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Surviving the Sit and Go

Sit and go tournaments differ from money games because when you are eliminated, there is no buying back in! This means you have to try your best to stay in the game, otherwise you’ll simply have to register again after you lose. In a sit and go tourney the money is awarded at the end of the tournament, and each winner will receive a set percentage of the pool depending upon their standing.

It is best to be conservative in the first few rounds of a sit and go tourney, since the blinds are small in comparison to average chip stacks. Being selective with your hand in the first few rounds will help you make it to the end of the tourney where the cash is made. Always remember that it is more important to make it to the final table than to win a lot of money in the beginning rounds.

In a sit and go tourney, when the blinds start to raise everyone goes all in to try and steal the blind. It is advisable to partake in this strategy as well, and go in with anything you have when the blinds are high enough. The key is to play tight early on and then loosen up as the tourney progresses. After the money rounds start that is when you start going all in to steal the blinds.

Closing the Win on a Hold Em Tournament

Closing the Win on a Hold Em Tournament

Making it to the final table in a Texas Hold Em tournament is by no means easy. So when you do finally make it to the final table, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First of all, playing at the finals table is not like playing a regular round of Texas Hold Em, because the entire mood and mentality is different since the tournament is coming to a close. Players are no longer worried about preserving their stack going into the next round obviously, so this can change the dynamics of the game a lot.

With that said, it is very important to make sure you have a big stack going into the final table. You’ll notice that most of the people left at the very end came into the game with big stacks to begin with. The less chips you have, the less leverage you have in the game… period.

Thus every game in the tournament is just as important as the final table itself. It is important to be aggressive and do everything within your power to get as many chips as possible, without putting your neck out there in the process. The best way to do this is to monitor the trends of your opponents. If you notice that everyone is playing with a reserved style, that’s when it is time for you to play aggressively.

Aside from being lucky, you really have to set yourself apart to be the guy with the most chips at the final table. This means making it work with what you have. If you sit there waiting for an excellent hand before playing aggressively, you’re making a crucial mistake. The key is – it’s not entirely what’s in your hand that counts, it’s what the other players THINK is in your hand that matters.