Live Poker Tournament Tips

June 1, 2010 by lesley
Filed under Poker Strategy in Oz poker

Playing in live poker tournaments is very different to playing online. Not only can you see your opponents (and your opponents can see you), but the pace of play is different, and the competition are guaranteed to be focusing on just one game at a time.

Many people, when playing online poker, choose to play several tables at once. This means that their attention is divided, and they’re more likely to be playing “straight” poker, rather than engaging in complex psychological plays.

When you are playing in live poker tournaments you must remember to control your expressions. One of the best live poker tournament tips is to try to do the same thing every hand. Make a ritual of frowning, pursing your lips, moving to muck your hand, or scratching just above your eye – every single hand. This ritual will take your mind off the emotions you feel about the hand you are holding, and will force you to act the same way whether you’re confident or worried.

Performing the same actions every hand will make you harder to read, and will ensure that the only thing talking is the cards on the table. Hopefully, your opponents will not be as disciplined, and you will be able to take advantage of being able to see them, while they are unable to do the same thing to you.