The next step for many online poker cash players who have gone beyond their first few games of amateur poker is taking on a multi-table poker tournament. Multi-table tournaments are an ideal way for players to control their poker investment and get a shot at a sizeable return. Unlike a cash game at a table, a multi-table tournament features a buy-in of a set amount and each player is issued the same amount of chips. As play continues, blinds are raised and players are whittled down to an eventual final table that continues much like a regular cash game. It takes more time and energy, but the money you can win in a bigger tournament can make it worthwhile.
Stage One: Survive
In a multi-table tournament’s early stages, you should be concerned with surviving to the next round. The first few rounds should definitely be played tight and you should concentrate on accruing more chips with every hand you do play in. You shouldn’t go all-in unless you’re 1) really, really sure your bluff is going to work or 2) you’ve definitely got the highest hand. Poker players can be hard to read, so the latter option is safest.
Stage Two: Advance
This is when you have to start playing. Once you’ve cleared the first few rounds and moved up a table or two, the blinds are going to eat you alive and you’re going to need to focus on outplaying your competition. Be the aggressor and take more risks! At this stage, you should also have a bit of an understanding understanding of how your opponents play. Use this information when making a decision. Knowing which opponents you can bluff and which ones are “calling stations” will greatly affect the way you play your hands against them. Your goal is to get to the final table, not to make friends and influence people.
Stage Three: Behind Enemy Lines
If you have a big stack in later stages, use it. Use it aggressively, take out the small fry, and keep advancing. Your opponents are going to fear going broke and will likely hand you chips for next to free unless they’re absolutely sure of their hand.
If you’ve got a smaller stack, it’s a different story. Slow-play some lower-value hands that you’d normally throw back deliberately and go for broke with your bigger hands. Once you’ve crossed the bubble, you’re getting your investment back, so go for broke if you feel strongly about your hand.
Stage Four: The Finale
If you keep playing your big stack the way you were, you can get knocked out faster than ever because guess what? Nobody makes it to the final table of a decently-sized tournament without knowing what they’re doing unless they’re extremely lucky or a poker savant. Avoid big-stack confrontations unless you’re, again, extremely confident in your hand, and work to pick out the smaller fry. If you have been sitting back playing passively, then going aggressive can make your opponents blink and respect you a bit at the table.
These are just basic, broad tips that apply to no one in particular’s game. You’ll have to tweak this advice for your playing style and work to integrate them into your own play if you want, but we feel this is solid, smart advice for just about everyone. If you need to play backgammon online now and then to take a break from multi-table poker tournaments, go right ahead.