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| I believe that many players will often play different in these small buy-in tournaments. There are several different strategies and tips that I would like to share that will help you to play better in these tournaments. |
| Online Poker Strategy: Playing in Small Buy-in No Limit Hold'em Tournaments |
by Tom Sangenito
From what I see in many of the online poker rooms, most of the players are
participating in small buy-in tournaments. The majority of online poker players
like to play in tournaments. Small buy-in events offer a great way to learn
how to play poker in a tournament structure. I believe that many players will
often play different in these small buy-in no limit hold'em tournaments. There
are several different strategies and tips that I would like to share that will
help you to play better in these tournaments.
First, I feel that many players will take more risks and gamble more because
they are only risking a minimum amount of money. Almost every poker player
will play more aggressively in a small buy-in tournament in comparison to
larger buy-ins. I will adjust my play according to how my opponents are
playing. Many times there is a player who is involved in many pots and is
raising often, so I will play more starting hands. Obviously, a player who is
raising very often does not always have a strong starting hand. I will call a
raise from this type of player with a hands such as J-10 ofsuit of K-9. These
are hand I would normally muck in response to a pre-flop raise. However,
because a player is raising more often that normal, I will play these weaker
hands simply because my opponent probably does not have a top hand such
as A-K or a pair of Tens.
Keep in mind that this type of player can be very dangerous as they will pick
up some monster hands and their opponents will put them on a weak hand.
Often the best response to a player that is raising pre-flop too much is to
re-raise. This will give you more information about his possible hand
combinations. Are they just calling? Perhaps they don't have such a strong
hand. Are they re-raising? Then they just might have a very strong hand.
Often times there are a decent amount of players involved in a hand in the
early stages of these tournaments. There will be many players limping in and
they want to see a cheap flop. I like to play more starting hands early in a
small buy-in tournament. I will place more value on hands such as small
pocket pairs and suited high cards and suited connectors in these situations.
These types of starting hands prefer multiple players in the pot. A hand like
an A-Q or K-K is better off against fewer opponents. You need to make a
large pre-flop raise with many limpers in the pot with such starting hands.
You need minimize the number of players seeing the flop when you have high
cards or a big pocket pair.
If you are a better than average player, I suggest you also limp in with
mediocre starting hands. Because the blinds are small in comparison to your
stack, you are often getting the right pot odds to call with a hand such as a
Q-9 offsuit. In addition, good poker players will often outplay weaker players
after the flop. A better than average player can also take advantage of
position and call with a much weaker hand to try and steal the pot when your
opponents check to you in late position.
I will also project a table image while playing in small buy-in no limit hold'em
tournaments. Many players like to make their opponents think that they are
very loose players. They will raise often pre-flop and will keep their
opponents on edge by playing a variety of different starting hands. This will
also make your opponents more likely to call your raise when you have a big
hand such as pocket Kings or Aces. Projecting a loose, almost maniacal
playing style early in a tournament will often result in your opponents calling
with weaker hands than they would normally.
Many times I will project a "rock" style of poker play. I will play only strong
starting hands and often when I am involved with a pot I will showdown a
winning hand. This will make your opponent think that you are only playing
very strong starting hands. If you will be at the table for an extended amount
of time, this strategy can reap big rewards. Later on in the tournament, when
the blinds are larger and players are playing tighter, you can now take
advantage of your tight image. I will often steal blinds with very weak hands
just because my opponents are putting me on a big hand. If I do get a call
with a weak hand, I will almost always bet the flop, representing a big hand
all the way.
Using these techniques and strategies have made me a winning player in
small stakes no limit hold'em tournaments. I cash out in many of the small
buy-in tournaments I play in and will often make it to the final table. Keep in
mind the following observations and tips: players play more aggressively,
hands change value with the number of players in the hand, limping in early
is recommended, and project a table image. If you integrate these
techniques and strategies into your game, you will become a better player
and cash more in these small buy-in no limit hold'em tournaments. Good Luck
at the tables!
Tom Sangenito is a Part-Time Accountant and an avid poker player who plays
online and in live tournaments and cash games. Tom has cashed in many
online tournaments including PokerStars World Championship of Online
Poker. He won his very first live tournament at a Sit and Go while playing at
the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, Florida. Tom writes poker articles
for UltimatePokerForum.com and affiliate site PokerPlayerPress.com.
