Tournament poker is different from cash games. Here's what I learned climbing the stakes.
The Early Stages (Level 1-4)
Play TIGHT. You have plenty of chips relative to blinds. Only play: - AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK, AQ from any position - 10-10, 99, AJ, KQ from middle position+ - Wider range from button and small blind
Goal: survive and build slowly. Don't bluff. Don't call with draws.
The Middle Stages (Level 5-8)
Antes kick in. You need to start stealing. Open your range from late position: - Any pair - Any suited ace - KJ, QJ, J10 suited - Any two cards from the button if folded to you
Goal: maintain your stack above 20 big blinds.
The Bubble
This is where money is made. Short stacks play scared. Exploit this: - Raise wide against medium stacks (they don't want to bust before the money) - Don't bluff short stacks (they're committed) - If you're short, shove or fold — no limping
In the Money
Now play to WIN, not just cash. Chip up aggressively. Most of the prize pool is at the final table.
Final Table
- Pay attention to stack sizes - Don't tangle with big stacks unless you have a premium hand - Target medium stacks trying to ladder up - When heads-up: be AGGRESSIVE. Any ace, any pair, any face card — raise
Where I Play Tournaments
1win has W Poker with tournament prize pools up to $251K. The micro stakes tournaments ($5-$20 buy-in) are perfect for building experience without risking much.
My Tournament Record
- Buy-ins: $650 total (mix of $5-$20 events) - Cashes: $1,120 - Profit: +$470 - ROI: +72.3% - Final tables: 6 - Wins: 2
Key Lesson
Tournaments are NOT about winning every hand. They're about surviving long enough for your good hands to pay off. Patience wins tournaments.