How To Play Against Yourself at a Poker Tournament

How To Play Against Yourself at a Poker Tournament

Image via Wikipedia

I have had the time recently to play a few live, poker tournaments. While I've had one nice cash of $3,000, there have been three times where I ended up just out of the money finishing 21st and 24th twice.

I have been so intent on playing ABC poker with a few moves thrown in, I have forgotten the need to play against myself as well.

What does it mean to "Play against the player and not your cards?"

As you know, I believe one of the most important keys in winning poker is to play against the player rather than just playing your cards.

One way to simply define "playing against the player" is to evaluate what range of hands you think your opponent holds and playing in a way to beat him by using his bets, his table image and the board against him--that is, representing a hand that can get your opponent to fold.

A simple example: A player who raises pre-flop way too often and always follows with a c-bet when his hand doesn't improve on the flop. You call this player in position, take the flop heads-up, and when he bets the flop, you raise.

It's easier said then done. And I think it's easier when you are playing live and the stacks are deep.

What does it mean to "Play against yourself?"

I think all poker players get in a habit of how to play good poker. I would say that players are better at pre-flop play than ever before. They know the "right" cards to play pre-flop in position and bet sizing. However, these same players often end up waiting forever for a big hand.

These players need to play against themselves. That is, they need to mix it up and play poker in a style that is counter to their table image.

For example: If you've been sitting and waiting forever for a big starting, you are viewed as a tight player. It's time to make a move and raise pre-flop with any two cards or re-raise a frequent raiser. You won't get action unless a player finds a big hand--which doesn't happen often.

The same is true of those players who come in too often with pre-flop raises. Change your game and slow down once in a while--maybe even fold, so the next time you come into the pot, your opponents will fear your raises.

Suggestion

I think most players are still thinking "Tight, aggressive" is the way to play a poker tournament. Survival is the key.

That thinking is fine as a starting point.

In addition, though, consider adding in one more element to your game. If you have not been entering any pots for a long time in a tournament, mix up your game, and play "Loose, aggressive." That is, if you find that you have suited connectors like 6-5 in an early position, raise like you have pocket Aces. If you find, that the small blind limps against your big blind, raise him even though you only have 7-2 offsuit.

Once you believe your image has changed, you can always switch back to your "Tight, aggressive" style.

The result is going to be that you will mix things up and make it more difficult for your opponents.

Frankly, I have been making the mistake of waiting too long to mix things up. The result has been that I have had to move all-in with good or mediocre hands and hope for the best. I need to open up my game more--and mix things up.

It seems being away from playing these events has resulted in my thinking I can outplay my opponents. While I tend to outplay opponents in the first two rounds, I have forgotten that "Risk is Good."

Good luck!

If you master this skill, I guarantee you will be a winning tournament poker player

Day 54...the countdown continues...

After playing hundreds of poker tournaments, there is one skill which will guarantee you are a winning tournament poker player. You probably have heard of this skill and you may think you understand what it means, but unless you have a WSOP bracelet or experience outstanding tournament success, you don't.

Let me tell you what this skill is, what it really means, and how to get better at it.

1. The most important skill in a poker tournament is to play the players and not your cards.

Most players have heard this skill before, but they really don't get it. Or if they do get it, they rarely use it once the tournament starts. Could this be you?

2. What this skill really means

Let me explain what playing the players really means. Players in tournaments have habits they tend to display. These habits give you a strong clue on what they are thinking and how they are feeling about the strength of their hand. The most notable consistency in players are their betting patterns.

As an example:

You are on the button with 2-2. The blinds are $50-$100. A solid player raises to $300 and everyone folds to you. You have $4,000 and your opponent has $4,000. In this situation, your opponent can have a big premium cards, medium pairs, two broadway cards, or A-x or above. In this situation, given the implied odds I would call.

Now, what are you thinking before the deal of the flop? If you are thinking, "please give me a 2," you really need to think at a higher level. You should be thinking "a 2 would be great, but even if I miss, I can still win the pot. Also, how much is in the pot, how much will be his continuation bet, etc."

The flop comes Q-7-5 rainbow. The pot is $750. Your opponent bets out $500. What should you do?

Well, if you are thinking "I would fold because I missed my 2, wrong." You shouldn't be thinking about your cards anymore, you should be playing this player.

Your opponent may have A-A, K-K, Q-Q, or A-Q--but what if the flop missed his pair of 9's. He made a standard continuation bet. Can you take this pot away from him?

YES! You can call the bet or raise. If you have watched this opponent before, you will know that he will continue his continuation bets on the turn or slow up on the turn. Against most players, I would simply call not because I am hoping for a 2 on the turn. I am calling to take away the pot on the turn if he checks or bets weak. The turn card will define my next action.

Does this make sense?

One more example: Same blinds with everyone with $4,000. This time you are in the big blind. A player in the middle position raises to $300, and another player on the button calls. You look down and find J-10 suited. You call.

The flop comes 7-7-2 rainbow. The player on the button bets $800. You have nothing, but that is not important. You know this opponent will bet in these situation when checked to. Now, you can raise or can you call. You call. And the original raiser folds.

The turn is a 6. What can you do to take down this pot? Your opponent is going to be afraid you have a 7. What else could you have? Play the player.

There is almost $3,000 in the pot. You have $2,900. What if you move all-in? Will your opponent call you with the last of his chips? Would you call if you had no pair facing an all-in on the turn?

Since your opponent can’t see your hole cards, you can always hold the winning hand. If you know when your opponent is weak, you can play your cards like you have the nuts.

Daniel Negreanu is one of the best pros at playing the player. He got this way from years of experience.

3. How to get better at playing the players and not your cards

Here are a few ways to get better at this skill.

The best way is to enter tournaments with your number one objective being to identify opportunities where you can play the players to win a pot.

If you still insist on playing your cards on the flop, here is an idea. Play online tournaments where you see your cards pre-flop, and then put masking tape over the cards so you start to think about the situation and play the players. Yeah, it's a weird notion but it may help you to get better at it.

A final way is to watch tournaments online where you don't know anyone's cards and think through what you would do to win the pot.

Conclusion

No limit tournament poker is about accumulating chips, stealing blinds and pots, and playing the players and not your cards. Know your opponents. Know the range of hands they will play pre-flop in these situations. Look at the flop and determine if this a flop where you can bluff out your opponent. Even if you don’t really have a better hand, you can win the pot because you are playing the player.