Are you tired of playing poker with just your family and friends? Do you want to test your abilities as a player? Then it is time to ante up to the next level.
RING OR TOURNAMENT?
First, you have to decide whether you want to play a ring game or play in a tournament. Ring games are played at “tables,” in the case of online poker, virtual tables. In a ring game, you can buy in when there is a space at a table and cash out whenever you want to leave. You can also buy more chips at any time. This is not the case with tournament poker.
First, you have to decide whether you want to play a ring game or play in a tournament. Ring games are played at “tables,” in the case of online poker, virtual tables. In a ring game, you can buy in when there is a space at a table and cash out whenever you want to leave. You can also buy more chips at any time. This is not the case with tournament poker.
In tournament poker, you have to play until you run out of money or win the tournament. Some tournaments do allow periods in which to re-buy chips. It is your decision as a beginner as to whether you want to re-buy or just try out the next tournament.
One type of online tournament, the sit and go tournament, is usually limited to one table and starts as soon as the minimum required number of people, for example, ten, sign up to play. A sit and go tournament does not last as long as a multi-table tournament because the number of people involved is more limited. In a sit and go tournament, prize money may be limited to the top three players and the end winnings can be smaller than those from a multi-table tournament.
You can also find multi-table tournaments online. The object of multi-table tournaments is to continue to accumulate chips until you have won the whole tournament. Multi-table tournaments have a payout structure which may include up to or even more than 10% of the field.
TOURNAMENT—BUY IN
In order to play in a tournament, you will have to buy-in for a set amount of money. Everyone who plays in a tournament has the same amount of chips when they start. Buy-ins vary according to the tournament. As a beginner, it might be wise to start out with a lower buy in, even though your potential winnings might not be as much as you would like, in order to get the feel of the ebbs and flows of tournament playing. Look at this as taking inexpensive poker lessons.
In order to play in a tournament, you will have to buy-in for a set amount of money. Everyone who plays in a tournament has the same amount of chips when they start. Buy-ins vary according to the tournament. As a beginner, it might be wise to start out with a lower buy in, even though your potential winnings might not be as much as you would like, in order to get the feel of the ebbs and flows of tournament playing. Look at this as taking inexpensive poker lessons.
TOURNAMENT—BLINDS
As in every form of hold’em, a big and small blind are posted to begin each hand. This is the only money in the pot, but is designed to drive the betting action. Early in tournaments, blind levels are low, and it is more important to play your game based on your cards. But as blinds get higher, each pot becomes more crucial, and “blind stealing”, or raising in late position in order to pick up the blinds, becomes an important part of the game. Each tournament has different blind structures and time intervals, so make sure that you understand your tournament’s rules in order to determine how aggressively you will have to play. Why do tournaments have blinds? It forces participants to play poker rather than sit on the sidelines waiting for the perfect hand.
As in every form of hold’em, a big and small blind are posted to begin each hand. This is the only money in the pot, but is designed to drive the betting action. Early in tournaments, blind levels are low, and it is more important to play your game based on your cards. But as blinds get higher, each pot becomes more crucial, and “blind stealing”, or raising in late position in order to pick up the blinds, becomes an important part of the game. Each tournament has different blind structures and time intervals, so make sure that you understand your tournament’s rules in order to determine how aggressively you will have to play. Why do tournaments have blinds? It forces participants to play poker rather than sit on the sidelines waiting for the perfect hand.
GENERAL TOURNAMENT STRATEGY
Remember that you will not be able to win every pot. Winning the biggest pot is not even the most important thing when you are trying to make money playing poker. You want to win over time. BE PATIENT. That means playing less hands than cash games, and limiting your hands to ones that you can win without investing a lot of money into without being sure you have the best hand.
Remember that you will not be able to win every pot. Winning the biggest pot is not even the most important thing when you are trying to make money playing poker. You want to win over time. BE PATIENT. That means playing less hands than cash games, and limiting your hands to ones that you can win without investing a lot of money into without being sure you have the best hand.
CARD STRATEGIES
One of the advantages of playing in an online poker tournament is that you do not have to worry about body language. One of the disadvantages of playing in an online poker tournament is that you cannot use body language to your advantage. So, what should you do as a beginner? Concentrate on your cards.
One of the advantages of playing in an online poker tournament is that you do not have to worry about body language. One of the disadvantages of playing in an online poker tournament is that you cannot use body language to your advantage. So, what should you do as a beginner? Concentrate on your cards.
If you have a lock hand, or a hand that you feel has a very high probability of winning the pot, your objective might be to keep as many players in the game as possible to build up your potential winnings. If you have a strong hand, or a hand that you think might win the pot, you need to raise in order to force out players who have marginal hands to keep them from catching up. If you have a marginal hand, consider playing only if the betting is not stiff. Otherwise, just fold. If it seems like you are folding constantly, you are actually doing the right thing. Ideally in no-limit tournament poker, you should fold about 85% of your hands before you even see the flop.
CHIP COUNTS
Make sure that you keep track not only of how many chips that you have left, but how many chips that your opponents have. Knowing how many chips that other players have can help you strategize how aggressive that you want to be. This is particularly important as the tournament progresses. If you have a large stack, you might want to let more marginal players duke it out with each other while you watch to see what happens. Or, you might want to think about whether an opponent with a short stack is betting on a weak hand in an effort to increase his or her earnings.
Make sure that you keep track not only of how many chips that you have left, but how many chips that your opponents have. Knowing how many chips that other players have can help you strategize how aggressive that you want to be. This is particularly important as the tournament progresses. If you have a large stack, you might want to let more marginal players duke it out with each other while you watch to see what happens. Or, you might want to think about whether an opponent with a short stack is betting on a weak hand in an effort to increase his or her earnings.
Playing poker to win is a learning process. Watch your hand, watch your opponents, learn, and have fun.
