Poker Article
I will throw a scenario out there for you. Let's say you have been playing in a tournament for 30 minutes. You see Ace-King suited in middle position and decide to raise it up. You make it 5 times the big blind, and the button comes over the top of you for 3 times your bet. What do you do? Most inexperienced tournament players are going to come back over the top and push all in. But, this should be a pretty easy lay down.
All good tournament players know that the early part of a poker tournament is all about survival. You can't win any money if you bust out at the beginning, and tournament poker is all about making money. The only reason you should put all your money in the pot pre-flop, is if you are a huge favorite, or if you are 100% sure that you can get your player off his hand by making a play.
There are to many players out there that put all their money in the pot on a draw, or as a huge underdog. There are times when pot odds don't matter, when you know you are a huge dog, don't call just because there is so much money in the pot, unless you have enough outs.
Just remember the early portions of a tournament are for protecting your chips and staying alive. Make your money when you know you are favored. Pick up as many little pots as you can. Establish a decent chip stack when you go on a rush. But does it make sense to get into a coin flip early in a tournament with someone equal in chips with you? You are going to lose that hand half the time, which means half the time you are busting out at the beginning, so half the time you aren't going to have a chance of making the money.
Written by Jason Bisnett
Jason is a very experienced Poker Player. We are very happy to have him on our staff. To ask Jason a question, visit our Forum. Or email him at JBisnett@stackspokeronline.com
Want to play with Jason? You can find him playing at Stackspoker.com, his name is theprofessa
Poker Tournament Tips
I will throw a scenario out there for you. Let's say you have been playing in a tournament for 30 minutes. You see Ace-King suited in middle position and decide to raise it up. You make it 5 times the big blind, and the button comes over the top of you for 3 times your bet. What do you do? Most inexperienced tournament players are going to come back over the top and push all in. But, this should be a pretty easy lay down.
All good tournament players know that the early part of a poker tournament is all about survival. You can't win any money if you bust out at the beginning, and tournament poker is all about making money. The only reason you should put all your money in the pot pre-flop, is if you are a huge favorite, or if you are 100% sure that you can get your player off his hand by making a play.
There are to many players out there that put all their money in the pot on a draw, or as a huge underdog. There are times when pot odds don't matter, when you know you are a huge dog, don't call just because there is so much money in the pot, unless you have enough outs.
Just remember the early portions of a tournament are for protecting your chips and staying alive. Make your money when you know you are favored. Pick up as many little pots as you can. Establish a decent chip stack when you go on a rush. But does it make sense to get into a coin flip early in a tournament with someone equal in chips with you? You are going to lose that hand half the time, which means half the time you are busting out at the beginning, so half the time you aren't going to have a chance of making the money.
Written by Jason Bisnett
Jason is a very experienced Poker Player. We are very happy to have him on our staff. To ask Jason a question, visit our Forum. Or email him at JBisnett@stackspokeronline.com
Want to play with Jason? You can find him playing at Stackspoker.com, his name is theprofessa