The easiest strategy to win tournaments Online or Live

B

boomeranged

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2013
Total posts
54
Chips
0
There are thousands of threads online and they discuss way too much about winning strategies in tournaments. Here I am just trying to explain simply in as little and easy to grasp words and explanations as possible sticking to the topic. Also, the hands to play and hands not to play at a certain point of tournament is also discussed.

Phase One: the beginning

Tournaments generally start with low big blinds and hence people tend to play a lot of hands. Well I wouldn't suggest mucking them all but players should only play Aces, Kings, Queens, AK and Jacks out of position and feel free to muck the rest. If you are UTG or on the button, you can play hands like Suited Ace above 8 other pockets and suited connectors above 8. Any other hand will mostly lose you chips more often than not. Remember, the correct raise pre-flop is never more than 6 BB and reraise never more than pot size. Stick to this and the crazy first phase of the tournament will be very easy for you. Leave the ace high shove and KQ, AJ, KJ, AT shove for the newbies, they are marginal hands and should never be played out of position. If you want to be a professional, play like one.

Middle Phase: Approaching Bubble

If you have taken the above approach, you will reach bubble play more often than others because you don't risk your money on coinflips, you put in your chips only when you know you are very strong.

Once you have reached the bubble phase, it's time to loosen up. Less people contend for the pots and people are submissive as they are trying to enter the money so it is very easy to pick up blinds and antes. Never miss the opportunity to pick them up. The blinds and antes alone can take you to final table. Remember, you are not playing to enter the money, you are playing to win the tourney. Only when you play to win, +EV works the best. Always be focused on your goal, first place. Hands to play are pockets, Suited Aces, High Card aces, Suited connectors above 6 and non suited face cards. These cards can be played in position this point onwards till the end. Remember, you can raise a pot with these hands, that too only when in position; but don't call raised pots with anything less than Jacks.

Third phase: final table

The same bubble play applies on the final felt. People are trying to move up the spots by playing safe. Use it to your advantage as blinds and antes now are huge. Keep it Loose aggressive and always try to be in the hand in position as much as possible. When you are out of position, you just don't have the edge. Anywhere after middle position is a good spot to raise. A two BB raise is enough this spot onwards. If checked to you, don't hesitate in raising 2bb again. You won't face problem in reaching top three most of times you have reached final table.

Final Phase: Heads up

This is the ultimate battle ground and the beauty of poker lies here. Most people think it's more of a luck thing here after but it's not. It is sheer talent hereafter.
Keep you aggressive helmet on and show all the moves that you can think of. Reraise when not connected and shove when you have a decent hand. Remember, your objective should be to make the other person fold when you don't have a hand and shove when you have a hand. Don't call unless you have a decent holding. It's either fold, reraise or shove in the heads up.

Keep in mind a few points:

1. KQoff, AJ, AT, Low to medium suited aces, are not good hands to play till you have less than 15 big blinds left. These are marginal hands and you will mostly lose pots or hands or just bleed chips if you play them. Just muck them until you find them in an unraised pot and that too On UTG or the button. Save your chips for the better hands.

2. To raise you don't need a hand but to call a raise you need a very strong hand.

3. Don't waste your time around, watch how others are playing. Your observation will make you money, do it.

4. The easiest hands to play are hands played in position. Position is the most important aspect of choosing playing hands. Keep in mind, your best friend in poker is position.

5. Good players play lesser hands and always choose to play hands in position.

6. You are not durr or ivey, don't imitate them. Just because you have watched a few hands on YouTube doesn't mean you can play like them. You haven't lived their lives, you haven't lost as much money as they have and you don't have as much experience as they have. Play realistic poker, not a fancy one.

7. A good player knows when to fold, always fold and try again when you know you are beat.

8. Stop calling. Calling is a weak gameplay. Either raise or fold against two or less opponents until you have the nuts. Remember, fold equity is your second best friend after position.

9. Hate your tablemates. Hate them all to the core and you will do anything not to lose.

10. Don't play to end in the money, play to win the tourney. Trust me, it helps in the long run and you end up winning more.

And once again, if you want to become a professional, start playing like one. Good luck at the tables.

