Poker
is a game of styles divided
over two worlds: the cash
game and tournament games.
Both are drastically different
in game progression and a
good player needs to be familiar
with both to be successful.
Most players understand the
game and learn in a table
top setting, usually with
friends or family. Many however
never get to the understanding
required of tournament play.
When these players are seen
playing at tournaments it
is readily evident that they
do not understand the subtle
differences in the art of
tournament play.
The
most influential part of tournament
poker game play is the ever
changing blinds. In tournaments
the blinds increase at set
intervals that are made known
to all the players. This helps
to weed those players that
are refusing to move in on
the pot or help to make any
action at the table. This
also creates a completely
new situation in which players
are forced to take action,
forced to decide if each of
their hands is a playable
hand.
In cash games this
is never really a problem,
player’s can easily
wait hand after hand for their
perfect hand, and that simply
is not an option in tournaments
especially late in the tournaments
when blinds are very steep.
This effectively alters the
psychology of the tournament
as well and generally speaking,
most players are obligated
to play looser and with a
bit more aggression than they
might so be inclined to play
in a cash game.
The
second very large effecter
of the tournament play game
style is the fact that buy-ins
are limited if allowed at
all and everyone starts
with the same chips (some
tournaments allow for increased
chip size at increased prices
but most do not). This means
everyone comes in even.
It severely limits the
amount of stack intimidation
that can be done early game
and may alter the play of
those who usually sit down
to a game with large stacks.
In addition to that, everyone
has to worry about being
eliminated. Regardless of
the size of the tournament
or the cost the result is
everyone is twice as worried
about going out, both a
bad and a good thing. It
is though a great thing
for aggressive and confident
players since it gives them
an edge to hold over other
players.
With these extremely different
unique elements in a poker
game the result can be nothing
short of a completely different
game. A larger number of hands
are played by well controlled
players at tournaments. A
larger number of hands need
to be played to remain a float
and to avoid becoming the
small stack of the tournament
and ultimately be eliminated.
Understanding the poker tournament
play type is one of the most
important elements to doing
well in one, staying aware
of these variables is also
an exceptional feat that must
be accomplished and with little
psychological repercussion.
If tournament play is anything
it’s
a table game with the psychological portion on steroids, and should be treated
with caution because play styles within tournaments will reflect this hope to
capitalize on others lack of control.
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