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How to Build a Deep Run in a Poker Tournament
Phil Hellmuth was in the news recently when he announced he doesn't intend to play the WSOP Main Event this year, citing it as too arduous for players his age. While cynics have pointed out he hasn't cashed the main on a decade so he's not exactly talking from personal experience, there's no doubt that stamina is required in the event: it's one of many skills required to run deep in a big poker tournament, which is the aspiration of every player, from amateurs to seasoned professionals.
Understand the Structure
Before you start playing, familiarize yourself with the tournament structure. Pay attention to factors like:
Blind Levels
How quickly do they increase? In slow tournaments, you can take a conservative approach, waiting for very good situations and spots. But if the blind levels escalate quickly, you can't be as patient or selective,
Starting Chips
Do you have a deep stack or a shorter stack? The ranges you should play depend on stack depth: for example, when you are very deep, you can raise with a small pair and call a three bet if necessary, hoping to flop a set. However, if the stacks are shallow (forty big blinds or less), you don't have that luxury, as the payoff when you do flop a set won't compensate for all the times you don't.
So if you're at a table where you are likely to get three bet, you're better off just folding and not even opening he hand. When stacks are very shallow (less than 20 big blinds), the best play is often just to open shove your pair, mainly hoping to take down the blinds, but having a decent chance to double up if you do get called. On the other hand, if you're super deep (more than 200 blinds), small pairs become problematic because some of the time you do hit a set, you will be set over setted, which is a disaster with this many big blinds.
Payout Structure
Understanding where the money jumps occur can help you make strategic decisions. Knowing these elements will help you gauge the time you have to play conservatively or aggressively. Every poker tournament has a unique rhythm dictated by its structure—blind levels, starting stack, payout distribution, and player field size.
- Early Stage: Focus on survival and observation. Play tight, speculative hands (like suited connectors or small pairs) in position to see cheap flops, but avoid big risks. Use this time to study opponents—are they aggressive, passive, or prone to tilting?
- Middle Stage: Blinds start to bite, and the bubble (the point where players start cashing) approaches. Tighten up slightly but look for spots to steal blinds or capitalize on weaker players.
- Late Stage: With a big stack, apply pressure; with a short stack, pick your spots to shove or double up. Adjust based on payout jumps and the final table looming.
Familiarize yourself with the specific tournament’s blind structure beforehand—knowing when the ante kicks in or when levels shorten can help you plan your moves.
Play Tight Early On
In the early stages of a tournament, you focus should be on survival rather than accumulating chips. Many players enter pots too loosely, leading to early eliminations. Adopt a tight and aggressive strategy:
- Play premium hands and avoid easily dominated hands that could lead to difficult situations. The most expensive hand in poker is the second best hand, so steer away from hands that are second best even when they hit a lot of the time. A hand like KJ might look pretty in early position, but if you flop top pair and some other player shows a willingness to put a lot of chips into the pot, you probably have the second best hand.
- Use your position at the table to your advantage, playing more hands when in late position, particularly against weaker players.
- Play speculative hands like suited connectors or small pairs in position to see cheap flops, but avoid big risks.
- Use this time to study opponents: are they aggressive, passive, or prone to tilt, strategically knowledgeable?
Adjust to Opponents
As the tournament progresses, pay attention to your opponents. Adjust your strategy based on their playing styles:
- Identify Weaknesses: Look for players who are overly aggressive or too passive and exploit their tendencies.
- Monitor your own image and other players perceptions of you, and use to your advantage. For example, bluff more frequently against players who perceive you as tight or cautious, and less frequently against those who perceive you as wild or loose.
Chip Management
Effective chip management is crucial for a deep run. This involves balancing aggression and caution:
Avoiding Coin Flips
In the early stages, steer clear of situations where you are putting all your chips in the middle unless you have a significant edge.
