secrets for winning tournaments

[terry185]

i have been playing online poker for like many years now. i have always wanted
to try tournaments but just so afraid to lose. is there any secrets for winning
tournaments?

[christian]

poker involves a lot of thinking, though it may easy to learn but it's hard to master. one of the successful moves that you should learn is bluffing. but this thing doesn't work all the time, so you need to have the right timing. know when and not when to attempt it.

[carlo31]

i so totally agree! spend a lot of time thinking about your calls and folds and even your bluffs. watch poker on TV as much as you can wherein you can see how pros play and from there you can pick real techniques and strategies.

[bondgirl]

I think there is no secret in winning poker tournament. Its how you play the game and if you have guts and not afraid to lose, then for sure one day you gonna hit the jackpot.

[BobbyBurns]

In poker you have to study your opponents and anticipate their moves. Learn how to read their body language and come up with a strategy early in the game.

[Prospector]

Well there are many different strategies to winning a poker tournament depending on what kind of tournament it is. SO many variables that you have to be prepaired for. Just like a good game of football, you have to have a game plan going into it. Every tourney is going to be played differently depending on a multitude of variations such as players, structure of the tourney, starting stack size, level increments, payout structure, etc.. These are things you need to know before signing up and create your plan from that info.

Couple of things that work well for me:

1. Dont just jump into the game without watching the first 5-6 hands..(Unless premium hands AA,KK,QQ,JJ,10-10, Ak only top 5% of starting hands) even then dont shove.. play it!

2. Learn your opponents traits (Know your opponents) see who is aggressive, passive, loose, etc..

3. Play the cards in your opponents hand, focus less on what you have. Play the player not the hand. Of coarse having the best hand works well to!

4. Try not to bluff to often.. its the biggest mistake new players make.. It very rarely works and players will pick up on it very quickly

5. I live by the saying "Scared money dont make no money" If you are in over your budget you will be scared to make that crucial bet that could make or break you. Only buy in games you can afford to lose! THis all falls under "Bankroll Management" learn it, know it, Live by it!

side note: i opened a bank account just for poker so i can manage my bankroll. I put alittle each month in that account and that is my budget, if i go broke its just that money not my rent! I also have a ATM card linked to that account and use only that card for online, casinos, live games, home games, etc.. I keep all poker playin money far away from my living money and never mix the two!

6. Either Raise or fold. Never limp in or just flat call this is a HUGE mistake and will get you into nothing but trouble. A good rule of thumb is to bet the same no matter what your betting with. For instance: raise 3.5 times the big blind everytime you raise. THis will give you an idea what other players have. If they re-raise they are probably strong or sense your weak (either way use caution). If they just call they probably have Small pocket pairs, or suited connectors, AQ, AJ, A10, etc.. so if gives you alot of info for a small amount of chips.

7. Last one ill post here.. Knowing when to fold! The best players in the world fold the best hand more than once in a tourney. Remember its a tourney not cash game. Your going for the distance and possibly to win the tourney, not to only win that hand. DOnt get caught up in one hand, keep the big picture in mind.

THis is just a couple basic things i do personally.. Good starting point. It gets so complex that there is really no good TIps to win a tourney. Start with the freerolls, points tourney, $1,$5 first. IF you want to do live tourneys try Hawaiian gardens if you are in socal, they have a $20 buyin tourney on sundays i believe. Hope this helps a bit

-THe Prospector-

[PapaBear]

Poker is basically a thinking game. It also requires a lot of skill and a solid strategy. Observation also helps.

You can develop these with practice and experience. Start small and then go on to the high rollers if you think you are skilled and experienced enough.

[MardyShawn]

PapaBear and prospetor got a point. That's basically true but think that your opponent has also strategy. You can't just think of your own winning strategy.

[miss heart]

Start with low bets and gradually increase a small portion as you progress in the game. This help you stay longer in the game.

[butter]

Play tight early on, avoid the crazies. Then play aggressive when it's start turning into a real poker match.

[janemich]

I don't think that there is a technique for this. You could only end up in one thing, either you win or lose. But my advice is, since you are afraid of losing, might as well spend less amount on it so that it wouldn't hurt that much.