No limit holdem has become the big game in poker. The WSOP world championship is a no limit holdem event. Let’s look at some ways to improve your strategy for these events.
As in any poker game, first get a feel for the table you’re at. If everyone is playing an aggressive style, you might want to pick your spots and just look to double up. If the table is more passive, take control and see what you can do.
When you start the tournament the blinds are small and the stacks are big. This is when you can play poker. Bluffs, slow playing, check raising, etc., are all useful plays. Your skills are fully tested in this stage. When the blinds get big, in relation to the stacks, play gets simpler. Many plays are decided pre flop.
So, when you have a lot of chips in relation to the blinds, hands like 55, or 78 suited, can make you big returns when they hit. Conversely, be wary of big pairs and top pair, top kicker type hands. Players will often have you beat if you push too hard.
When the blinds get big in relation to the stacks, especially your stack, the opposite becomes true. You play your big pairs, and top pair top kicker hands fast and hard. The small suited connectors and small pairs need to be folded to raises.
This is what most players new to no limit holdem tournament do wrong. They don’t adjust their play to the stack sizes in relation to the blinds, especially their own stack. They play the cards only.
With the blinds big, it becomes essential to steal them as much as possible. When you look to steal, you need to sense what your opponents will be thinking. The size of their stacks controls a great deal of how the will play. Here’s a case in point.
You’re on the button with a stack of let’s say 2,500 chips. The small blind has 15,000 and the bb has 20,000. The blinds are 200/400 with a 50 chips ante.
You really need a very strong hand to go all in here. It isn’t dangerous for either player to call you, and you risk making nothing. It is their stack sizes compared to yours, that tells you this.
If the stack sizes for these players were 8,000 and 9,000 you can expect more folding. They don’t have enough chips to comfortably can gamble with you. Also, they aren’t so short stacked that they might decide just to go for it.
Good tournament players are always considering these factors when deciding how to play. Their hole cards are just a small part of the equation. If you want to join the ranks of the good players, get a clear understanding of these things and you’re on your way.