Write to me for any further suggestions and questions. I too, just like you, am willing to learn.
 
ifixitayr

ifixitayr

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Mar 9, 2015
Total posts
3
Chips
0
hi there i'm just starting out playing MTTs online and i have read a whole array of strategy's as i didn't want to just think because i have played live tournaments for a while it will be more of the same. my god was i wrong i play agressive when in position and i can get a look at a player but when your online its just a whole different game players call you when you have big hands with shit and get runner runner on the turn and river and make a winning hand its frustrating the hell out of me but your strategy is pretty spot on so thanks i enjoyed your take
 
DonSifu

DonSifu

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 12, 2015
Total posts
94
Chips
0
i liked your rule number 6 about imitating the pros; i agree that trying those crazy moves you see on television will only get you in trouble; remember that until recently, all poker shows were 'highlight reels', showing specific hands and scenarios.
the only way to really learn from the pros is to watch them on a live feed, playing every hand with no edits; then you'll see the real grind.
overall excellent advice sir, well done.
 
horizon12

horizon12

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 2, 2013
Total posts
4,126
Chips
0
Very good article for the players microstakes...

boomeranged you wrote this?
 
B

braveboat

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 9, 2007
Total posts
139
Chips
0
Very good post. Obviously, poker is game of nuance, and there's no one way to play a hand. What one does need, however, is a solid foundation, a thoughtful rationale for each decision, and a long term view of success. (Short term variance can unnecessarily destroy results and confidence!)

I've been playing poker on-line for almost nine years and I'm still learning and thinking about the game. What I have finally managed to do, though, is to develop a general outline of play that I use to structure my individual decisions on. Previously, I was reacting to each hand without enough thought to the bigger picture.

Great job on the general strategy post!
 
C

crazyesdumno

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 10, 2014
Total posts
25
Chips
0
Controlled aggression is the key to winning tourneys, if someone if playing more aggressive than you, target them for a trap rather than an ego war.
 
PokerFunKid

PokerFunKid

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 20, 2014
Total posts
5,131
Chips
0
I know what you're trying to say, but i don't agree with this one.
8. Stop calling. Calling is a weak gameplay. Either raise or fold against two or less opponents until you have the nuts. Remember, fold equity is your second best friend after position.

Besides that i think the rest are great tips.
 
B

boomeranged

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2013
Total posts
54
Chips
0
hi there i'm just starting out playing MTTs online and i have read a whole array of strategy's as i didn't want to just think because i have played live tournaments for a while it will be more of the same. my god was i wrong i play agressive when in position and i can get a look at a player but when your online its just a whole different game players call you when you have big hands with shit and get runner runner on the turn and river and make a winning hand its frustrating the hell out of me but your strategy is pretty spot on so thanks i enjoyed your take

Hi buddy, i know what bad beats are like but also the fact that if you do the right things with the right hand and still lost the hand, you win those hands with the same play 8 out of 10 times and hence even losing is profitable in the long run. It's just about looking at expected value. Also, most bad beats occur in freerolls and .02 tourneys. The higher you will move up the stakes, the lesser bad beats are seen. Keep in mind, If you do everything right, you will win in the long run. Maths is never wrong.
 
W

wabbitfry18

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 10, 2014
Total posts
68
Chips
0
rule 8 is a winner in my book, too

I agree with not calling, and folding or raising only also!!
Good call!!!
 
B

boomeranged

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2013
Total posts
54
Chips
0
Very good article for the players microstakes...

boomeranged you wrote this?

Of course i wrote it. And thanks for asking that, your question tells me i did a good job ☺

By the way, i believe it is good strategy for any stakes for new players with less than five years of experience in poker. Also, more than hands, on live tables, nothing beats a good read.
 
B

boomeranged

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2013
Total posts
54
Chips
0
I know what you're trying to say, but i don't agree with this one.


Besides that i think the rest are great tips.

Hey buddy,
I have played live poker for 7 years now and this is what has worked best for me. But i am very new to online poker and still learning its tricks. It will be a great help if you can enlighten me with the benefits of calling instead of raising or folding in the online poker with reasoning.
Looking forward. Cheers !!
 
B

boomeranged

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2013
Total posts
54
Chips
0
Controlled aggression is the key to winning tourneys, if someone if playing more aggressive than you, target them for a trap rather than an ego war.

I totally agree and looking forward to write something on the topic of LAG gameplay. I would also love to read your threads on various topics sir. Cheers !!
 
