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