarily in a tournament you can’t reload them like you can in a cash game!

When do I go for it?

jen — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:44:34 +0000

When you are deep in a poker tournament and are a short stack when do you go for it? Some say that you should when you have 10 big blinds or less. I say that you should do it sooner than this if you want to have a chance to win the tournament. You have to accept that you are not going to have all the luck to win every tournament you play in, so if you have 15 to 20 big blinds you should start pushing with good hands.

I am not saying that you should push under the gun with 79 suited!!! I am saying that any two faces should be considered good enough.

Having Fold Equity is VERY important in tournament poker!

I Hate Pot Committed!!!

jen — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:41:19 +0000

I have heard so many people say “I had to call, I was pot committed”. If you are in a tournament and you raise, putting in half of your stack and you get raised for the rest; there is no reason that you should feel pot committed if you have a loosing hand! The point in a poker tournament is to make it as far as you can and if call just because you think your committed and not because you have the best hand, then not only have you made a bad call but you are playing bad poker!

Early Tournament Aggression

jen — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:05:29 +0000

I see this happen often with players who have been paying too much attention to the professional poker players around. Being aggressive, means you must be SELECTIVE in your aggression. Raising in the cutoff just because its folded to you – is not a smart move in the early stages of a poker tournament. Play tight, protect your chips, play aggressive when you have hands in all positions, and wait for the opportunity to take advantage of your opponents.