Expert Plays for No Limit Tournaments
The Button - An Unconventional Poker Play
It is common knowledge that if everyone folds to you on the button, you should raise to steal the blinds. Stealing blinds with raises from the button is considered a smart play since you only have to get two players to fold, and even if you get a call, you will have position on your opponents.
However, maybe this is not the best advice on playing from the button.
For example, if the last two or three times you were on the button, when everyone folded you raised and the blinds folded. Now, the same situation occurs where everyone folds to you. Should you raise again?
Probably not. The blinds are not going to let you bully them repeatedly. They are not going to believe you have a premium hand again. And as a result they are likely to make an aggressive play against your raise by either re-raising you, or even moving all-in. It will force you to fold.
Instead, in this situation don't raise again from the button, just call. Your call is going to worry the players in the blind because it's a strange move. The players in the blind will be more likely to be suspicious of your call, and believe you finally have a premium starting hand. A hand that wants action.
As a result, while you will get at least one opponent, a bet on the flop will usually win you the pot. This is a move to mix into your game to provide some balance. You don't want to be predictable in your game.
So the next time everyone folds to you on the button, don't automatically raise. It may be the best time to just call.
How to Get Respect As the Small Blind
Players in no limit tournament give a different level of respect to raises based on a number of factors. One factor is the position of the pre-flop raiser.
For example, if the player on the button is the first one in a hand and raises, his raise is often viewed as as a move to steal the blinds with any two cards. Yet, a raise from the player in small blind as the first one in a hand is given more respect.
One reason for this discrepancy is that the player on the button will have a positional advantage over the blinds, while the small blind will be in the worst position throughout the hand.
That is why a pre-flop raise from the small blind, as the first player in the hand, is an excellent move to steal the blinds. Players are passive in blind versus blind heads-up situations. The big blind is more likely to respect a raise from the player on the small blind.
The next time you are in the small blind seize the initiative when everyone folds to you. Raise. Your cards don't matter. And raise an amount that will get the big blind to lay down his hand.
The other key in making this raise is that you want to test the big blind. How will the big blind handle a raise from the small blind? Most often the player in the big blind will not have a big enough hand to defend and will fold.
Are You Folding Too Often on the Big Blind?
Most players look for a reason to fold their hand on the big blind. You will see it time and time again. There is a raise pre-flop, and the big blind folds. There is a raise pre-flop, and the big blind folds. Over and over again.
You can't win a no limit tournament by folding your way to victory. You need to take a stand and learn when to defend and when to attack.
If you are in the big blind, and get raised, determine if there is a reason to play the hand. Who raised? From what position? What cards do you hold?
For example if you hold suited connectors and one player raises pre-flop, look at the size of the pot before folding. If the player raised your $100 blind to $300, there will be $450 in the pot (includes the $50 from the small blind). It will cost you $200 to call to win $450 or better than 2-1.
Your hand is not too bad, the odds are good, and if you and your opponent have enough chips, you can win a big pot with the right flop. It's a good time to call and see the flop.
In fact, if your opponent is loose (raises often pre-flop) and raises from a late position, you should consider re-raising. You are representing a premium hand against a player who can have any two cards. A fold by your opponent will win you a nice pot.
In a no limit tournament, you don't want to be seen as a player who routinely folds on the big blind as your more observant opponents are going to steal your blinds repeatedly. Instead, look for a reason to play your hand with a call or even a re-raise.
No one has ever folded their way to a tournament poker win, and no one
ever will. Don't be a habitual, big blind folder. Adding chips is key to winning a poker tournament. Get the respect you deserve in the small blind by making the big blind fold to your pre-flop raises.
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