Writing a series on smallstakes poker tournaments has been very enjoyable for me. At the same time, it has brought a certain amount of pressure from my friends...especially when I bust out before they do. As the months have gone by, I am even more convinced today that adapting these principles to fit your style of play mixed in with some good decision-making will make you a winner.
This is the final article covering the 8 key concepts for small-stakes tournaments. Let's wrap up this series by reviewing the concepts:
All of the concepts flow out of this first and most important one: (1) Practice selective aggression. Generally, this means you need to play loose aggressive during the early stages because most players are overcautious and there are lots of orphan pots. Then, during the middle stages, play tight aggressive (emphasis on tight). Around the bubble, it is time to open up again and play loose aggressive as most people will just be trying to make the money.
Next, when you do get a good hand, you have to get your maximum value out of it. Remember that (2) a big hand requires a big bet. The overwhelming majority of players in these tournaments will call any raise pre-flop with any pocket pair in the early and middle stages. Slowplaying is the fastest way to go broke. Also, (3) be aware of when to stop raising and start pushing.
When the blinds and antes start climbing, it's time to start stealing them.
We went over various types of "small-ball" moves you can make to pick up lots of chips. Unless you have a great run of cards, it is nearly impossible to win a tournament with quickly climbing blinds by waiting for a hand. When you are the aggressor, you make things happen. But you do need to pick your spots carefully as you (4) make the right move at the right time against the right opponent. As you continue to improve your game, you must be merciless in your evaluation of the way you are playing. (5) Ruthlessly identify specific leaks in your game. You can only get better when you are being honest with yourself.
There is a real sense of accomplishment that comes with making the final table. However, the most money is made in the top three spots. That's what you are playing for, so you have to keep practicing selective aggression. You must (6) have a plan of attack for the final table. Many players slip into passive mode at this point, waiting for a hand to double up. Most small stakes tournament structures simply do not allow for this. That makes it invaluable to (7) exploit your opponent by knowing their plan. By staying aggressive you put the pressure on other people to make the tough decisions. As the blinds increase and players get knocked off, the price of each hand usually becomes too valuable to not make some sort of deal. It is unusual to see anything other than lots of all-ins at this stage, so (8) know when to make the best deal.
I began this series by pointing out that I lived 2,756 miles from Las Vegas, so my choices on where to play were fairly limited. Well, that distance has shortened just a bit. Ok, more than a bit. Due to family reasons and business opportunities, we have recently relocated to the land of never-ending poker games.
I'll admit it-I am like a kid in a candy store with all of the tournaments in Vegas! With daily tournament buy-ins ranging from $15 to $1,000, there are plenty of options to choose from. And that's where we'll take things from here. I will be making my way around the casinos playing in the various small-stakes tournaments. Each issue I will review a different tournament. I will let you know how the experience rates from how much play you get for your money to how good the competition is to the comfort of the room. I'll also provide analysis for any interesting hands and situations that I come across. I hope to see you at one of these final tables soon.
You can write to author Jeremiah Smith at: 8811 Rio Grande Falls Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89118