From what I see in many of the online poker rooms, most of the players are
participating in small buy-in tournaments. The majority of online poker players
like to play in tournaments. Small buy-in events offer a great way to learn
how to play poker in a tournament structure. I believe that many players will
often play different in these small buy-in no limit hold'em tournaments. There
are several different strategies and tips that I would like to share that will
help you to play better in these tournaments.
First, I feel that many players will take more risks and gamble more because
they are only risking a minimum amount of money. Almost every poker player
will play more aggressively in a small buy-in tournament in comparison to
larger buy-ins. I will adjust my play according to how my opponents are
playing. Many times there is a player who is involved in many pots and is
raising often, so I will play more starting hands. Obviously, a player who is
raising very often does not always have a strong starting hand. I will call a
raise from this type of player with a hands such as J-10 ofsuit of K-9. These
are hand I would normally muck in response to a pre-flop raise. However,
because a player is raising more often that normal, I will play these weaker
hands simply because my opponent probably does not have a top hand such
as A-K or a pair of Tens.
Keep in mind that this type of player can be very dangerous as they will pick
up some monster hands and their opponents will put them on a weak hand.
Often the best response to a player that is raising pre-flop too much is to
re-raise. This will give you more information about his possible hand
combinations. Are they just calling? Perhaps they don't have such a strong
hand. Are they re-raising? Then they just might have a very strong hand.
Often times there are a decent amount of players involved in a hand in the
early stages of these tournaments. There will be many players limping in and
they want to see a cheap flop. I like to play more starting hands early in a
small buy-in tournament. I will place more value on hands such as small
pocket pairs and suited high cards and suited connectors in these situations.
These types of starting hands prefer multiple players in the pot. A hand like
an A-Q or K-K is better off against fewer opponents. You need to make a
large pre-flop raise with many limpers in the pot with such starting hands.
You need minimize the number of players seeing the flop when you have high
cards or a big pocket pair.
If you are a better than average player, I suggest you also limp in with
mediocre starting hands. Because the blinds are small in comparison to your
stack, you are often getting the right pot odds to call with a hand such as a
Q-9 offsuit. In addition, good poker players will often outplay weaker players
after the flop. A better than average player can also take advantage of
position and call with a much weaker hand to try and steal the pot when your
opponents check to you in late position.
I will also project a table image while playing in small buy-in no limit hold'em
tournaments. Many players like to make their opponents think that they are
very loose players. They will raise often pre-flop and will keep their
opponents on edge by playing a variety of different starting hands. This will
also make your opponents more likely to call your raise when you have a big
hand such as pocket Kings or Aces. Projecting a loose, almost maniacal
playing style early in a tournament will often result in your opponents calling
with weaker hands than they would normally.
Many times I will project a "rock" style of poker play. I will play only strong
starting hands and often when I am involved with a pot I will showdown a
winning hand. This will make your opponent think that you are only playing
very strong starting hands. If you will be at the table for an extended amount
of time, this strategy can reap big rewards. Later on in the tournament, when
the blinds are larger and players are playing tighter, you can now take
advantage of your tight image. I will often steal blinds with very weak hands
just because my opponents are putting me on a big hand. If I do get a call
with a weak hand, I will almost always bet the flop, representing a big hand
all the way.
Using these techniques and strategies have made me a winning player in
small stakes no limit hold'em tournaments. I cash out in many of the small
buy-in tournaments I play in and will often make it to the final table. Keep in
mind the following observations and tips: players play more aggressively,
hands change value with the number of players in the hand, limping in early
is recommended, and project a table image. If you integrate these
techniques and strategies into your game, you will become a better player
and cash more in these small buy-in no limit hold'em tournaments. Good Luck
at the tables!
Tom Sangenito is a Part-Time Accountant and an avid poker player who plays
online and in live tournaments and cash games. Tom has cashed in many
online tournaments including PokerStars World Championship of Online
Poker. He won his very first live tournament at a Sit and Go while playing at
the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, Florida. Tom writes poker articles
for UltimatePokerForum.com and affiliate site PokerPlayerPress.com.
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I recommend playing at the following online poker rooms to play in small
buy-in no limit hold'em tournaments:
Poker Stars
Full Tilt Poker
Poker.com
Pacific Poker
buy-in no limit hold'em tournaments:
Poker Stars
Full Tilt Poker
Poker.com
Pacific Poker
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