Online Multi-Table Tournaments

Friday, November 18th., 2005 (By the PokerStrategyKing)

Several months ago, I wrote an article which dealt with online Sit and Go strategy. Today, I’m going to do something a little different. Today, I’m going to go into the strategy to use when playing in Multi-table tournaments with larger fields of players. I will present a concept and then a short paragraph or two detailing the idea. These is part 1 of a two-part series.

Make sure you have time to complete the tournament without distractions
How basic does this sound. Many of these multi-table tournaments can take several hours to complete. If you have other plans or don’t think you can stick around to make it through the final table, save your buy in money. You need to have the mindset that you’re in it to win it, not just to pass the time. How effective can you be if you have one eye on the clock the entire time?

Don’t try to steal blinds early on
I’ve seen this one all too many times. It’s early on in a tournament and the blinds are only at $10-$20 or something quite low. Then, all of a sudden a player sensing weakness opens the betting with a $100-$200 bet. Why? Is the $30 in their so important? Unless you have a premium hand, anyone who calls you in this spot probably has you beat. So they keep pushing and pushing and before you know it, they’ve busted out early. How dumb does this sound when you read about it? Well, its happened to everyone at some point or another. Now that you see how frivolous this is, don’t do it again.

Don’t play junk in early positions
Offsuited connecting cards, one gapers, small pocket pairs, Ace little suited. These cards may be playable from late position but in early position, these are easy folds. Think of it this way, if you are holding cards that can’t stand the heat of a raise, fold them. In tournaments, you are only given a set number of chips. If you needlessly blow them by calling early and then folding, you are wasting your precious commodities. Then when you do pick up good cards, you can’t make as much money in your double up opportunities and you can’t pay for your stronger draws.

Focus on playing hands that will help build your stack
Early on in a tournament, look to only play premium pocket pairs and big suited cards. When you have them, bring them into the hand with a raise and be aggressive with them. Seize control of a hand and don’t let go of it. If you open with a raise preflop, you must continue to show strength after the flop even if you’ve missed it completely. If someone plays back at you, you can still get out of the way.

Be aware of chip counts
Always be aware of who has how many chips at your table. If you see someone with an enormous stack, they to avoid that confrontation until you have something really, really strong. Conversely, avoid trying to attempt bluffs on smaller stacks that are likely to call you. If you have a strong hand, bet it heavy against similar or lesser stacks as these are the people that will be hesitant to tangle with you.

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.

(For more poker strategy and tips, please visit the PokerStrategyKing’s website at www.pokerstrategyking.com )