Here are some guidelines to help you win your next tournament.
1. You need to get lucky to win.
2. You need to avoid getting unlucky to win.
3. Play the player and not your cards.
4. Pre-flop it is usually better to raise or re-raise than to call.
5. Pocket Aces are the nuts pre-flop. If you can get your opponents all-in when you hold Aces pre-flop do it.
6. A-K is not the nuts pre-flop. Raise and re-raise pre-flop with A-K. But be careful not to play this drawing
hand as the nuts.
7. Look for a reason to play a hand, and not fold a hand.
8. Learn which opponents you can float based on their betting tendencies.
9. Identify the table image of your opponents and play against them.
10. Identify what your opponent’s think your table image is, and do the opposite.
11. Play the flop, your opponents and not your cards.
12. Look to play steal flops.
1x. If you have superstitions, this number is missing.
14. Look to bluff on the turn when a scare card hits.
15. Take weak bets as weak hands on the flop, turn and river..so raise.
16. Get out of your comfort zone–loosen up your starting hands, look for ways to win with a bet on the flop, and/or a bluff on the turn.
17. Don’t hesitate to put your opponent all-in on the turn if you know you are ahead, and your opponent is drawing.
18. While expected value is a fine cash game strategy, avoid it in tournament play. Instead, try the concept of unexpected value.
19. Know your pot odds and your implied odds pre-flop.
20. If your pot odds of winning is better than the pot odds you are getting, you should lean toward calling or raising. However, make sure you know what it will cost you if you are wrong.
21. Being an aggressive player will be a better strategy than trying to outplay all your opponents, all the time.
22. Some players make the wrong move at the right time. Don’t let it get you on tilt.
23. Making the right move at the wrong time can also put you on tilt. Don’t let it.
24. If you feel like you are on tilt, take a break away from the table.
25. You don’t want to be eliminated with one Queen in your hand.
26. A ten on the flop is an invitation for action.
27. All cards lower than a 9 on the flop is an invitation for a bluff.
28. It is easier to play against one opponent than multiple opponents.
29. When the antes come into the game, look to make your raises larger than the standard 3x raise.
30 Stealing antes and blinds is a key strategy to winning tournament play.
