Evaluating Starting Hands In No-Limit Holdem Tournaments

There are three main factors that influence how you should play your hole cards in No-Limit Hold'em Tournaments. They are: your position, the size of your chip stack, and the size of the blinds. As a basic rule you need to avoid marginal hands that appear playable pre-flop but which can lead to huge losses in a single pot. The classic starting hands that fall into this category would be any Ax lower than AQ where both cards are unsuited, any Kx unsuited lower than KQ, and low suited connectors.

The tricky aspect of no-limit hold'em both in a tournament structure and in a regular cash game is that these hands can also lead to the greatest rewards. They are extremely volatile, however, and much of the skill of no-limit is knowing how to recognize when that starting hand is a liability and when it could potentially break an opponent. This requires a great feel for the game after the flop. Naturally beginners lack this experience and nuanced understanding of the game, and so it is far safer for a novice to limit himself to playing premium cards only before the flop. The problem then becomes one of predictability - if you only raise with big pairs you are unlikely to get any action, and when you do get action you're in trouble because the rest of the table clearly knows what you're holding to begin with.

If you are one off the button or on the button you should loosen your restrictions and play more starting hands, including those marginal ones, provided no one else has entered the pot showing obvious strength. To vary your play effectively you should also consider raising with these hands as a semi-bluff tactic, but no more than one in four times.

Keep most of your initial raises down to between 75% and 100% of the pot. If you make it 3 times the size of the big blind to go that typically equals an 80% pot bet. This will protect you in case you get re-raised or called by stronger holdings. If there are limpers in front of you and you are going to raise then you need to make a significant bet, especially in no-limit where you have to make it punitive for other players if they intend to draw out. In that case you could raise as much as 6 times the big blind.

Have a healthy and watchful respect for strong-tight players who are rarely in hands, particularly if they play the hand out of position. If a player like this raises in early position you should fold all those marginal hands, and small pairs as well.

When weak players have entered the pot, you should be happy to call and take flops with them provided you can do this inexpensively. Slow playing big hands has a higher expected value in No-Limit than it does in Limit games where it is rarely the right way to play. That being said, it is a skill that takes a lifetime to master, and can easily backfire on you.

As the blinds increase in tournament play you must be flexible with your evaluation of starting hands as you have to keep your chip stack well ahead of the pace set by the blinds. In tournament play you cannot wait for the perfect starting hand, and frequently you need to make your own luck. Be selectively aggressive, especially in the later stages of the tournament. Initially you should be tight at least until you have a good read on some of the opponents at your table. Try to avoid coin-flip scenarios where all your chips are at stake. This happens all the time in online tournaments where players feel comfortable going all-in on AK and equally comfortable calling that hand with any pocket pair.

The winners of tournaments at all levels are usually those players who pace themselves early on, make a move in the middle stages of the event, and then start all over again at the final table by once again playing strong-tight.

Ryan D. is a poker fanatic and regular poker tournament player. For more interesting articles about playing online poker, visit http://www.online-poker-insider.com. Online Poker Insider guarantees online poker room deposits up to $500.

---

Compulsive Gambling and Gambling Addiction

Not many people argue that gambling and playing at casinos... Read More

Poker on TV

Poker on TV has been the catalyst that allows millions... Read More

Sports Betting Portfolio Management

The subject of financial investment is such a wide and... Read More

Multi-Player Slots - Why They Look Set for Huge Growth!

Slots are exciting and fun, but are a solitary playing... Read More

Roulette - How to Bet

Betting is very simple in roulette if you follow these... Read More

How to Profit at Online Poker Over the Long Run

The first and most important step is to take notes.... Read More

The Silver Club Casino

The Book is run by Leroy's Sports Book and is... Read More

Gambling Legality Basics

The gambling scene in America can be traced back to... Read More

No Deposit Online Casino Bonus is for Lucky and Wise Only - The Myth of Free Money

No deposit bonuses are very popular, especially among "not-so-wealthy" online... Read More

A Game For All Seasons

An overall review of online casino software has led me... Read More

Gambling Comps 101 or The Ask Game

Gambling Comps 101 or The Ask Game I don't know... Read More

Horse Racing Betting, A Beginners Guide (Part 2)

In part one we went over how to pick contending... Read More

Women Gambling 101

There is a fundamental difference in the outlook of men... Read More

Roulette - The Basics

Roulette is actually one of the simplest games in the... Read More

The Difference Between Bankroll and Money Management

I am sure you would have heard comments like, 'if... Read More

Lotto System: Interview With The Creator Of Lotto System That ROCK The Market!!!

Lotto System: How you can win lotto easily and automaticallyIn... Read More

Win Every Single Time You Play Poker, Chips Or No Poker Chips, Guaranteed

Having played many, many poker games in my time and... Read More

Casino Gambling Tips for Online Gambling

Casino gambling tips for the Internet are good to know... Read More

MGM Mirage to build a city on Las Vegas Strip

Plans include a 4,000-room hotel and casino, three 400-room boutique... Read More

The Secrets of the Outside Numbers

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secrets of the... Read More

The Adventure for Poker Gold

From the drama TILT made by ESPN to the deal... Read More

How to Manage Your Won Money at Gambling and Sports Betting from Busting It Up at Online Sportsbook

Have you heard stories about people hitting big jackpots, winning... Read More

Land Casinos Vs. Online Casinos

Since the emergence of a few online casinos in 1996,... Read More

The Lottery Jackpot: Why You Havent Won Yet - And What You Can Do About It

Did you miss the lottery jackpot because the planets were... Read More

Video Poker Variations

Unlike many other more "social" casino games, video poker is... Read More