Tuesday, October 9, 2007

On - Line Poker Tournament Strategy - 5 Ways to Move Beyond Playing Just Your Cards

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_R._Holland]Mark R. Holland In order to win a multi-player on-line poker tournament you need both good cards and good fortune. However these two factors are rarely enough on their own. The very best tournament players take many situational factors into account - each of which can improve their chances of winning. This article looks at 5 important factors other than the strength of your cards (or those of your opponents) and suggests how they can help you to win that on-line poker tournament. On-line Poker Tournament Strategy Tip #1 - Stack Size Factors Good on-line poker tournament players stay aware of their stack size and the stack sizes of all of their opponents. Players with large stacks are more likely to raise with weaker cards, while small stacks may be desperate and go all-in with any reasonable holdings. A useful way of assessing how desperate small stacked players are feeling is to calculate how many more rounds of blinds and antes they can survive before busting out. Watch out for players with less than 3 rounds to go - they will be looking for an opportunity to gamble! On-Line Poker Tournament Strategy Tip #2 - Your Table Image Do the other players at the table consider you tight? Playing only string holdings or loose and wild? If you are lucky enough to be dealt several good hands in a short period of time then the other players impression of you might change. In this case raising with a medium strength hand may not be the optimal play as someone will be waiting to play back at you. Conversely if you have endured a run of bad cards you can use this to your advantage - a tight image could allow you to pick up a pot with a well timed bluff. Awareness of your own table image is an important aspect of on-line poker tournament strategy. On-Line Poker Tournament Strategy Tip #3 - Passive and Aggressive Tables The amount of risk that you are willing to take to accumulate a big chip stack in any on-line poker tournament can be influenced by the overall dynamic of the table. If most pots are raised and aggressively contested you might want to wait for a large edge (good cards) before you enter a pot. However some tables are far more passive, lots of small pots going to the first person to bet into them. If this is the case the number of small pots you can win mean that you do not have to take as many risks in bigger pots in order to accumulate chips. Decide where the chips will come from at each table and adapt your on-line poker tournament play accordingly. On-Line Poker Tournament Strategy Tip #4 - Playing the Players Watch the players at your table closely. Note those who are capable of folding after they have entered a pot and those who will always go to showdown. If possible make sure you know which players like to bluff and which ones like to slowplay big hands. Standard bet sizes for each player are an important element - especially when that player bets a different amount to normal. Try to work out what each bet size means and you will be playing the players and not the cards! On-Line Poker Tournament Strategy Tip #5 - Proximity to the Bubble The effect of being close to the paying places can be different for each player. Some people will become very tight and ensure that they make the money spots before playing any more big pots. Others will try to use their big stacks to 'bully' the other players and accumulate chips. Being aware these changes can help you pick up those important chips as the bubble approaches in your on-line poker tournament. GL at those on-line poker tournament tables Mark R Holland is an online poker pro, [http://plan3tgongpoker.blogspot.com]blogger and writer for high-quality poker sites. For great poker strategy articles and tips covering SNGs, Poker Tournaments and Satellite Qualifiers visit [http://www.sitandgoplanet.com]Online Poker Tournament Strategy Tips today! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_R._Holland http://EzineArticles.com/?On---Line-Poker-Tournament-Strategy---5-Ways-to-Move-Beyond-Playing-Just-Your-Cards&id=573144 purchase finasteride cheap online buy online buy finasteride on the net buy propecia online where can i buy finasteride