A deep run hinges on knowing how to manage it relative to the blinds and your opponents. Poker pros often refer to the “M-ratio” (your stack divided by the total of blinds and antes per orbit) to gauge their tournament health:
- Big Stack (M > 20): You have breathing room. Use your chips to bully shorter stacks and accumulate more without risking your tournament life.
- Medium Stack (M 10-20): Play cautiously but seize opportunities to steal blinds or win pots uncontested.
- Short Stack (M < 10): Survival mode kicks in. Look for strong hands or good odds to shove all-in, especially in late position.
Stealing Blinds: As the blinds increase, look for opportunities to steal blinds from tighter players. This will help you maintain a healthy chip stack without risking too much.
Be Aware of ICM
Independent Chip Model (ICM) is a critical concept in tournament play, especially as you near the money bubble. Understanding ICM can change your decision-making:
- Bubble Play: When approaching the bubble, tighten your range, as players will be more cautious about busting out. Conversely, take advantage of aggressive players who are looking to accumulate chips.
- Final Table Dynamics: Once at the final table, consider the payout differences and adjust your risk tolerance based on your chip stack relative to others.
A fuller discussion of ICM is beyond the scope of this article. I could write a book on the subject (wait, I already have, called "Endgame Poker Strategy"). What I will say is that the single most effective thing most tournament players can do to improve their results and profit is to devote more time to studying ICM.
Maintain Focus and Stamina
A tournament can last for hours, or days, and maintaining focus is key:
- Breaks: Use breaks to relax and recharge. Step away from the table when possible.
- Pace Yourself: Multi-day poker events are mentally demanding, so it’s crucial to conserve focus. You can’t be 100% locked in every moment, so alternate between “soft focus” (lightly observing when not in a hand) and “hard focus” (intensely concentrating during key hands). Many recreational players burn out by over-focusing early when the stakes are low, leaving themselves drained when it matters most. Like chess players, learn when to dial in and when to conserve mental energy.
- Healthy Habits: Stay hydrated and eat light meals to maintain your energy levels without feeling sluggish. Grazing throughout a long day and waiting till the end to eat a proper meal is much better than eating a heavy meal at the dinner break.
Emotional Control
Poker is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Emotional control can significantly impact your performance:
- Avoid Tilt: If you experience a bad beat, take a moment to regroup before making your next decision.
- Stay Positive: Maintain a positive mindset, focusing on the process rather than obsessing over results.
- Monitor your Opponents Emotions: Most (but not all) players start a tournament or day in a good positive mood, but few manage to maintain it in the face of tiredness and frustration. Look for players who are about to blow up, so to speak, and be waiting to profit from their blow ups.
Analyze Your Play
Self reflection and analysis are vital in poker. However, there's a time and a place for it, and when you are in the heat of battle is not it. If you're unsure about a hand or decision you just played, do not dwell on it. Record it in your memory or on your phone for review afterwards. This will not only help your post game analysis, but also to move on emotionally in game.
After each session, do take time to reflect on your decisions:
- Review Hands: Consider hands that went well and those that did not. What could you have done differently? What can you learn from each hand, both in terms of what you can do in future and identifying conceptual flaws in your thinking,
- Learn from Mistakes: Use these reflections to improve your strategy for future tournaments. Mistakes are the most valuable learning opportunity. Mistakes hurt, and this pain is a powerful mnemonic, a reminder not to repeat them in future.
Conclusion
Building a deep run in a poker tournament requires a blend of strategy, awareness, and mental discipline. By understanding the tournament structure, adjusting to opponents, managing your chips wisely, and maintaining emotional control, you can significantly enhance your chances of success. Remember that every tournament is a learning experience, and with each run, you gain valuable insights that will aid your growth as a poker player.
Put your tournament skills to the test—join one of our exclusive freerolls or sign up with one of our trusted real money poker partners and see how deep you can go.
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How to Build a Deep Run in a Poker Tournament
Phil Hellmuth was in the news recently when he announced he doesn't intend to play the WSOP Main Event this year,