R

RodrigoCL

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 9, 2015
Total posts
63
Chips
0
I've been doing quite a lot of study lately and this is probably the best summarized strategy I have read so far. Very clear and easy to understand.
Do you think this can work the same with those 45-90-180 man SNG's?
 
B

boomeranged

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2013
Total posts
54
Chips
0
I've been doing quite a lot of study lately and this is probably the best summarized strategy I have read so far. Very clear and easy to understand.
Do you think this can work the same with those 45-90-180 man SNG's?

thanks Rodrigo. Yes, this strategy is great for all the kinds of tournaments with blinds increasing. Also,if you find this thread useful, you'd like my other threads on Poker Math and Stack Bullying.
 
C

cardsharks774

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 22, 2015
Total posts
19
Chips
0
Wow great tips!! Thank you. I have a few questions though? My main question is about phase 1 the beginning. One question is if you have 7's, 8's, 9's or 10's and your out of position or middle position what do you do? Raise? I find it hard to just fold pocket 6's 7's or 8's per say. But if your out of turn or even under the gun you shouldn't raise with these middle to low pocket pairs? In the beginning/ early parts of the tourney? Also what's your take on low pocket pairs also like 2's 3's 4's and 5's?

Thanks!

Best of luck to all!!
 
ifixitayr

ifixitayr

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Mar 9, 2015
Total posts
3
Chips
0
Hi buddy, i know what bad beats are like but also the fact that if you do the right things with the right hand and still lost the hand, you win those hands with the same play 8 out of 10 times and hence even losing is profitable in the long run. It's just about looking at expected value. Also, most bad beats occur in freerolls and .02 tourneys. The higher you will move up the stakes, the lesser bad beats are seen. Keep in mind, If you do everything right, you will win in the long run. Maths is never wrong.

thanks like i said before i'm just really starting out online but every days a school day for me and thanks again for the help. p.s great line maths is never wrong i love that:D
 
shomy21

shomy21

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Apr 3, 2013
Total posts
403
Chips
0
Very very good post. I totally agre with you and I'm playing just like that. But I need to work on agression especially on bubble time.
More controlled agression= more chips for final table.
 
B

biggb

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Feb 23, 2015
Total posts
5
Chips
0
Hi mates,

I think a float is also a good weapon (raise or fold - point).
But the rest is very good.....

I play in MTTs in later stages more aggressive...
thanks for this useful post.

Bye,

b
 
B

boomeranged

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2013
Total posts
54
Chips
0
Wow great tips!! Thank you. I have a few questions though? My main question is about phase 1 the beginning. One question is if you have 7's, 8's, 9's or 10's and your out of position or middle position what do you do? Raise? I find it hard to just fold pocket 6's 7's or 8's per say. But if your out of turn or even under the gun you shouldn't raise with these middle to low pocket pairs? In the beginning/ early parts of the tourney? Also what's your take on low pocket pairs also like 2's 3's 4's and 5's?

Thanks!

Best of luck to all!!

Hey buddy! In fact I am writing an article on playing small to medium pairs successfully. I can't give out my opinion without doing the math behind it solely to share my thoughts, hence I will work on it and get back to you soon with a thread. At the moment I would suggest you to read my other article 'poker math for dummies' and 'Bullying' correctly. I have invested a lot of time in reasoning my arguments and writing them. I hope you will find them useful too.
 
B

boomeranged

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 15, 2013
Total posts
54
Chips
0
Very very good post. I totally agre with you and I'm playing just like that. But I need to work on agression especially on bubble time.
More controlled agression= more chips for final table.

Read my post on 'bullying successfully'. You will find it helpful for the bubble dilemma.
 
T

titomurcia1214

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 6, 2014
Total posts
75
Chips
0
I am new to poker only online game, I think the players now are very aggressive and see many hands, making it difficult sometimes to play with certain logical hands in position, I think the key to winning is the constant struggle against your opponents and against oneself, to control your emotions and not lose concentration despite having several hours of play
 
crazyangel88

crazyangel88

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 25, 2014
Total posts
139
Chips
0
1 Play within your roll
2 Don t Monitor your Balance
3 Treat the game seriously
4 Pay attention to your human needs
5 Integrate a tilt - induced kill switch
 
Organize a Home Poker Game
Top