| THE GOAL | | | | Limp in (call) with: |
| Your first goal when entering a tournament should be | | | | AK - AQ - AJ - A10 - KQ - KJ - K10 - QJ - Q10 - J10 |
| to get to the money (in a 9 player game, only the top | | | | If somebody re-raises all-in or re-raises big,fold unless |
| three get paid). The second goal is of course to win | | | | you have AA. |
| the tournament. You can't win the tournament until | | | | If somebody re-raises a small amount, call them |
| there's only 2 players left. So focus on the first goal | | | | (re-raise with AA - KK - QQ - JJ) |
| first - to get to the money. This basically means - | | | | POST-FLOP PLAY |
| avoid getting knocked out and play very tight and | | | | If you hit a set, top pair or flush/straight draw -play |
| selective in the early stages of the tournament. | | | | aggressively, but manage the pot size,so you don't risk |
| Your goal is NOT to get as many chips as possible at | | | | getting knocked out. |
| this stage - the goal is to survive until you get to the | | | | If you hit nothing on the flop, check or fold |
| money. | | | | (call small bets if you have over cards) |
| EARLY STAGE (9-7 people in the game) | | | | If there's a flush draw, a straight draw or an overcard |
| Goal: To survive and not get knocked out | | | | toyour cards on the board and somebody bets big - |
| At the early stage of the tournament, there are usually | | | | fold |
| some lose players that bets and goes all-in with terrible | | | | FINAL STAGE (3 people in the game) |
| cards. They may get lucky and draw out on you, so | | | | Goal: To win the tournament |
| the initial strategy is to avoid entering pots with those | | | | Now you're in the money and the first goal is reached. |
| players. Let the other players knock each other out at | | | | You've made a profit. Now you can take a few more |
| this stage. Do not enter pots unless you have monster | | | | chances and attack the remaining players by |
| cards. | | | | aggressive play when you have good cards. |
| PRE-FLOP PLAY | | | | PRE-FLOP PLAY |
| Only play monster cards: | | | | Play aggressively and open raise (3x big blind) with |
| AA - KK - QQ - JJ and AKs | | | | AA - KK - QQ - JJ - 1010 - Aks |
| Fold anything else | | | | AK - AQ - AJ - A10 - KQ - KJ |
| Open with a raise (3x big blind) with thestarting hands | | | | Limp in (call) with: |
| mentioned above. | | | | K10 - QJ - Q10 - J10 |
| If somebody re-raises all-in or re-raises big,fold unless | | | | Any Ax - Jx suited |
| you have AA. | | | | Any pocket pair |
| If somebody re-raises a small amount,call them | | | | If somebody re-raises all-in or re-raises big, fold unless |
| (re-raise with AA) | | | | you have |
| POST-FLOP PLAY | | | | AA - KK - QQ - JJ - 10 10 - 99 |
| If you hit a set (3 A's or 3 K's etc) play very | | | | If somebody re-raises a small amount, call them |
| aggressivelyconsider gong all-in. | | | | (Re-raise with AA - KK - QQ - JJ - 1010 - 99) |
| If you hit nothing on the flop, chances are you still | | | | POST-FLOP PLAY |
| havethe best cards, play aggressively, but manage the | | | | If you hit a set, top pair or flush/straight draw -play |
| pot size,so you don't risk getting knocked out. | | | | very aggressively and bet/re-raise. |
| If there's a flush draw, a straight draw or an overcard | | | | If you hit nothing on the flop, check or fold |
| toyour pairs on the board and somebody bets big - | | | | (call small bets if you have over cards) |
| fold | | | | If there's a flush draw, a straight draw or an overcard |
| MIDDLE STAGE (6-4 people in the game) | | | | toyour cards on the board and somebody bets big - |
| Goal: To survive and not get knocked out | | | | fold |
| At this stage you can loosen up a little bit and take | | | | FINAL WORDS |
| few more chances, but you still have to manage the | | | | The best way to start and to enhance your poker |
| pot and be patient and disciplined. The main goal is not | | | | skills is to play, so sign up now to one of the poker |
| to win, but to survive. | | | | rooms listed below and start playing, either for play |
| PRE-FLOP PLAY | | | | money (to practice) or in the low limit tournaments. |
| Open raise with (3x Big Blind): | | | | Good Luck! |
| AA - KK - QQ - JJ - 1010 - AKs | | | | |