| A Tournament Poker System | | | | Late Positions=Attack Positions |
| I figured I would put together a simple system to | | | | In late position, everything is the same except that you |
| playing a poker tournament. Use this as a "base;" that | | | | are going to attack players from the cutoff, button and |
| is, the system you will adjust as you learn more from | | | | small blind with any 2 cards when you are first in the |
| your game. | | | | hand if you know these players are tight, and even |
| Round 1: Try to get a read on your opponents. | | | | better if they are tight and passive. First in preflop: |
| Are there players who are loose and aggressive? If | | | | from the cut-off and button, put in a 3x's big blind raise. |
| so, you are going to figure out how to try to isolate | | | | In the small blind, put in a 4x big blind raise. If you get |
| yourself against this player. | | | | re-raised, you will have to fold. |
| Are there players who are tight and passive? Ideally, | | | | Middle to Late Rounds |
| you want these players to your left so you steal their | | | | In the middle to late rounds, you are no longer going to |
| blinds. | | | | limp with small and medium pairs in early position. A min |
| This doesn't stop after the first round as you always | | | | raise is fine. You will no longer limp into the pot when |
| want to get a read on your opponents. | | | | the game gets to the middle to late rounds. |
| Early Rounds: Accumulate chips | | | | Calling a pre-flop raise should only be done if you need |
| Don't play tight. Play to accumulate chips. You want to | | | | chips, you have pocket Kings or Aces, someone has |
| open up your game and figure out how to play against | | | | raised before you, and you can double up through that |
| your opponents playing styles. | | | | player. |
| If you are in an early position (1st 3 positions to the right | | | | Calling a pre-flop raise can also be done with any pair. |
| of the big blind): | | | | Try to hit it big with a set. |
| Small or medium pair just limp. If you get raised, be | | | | Additional Guidelines: |
| willing to put in 10% of your stack to see the flop. No | | | | Small blind play: call those 1/2 bets with any 2 suited |
| set on flop, no bet. If you hit your set, just check or | | | | cards and playable hands. |
| raise 2x's your opponent's bet on the flop. | | | | Big blind play: If you have almost any playable hand |
| If you get a premium pair QQ, KK, AA or AK or AQ, | | | | and you are getting 2-1 or better, call the raise to see |
| raise 3x's the big blind. If you get re-raised, just move | | | | the flop. |
| all-in. If you have a cooler so be it. If you get pocket 9's, | | | | If a player raises in early position, give that raise |
| 10's, or Jacks, just raise 2.5x's the big blind. If you get | | | | respect. |
| re-raised, you are willing to call 10% of your stack. If | | | | If a player raises in middle position, give that raise less |
| the re-raise is from a player who is loose-aggressive, | | | | respect. If the player is loose with his opening hands, |
| just move all-in. | | | | put in a re-raise. |
| If you get a trouble hand in early position, you know | | | | If a player raises in late position, look to re-raise with a |
| those J-10, Q-10, K-J, K-Q type hands, just put in a min | | | | good to premium hand unless that player is very tight. |
| raise. Don't fold. You want to steal the blinds. If you get | | | | You are going to move all-in when you are 8 times or |
| raised, only call with the suited trouble hands and it | | | | less the big blind in early position with A-J or better. |
| doesn't cost you more than 10% of your stack. If you | | | | You can adjust the strength of your hand downward |
| miss, fold. If you hit, play against your opponent's bet | | | | as you are in a later position and first in the pot. |
| size and your image of his play. Assume a small bet, | | | | If you get to 5 times or less the big blind, look to play |
| means he misses and a 3/4th to pot size bet means | | | | any Ace, King, or Queen hand, any pair, suited |
| he may have you beat. The small bet, raise the action. | | | | connectors, and any 2 cards that when added |
| The pot sized bet you want to call and see the turn. It | | | | together equal a 19 or better. |
| depends on your image of your opponent, on what | | | | Next Step |
| happens on the turn. Few players can fire a second | | | | At the end of the tournament, figure out what worked |
| bullet. | | | | and what didn't work and adjust your game |
| In middle position, the pocket 9's, 10's, and J's, you | | | | accordingly. Write down notes and guidelines for your |
| should put in a 3x big blind pre-flop raise. If someone | | | | next event. Again, based on your results of that event, |
| raises before you, you should call to see the flop if it | | | | see how you can adjust the strategy to make your |
| only costs you 10% of your stack. | | | | plan better. |
| In middle position, those trouble hands are played the | | | | Make sure you write down your learning and what is |
| same way, except you don't want to call a raise | | | | being changed, so you can finally uncover a poker |
| unless it is a suited trouble hand and only costs you | | | | system that works for your style. |
| 10% of your stack. | | | | |