Start of tournament Strategy

If you can’t spot the worst player at the table within 10 minutes its YOU. This quote is over used and is not true.

Don’t play a well-known system as at least half of the players will know the system and the other half are not of a high enough standard to play a system against.

If you have the best hand let your opponents think they have the best hand by letting them lead the betting and hit them on the river.

If you are not sure you have the best hand make your opponents think you have. Bet aggressive or just fold (use your instinct).

Don’t go all in pre flop as some idiot will follow with 2 3 and beat your AA with 2 pairs.

The object of the early stage is to survive to the next stage and maybe pick up a few chips on the way.

The stakes are small at the beginning but they will soon eat away at your chip stack. Only bet with AA KK QQ AK and AK-A10 suited if the betting has been raised pre flop.

Try not to raise early to eliminate weaker hands as some novice players will not get the message and hit a good hand on the flop.

Before the money (the bubble) strategy

Don’t worry about the amount of chips other players have accumulated, be patient and wait for the big hands.

The blinds will be quite high so only call with good cards.

Position is everything. Use it.

After the flop if you have a good hand make your opponents pay to stay.

If your hand cannot be beaten go all in.

Don’t bluff.

If the flop does not help your hand fold, unless you think your opponents hands have not improved (watch the betting).

Final Table strategy

Try to steal the blinds by raising pre flop with good cards. You must be bold and aggressive in your play. If you are not too confident then fold.

If you have a short stack (=>big blind) wait for any pair or AK – AJ unsuited or AK-A2 suited and go all in. You may just run out of chips and go out or win on your blind.

Use the semi bluff if the betting is weak. You hold JJ and the flop shows 3 7 2 but watch for raises and don’t be drawn in.

Keep an eye on the stack size of opponents if you have a larger stack make them pay to stay. If you have a good hand bet the stack of the player with the most chips.

Players with small stacks will be thinking I’m in the money and will go all in on weak hands. If you think you have a chance call. If not fold, as you don’t want to increase their stack size.

If you are down to the last 2 or 3 players and you are chip leader be patient and wait for that killer hand.

Chances are one will eliminate the other.

Don’t forget to thank the runner up for a great game.