Tournament Poker Tips General tips
(The following helpful guide to tournament poker is provided as a reference and does not cover all situations in a poker tournament. Mix up your play and keep the other players guessing.) Play aggressive early in tournament (play tight in early if there is lot of loose action eg. rebuy tournies) middle stages of a tournament you tighten up to survive to the important late stage (where the money is) later stages you should loosen up as a lot of players will try to survive to the money - take advantage of this Play big pairs aggressively. Raise to prevent being drawn out on. Play small suited connectors in late position Try to steal the blinds when possible, especially if they are the small stacks. Trap whenever you have the nuts. Trap the aggressive loose players Don’t play poor cards out of boredom Suited cards are worth little more than unsuited Always ask yourself what the best hands are A bettor be, a caller never. Aggression pays Don’t draw in no-limit (unless it's really cheap). You will lose too many chips. If you must, draw to the nuts. Attack small stacks. Only play premium hands against the big stacks Always think, will I play this hand if I get raised? (especially in early position) Do not go out early in a tournament with KK or AK Beware when an Ace hits the flop - most players call with Ace anything (they could have two pair to your AK)
How to Play AA, KK, QQ re-raise from any position if you have KK or QQ, beware if an ace falls. Players go in with ace anything.
How to Play AK raise in late position (last 2 positions from the puck), call from early and mid if raised and re-raised to you…fold. (could be up against KK and AA) after the flop - if rags fall, don’t bet, check and hope for a free card. If an A or K falls, bet big.
How to Play Pocket Pairs Call pocket pairs if not raised if raised, fold 88 and below (depending on the amount of raise) on the flop, drop all pairs if an overcard shows up (depending on players) beware playing low pocket pairs in early. (would you play these in a raised pot?) 99 - JJ's call a small raise from behind
Play in Early Position don’t raise with medium pair. Don’t raise with AK or AQ (keep in mind that AK is just a drawing hand) Don’t play A 10, K 10, Q 10 in early (at beginning of tournament) Just call 88’s or better, drop them if you are raised or miss the flop Raise - QQ’s or better
Play in Mid Position Play in Late Position steal blinds whenever you can by raising in late position you will represent a strong hand - use this advantage you can generally play all hands you would normally play in early and mid and more call ace anything suited unraised (or a small raise) - you want to see the flop cheaply
When you Flop a set 
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