Let’s say you’ve just made it through a good size field to get to the money. Now let’s say you’re a medium stack. How should you play that stack? Under what circumstances should you click your chips to the middle of the table?
First thing’s first – congratulations. Making the money is a player’s goal every time he or she sits down and you’ve accomplished that goal. It’s just like in any sport where teams just want to make the playoffs. Once you’re in the playoffs, anything can happen. Heck, you could end up winning this thing. Someone has to, right?
Of course, only one person can win. Everyone else is just vying for the payouts below the grand prize. There’s nothing wrong with that. Anytime you cash in a tournament, it’s an accomplishment that you should be proud of. While someone has to win it, not everyone can. That doesn’t mean you can’t climb the payment ladder and watch as others drop out of the tournament.
Here are suggestions for managing your tournament life once you’ve hit the money.
1. Patience after the bubble – Once you hit the money short stacks seem to start moving. Some of those players have been waiting 10 minutes or longer to play a hand for fear of getting knocked out before the cash. That might not seem like a long time, but 10 minutes in online poker can be an eternity.
2. Play tight – This goes hand-in-hand with the first tip. (Obviously) The less chips you put in, the less chips you lose. The longer you have chips, the more people will get knocked out. At least that’s how it plays out in my mind.
3. Attack the small stacks – If there’s a little guy in the blinds, make him make a decision. I always feel better if I’m the one making the other player make a decision for his tournament life.
4. Careful of the big stack – It’s always a good idea not to mess with someone who has nothing to lose. Unless you are prepared to put your life on the line, you don’t want to bet into someone who can call without even noticing the change in his chip stack.
So keep these tips in mind. I’m not guaranteeing results, but they could help you move up a spot or two in the payment structure. Don’t act like you couldn’t use a couple extra bucks.
Smart and intelligent advice. I like it.
well now when you get to the money that is one hell of a feeling. The first time I ever cashed in no limit hold em I went crazy I was instantly in love with the game, I now play everyday (I don’t cash alot but when I do it still feels just as good as it did the very first time) I’m glad I looked at this blog section I can’t prove it yet but I alredy feel like your advice gas improved my game. I have to say thank you . Oh yeah don’t let me forget this If you give me the $109 bonus deal you got going on I will make you drinks and dinner for a week and I will use your advice here to cash in that dang tourney. What do you say ? Oh yeah and I wont play on full tilt any more LOL. see ya man carbon poker rules
Can CarbonPoker write a poker strategy article titled “Why do I sabatage myself?” and “How to break past the 500 chip, 300 chip, 50 chip barrier in freeroll money tourneyments”. It’s beyond the bubble theory and it’s short of the sabatage concept. It’s when a player with growing experience busts at around 500 chips, then 300, then 50 consistantly and doesn’t know how to play to win.
Carbon name: cindyboo1
no offense but this is pretty bad advice, you should be trying to finish top 3 cause thats where you make money, not trying to last as long as you can. playing like a nit wont help you win a tournment. im not saying play agro but you need to loosen up.