Copyright 2006 Full
Tilt Poker
April 17, 2006
(View all Online
Poker Lessons)
Poker Lesson: Early Tournament
Play
Author: 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.
Full
Tilt Referral Bonus
Downloaded
from the World Wide Web on April 17, 2006:
http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/proLessons.php?lesson=56
|