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Hold'em Satellite Strategy - Playing a Multi-Table Tournament
In much the same way that every football fan would sell their soul to play in the Superbowl, most poker players see themselves winning a bracelet at the World Series of Poker. The difference is that if your 40 years old and have an affinity for pop-tarts, a career in professional football is wee bit outside your grasp. On the other hand, this makes you a prime candidate for being a WSOP champion.
The WSOP is an event that is open to just about anyone. If you can afford the $10,000 entry fee, you can show up on ESPN playing against the best professional poker has to offer. Of course many of us don't have $10,000 just laying about. There are other ways to get into the WSOP though. There are a number of Satellite Tournaments where the prize for the winner is a golden ticket to a WSOP event.
The type of tournaments that usually give away a free ride to the WSOP are usually large, multi-table tournaments. A lot of players can find this sort of competition very intimidating. There is a couple ways you can react to this sort of situation. First, and most common, is panic. This can be fun and very cathartic, but not very helpful. You could also take a few deep breaths and go in with a plan. Here are some things to think about while coming up with your blueprint for success.
There is a pretty good chance you are not the worst player in the room. Your key will be to find the worst people in the room and exploit them. You will recognize the bad players by how they go all-in early in an attempt to double their stacks size. While these players are committing a form of suicide you should be playing in a way that helps speed them to their eventual demise. Play tight, smart poker and let natural selection eliminate the weak players. There is an exception to this though. Big bets are not a bad idea early when you are holding a premium starting hand like AA, KK, QQ, JJ, or AK. Try to avoid situations where there is more than one player all-in, unless you hold AA or KK.
Avoid bluffing during the early part of the tournament. This will simply be a waste of time, especially considering the fact that the players you are up against are still as big a mystery to you as you are to them. It is unlikely they will fall for your bluff attempts until they have played a few hands with you.
Early round are an excellent opportunity to get a good look at your opponents. The reason that observing your opponents early is important is because a number of folks you meet on the way to the later rounds will be faced off against you again later in the day.
Position is absolutely vital in tournament play. You want to see as many cheap flops as possible, especially when your cards are questionable. When somebody moves all-in, you don't want to throw good money after bad, calling on a hand you will just wind up folding. If you have cards that you have more faith in Dolly Madison as a supreme being then your cards ability to win, and simply want to see an inexpensive flop, make sure you do this from a late position.
In the middle stages of the tournament you can loosen your play up a bit. Most of the bad players are now sitting in the casino bar drowning their sorrows in something fermented and sympathetic, so you are now playing against better players. This is where your earlier observations come into play. Use the info you gathered against these competitors.
The same players you were taking mental notes on have probably been taking the same sort of notes about you. So change your style up to keep them off balance. By now they are probably seeing you as tight player, so loosen up a bit. When the blinds are high - this is when you can start stealing pots. Be very careful and if you get caught, you may not be able to try again for a while.
There is no absolute way to win a tournament, luck is such a huge factor, but the tips that have been provided here should give you an edge over some of the other players. Good luck, and have fun!
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