Why different Chip Stacks should Cause you To Play Differently

Time and time again, I’ve seen too many players
misplay their cards in situations that call for it.
And they pay for it; they lose their chip strength or
in the worst case, get kicked out of the tournament.
Chip management is the single most important skill one
must learn in poker. Bluffing pales in comparison to
this important skill, and now, I’ll teach you how to
manage it well.

Conservative at the Start

Early in the tournament, when the blinds are low and
with a good number of weak poker players around, it is
important that you stay tight rather than jeopardizing
your tournament dream. The antes are low, so there is
no rush to be the chip leader. Relax and take it slow,
only playing the best-looking hands. Don’t be a rock
though, because no one will call your bets when you
finally have a hand. In a nutshell, mix up your play
but be conservative around 80% of the time.

Faster at the Middle

In the middle of the tournament, where a third or half
of the competition is gone, and the tables are
becoming smaller, with only five to seven people
around, it’s time to speed up your play. From here,
you should start putting up continuation bets and eat
up small pots. This is important because the blinds
are now chasing you and will substantially take a part
of your stack if you become the big or small blind.
Your poker instincts become more important this time
around, because you will have to read your opponents
plays if they are retaining their conservative nature
or beginning to show some courage.

A Freak at the End

Nothing’s more important in the end-game than your
feel for the table and your aggressive technique. You
should learn how to play cards like 9-4 and take it to
the top. Top players like Doyle Brunson have won the
World Series of Poker with cards like 10-2. And in
fact, he has done it with the same card twice.

Since this has confused many, I’ll give you an
example. If you are dealt 10-4 and at the small blind,
just limp in and see if he/she calls. If your opponent
puts up a reasonable raise, just call it because you
have a high card in 10 and it is unlikely that he/she
has an AJ given that there are only two players. Also,
there are lesser combinations for the card deck to
work with. If the flop shows 2-4-9, bet around half of
the pot and it’s likely that your opponent will fold
it. That’s the nature of heads-up play. A low pair is
equivalent to a high pair in a full table and in my
example, getting nines is a premium holding card. Keep
that basic rules in mind and you’ll have an idea how
play in a short table and more importantly, heads-up.

Conclusion

From what you may have noticed, the style you should
follow early in the tournament is a conservative one
and as the game marches on, you should adopt a more
aggressive approach. That’s why one should be familiar
to both styles as it will aid you in tournament play
where millions are at stake. Poker’s reach has
extended through farther regions of the globe and is
gaining popularity in places like The Philippine
Islands and in New Zealand. So to speak, a No Limit
Hold ‘Em game may be ongoing a few blocks away. If you
keep these rules in mind and you may win a tourney in
those local casinos one day.