Poker tournaments types

First, a couple of words about the peculiarities of the tournaments in online poker. Offline tournaments can go for a long time, including up to several days, especially if there are a lot of participants. In Internet poker everything is different because the game itself is more intensive as compared with “reality” poker. This speed is achieved due to the fast card dealing by the computer, automatic repositioning of players by the program, and limited time for the consideration of the lead.

A lot of good players that have gained experience in games outside the tournaments often fail during them because of the difference between these two aspects of gaming. Tournament poker game requires a different approach, and the player needs to modify his style of game accordingly.

Traditionally the course of tournaments is represented by three stages:

Initial stage: At this stage many unlucky and inexperienced players drop out, as the competition between experienced and expert players continues. When all “losers” drop out of the game and only strong poker players remain the game goes on to the next stage – the middle one. When the competition arrives at the final tables, in most cases only really strong players are likely to stay in the tournament, and, according to the probability theory, also several “medium” players that simply got lucky. Game is game, and such things happen, as the element of luck should by no means be written off.

However, you shouldn’t consider the information provided above axiomatic. Every tournament can differ by the contingent of participants, and it so happens that there are very few or no weak players, and the middle stage arrives a lot faster than you think.

Tournament professionals provide some recommendations related to every stage of the game.

Speaking of the initial stage, you need to be prudent and economical – tight, if to use the terminology. You shouldn’t attempt to do something with average hands: this is one of the biggest mistakes a beginner can make. This is exactly what you shouldn’t do, although at this stage the cards are cheap you should be really scrupulous, you need to play tight. It’s the unwritten rule. You can play with JJ, QQ, AA, AK of the same suits. Bluffing is not recommended either. Let the weak and inexperienced players (“fish” in the jargon) show themselves and drop out without hurting your chips in the game. Your goal is one of the top positions.

When in the middle of the tournament more or less serious players stay in the game, it makes sense to take into account the number of chips of the others. This is necessary for you to have an impressive stack of chips on your table at the final stage, or at least an average number of them. There is a small trick. If you play and behave tight at the previous stages of the game, you earn a certain reputation, and your every bet and rise will be interpreted by other players as signs of serious intentions and strength. So, you will be able to ensure a decent pile of chips in the game.

Piece of advice. It’s no use constantly bluffing, considering your image of a tight player.

Of course, there is a chance you will drop out at the middle stage, but it’s recommended to take the risk and win as many chips as possible, for there is nothing worse than sitting at the final table with a small stack of chips and having to waste them all on the obligatory bets. It’s definitely worth taking some risks.

And so, there it is – the longed-for tournament table. These are the moments you really understand that all the power is in the number of chips. The cards do not matter that much anymore. The chips are your opportunity to act. Let your game be more risky and loose. You should know the limits, but it’s acceptable to stake everything and go all-in if you have a serious combination of cards. Every knocked out player is your small victory on the way to the goal.

To sum up, at the initial stages it’s worth playing tight, while at the final stages it’s best to play loose with reasonable measure of risk.

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