Early Tournament Play
Pro Tournament Poker Tips - David Grey
Most players are aware of the
significant advantages that come with having a big stack in a
tournament. When a player has chips, he can attack and pick up pots by
forcing those around him into a corner where they have to make tough
decisions. Those who have short stacks are always vulnerable to attack
by those who have managed to accumulate lots of chips.
Why can the big stacks be more aggressive? The answer may surprise
you. In tournaments, the more chips you have the less each individual
chip is worth, making it easier for the big stacks to throw more into
each pot. It's a strange concept, but one you should understand. To
illustrate the point, say that you have 100,000 in tournament chips,
and you lose 20,000 in a pot. You're not going to be happy about the
loss, but that setback is not nearly as devastating as losing 15,000
from a 30,000 stack.
When you have a lot of chips that aren't worth much, you can be a lot
freer to use them. You can go after blinds and antes without premium
cards, or you can enter into race situations. If some hands don't work
out, that's OK, because you weren't risking much to begin with.
The benefits of having deep stacks are significant enough that I'm
willing to take some risks early in a tournament that give me the
chance to build up my chips. When I'm playing in position, I'm likely
to call raises with hands that I wouldn't play in a ring game or late
in a tournament - hands like Q-9 suited or K-T suited. In a ring game,
with these sorts of hands I'd be worried about being dominated and
getting myself in serious trouble if I flop top pair. But early in a
tournament, I can call with the hope of hitting the flop pretty hard.
I'm looking for two-pair, trips, or some kind of big draw. When I flop
a draw, I'll have the opportunity to semi-bluff; if I hit two pair, I
might take a lot of chips from an opponent who can't get away from top
pair.
Also, keep in mind that there are likely to be a higher proportion of
weak players early in a tournament. You want to get as many chips from
these players as you can before they bust.
Playing more hands early in a tournament does expose me to greater
risks, but I'm fine with that. I'd rather gamble early and bust than
cling to a short stack for hours on end. When I'm short-stacked, I
know that one bad beat or one lost race will have me on the rail. I'd
rather take some chances and try to accumulate a stack that can stand
up to a little adversity.
So, in your next tournament, look for situations in early levels that
give you a chance to acquire a big stack. You may bust, but if things
work out, you'll give yourself a far better shot at surviving deep
into the tournament and having a big payday.
David Grey
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