If you want to win in poker competitions you should understand some basic principles. Firstly, a player must survive against the new boys before he/she gets to play the true competition. After that a player need to make keen and wily observations in order to notice play tendencies. Such strategy will obviously give you an edge. If you really maked up your mind to win than you should play a tight and assertive style for the best chance to win.

Survive Early to Play the True Game

The aim early is to not get knocked out. The first several blind raises of a competition can be something like a “tornado”. New boys will go all in on hands they have no rights being in. It is you who should stay out of new boys’ way.

Don’t get caught up in raise wars with loose gamblers. Play extremely, tight and just hold on until most of the gamblers left are at least moderately qualified.

Seek for Tells and Take Notes

In case when you are playing on-line poker, this is not difficult. Everything you need is to take into consideration that gambler’s info. If you’re in live person competition, it is wise to make inner notes about each gambler.

What is their play style? Do they have any tells?

Do your adversaries tend to make the same play over and over again? For instance, do they attempt and steal from dealer +1 nearly every round? Do they wager the flop every time when they raise pre-flop? If you manage to notice such play tendencies it will help you to make the great play later.

Tight Assertive Early, Loose Assertive Late

In the beginning, the objective is to play tight and save chips. It is not recommended to steal blinds until later in the game. When the blinds are worth stealing, you shoul steal chips if it is possible. But during the game tend to play tight assertive style.

When the blinds rise and chip stacks diminish, you’ll need to get more and more assertive to stay ahead. Loosen up and try to steal as many blinds as it is possible. Re-raise people who’re making atempt to steal blinds. Play such hands which you wouldn’t play in other situation in a cash game.
You should remember a rule of thumb. It implies that when your pack of cards gets to less than 15x the SB + BB, it’s time to loosen up. In case when your pack of cards gets to less than 10x the SB + BB, loosen up a lot and get a lot more assertive .

In situation when you get to 5x SB + BB, go all in when you are sure you have the best hand you will get before the blinds hit. In case when you’re at 5x, go all in when you’re under the gun it is no difference what hand you have. Remember: don’t take the blinds if you have just 5x SB + BB left.

This was the basic strategy for players who want to succeed in poker tournaments.