Tournament poker presents unique strategic challenges that differ significantly from cash games. As blinds increase and stacks shrink relative to the blinds, your strategy must adapt accordingly. This guide covers the key concepts for MTT success.
Understanding Tournament Structure
Unlike cash games where chips equal money, tournament chips have changing value based on the payout structure. This creates different incentives at various stages of the tournament.
Key Tournament Metrics
- Stack Size: Your chips measured in big blinds (e.g., 50bb)
- M-Ratio: Stack divided by (blinds + antes), measures your stack in orbits
- Average Stack: Total chips divided by remaining players
- ICM: Independent Chip Model, converts chips to tournament equity
Early Stage Strategy (Deep Stacks)
With 100+ big blinds, play is similar to cash games. Your goals:
- Build a stack: Look for spots to double up against weaker players
- Play speculative hands: Suited connectors and small pairs have great implied odds
- Avoid marginal spots: Don’t risk your tournament life without a significant edge
- Identify weak players: Note recreational players for later exploitation
Don’t be afraid to see flops cheaply with hands that can make monsters. A flopped set or flush can double your stack and set you up for a deep run.
Middle Stage Strategy
With 30-60 big blinds as the average stack, the game changes. Aggression becomes more important.
Stack Maintenance
Your primary goal is maintaining a playable stack. If you let your stack dwindle below 20bb, you lose strategic flexibility and become dependent on finding premium hands.
Steal More Often
Attack tight players in the blinds. Open wider from late position when the table folds to you. Many players tighten up trying to make the money, creating opportunities for chip accumulation.
Three-Bet Light
Against active openers, fight back with three-bets using hands that block their continuing range (Ax, Kx). You don’t always need premium hands to re-raise.
Bubble Play
The bubble—when one more elimination means remaining players are in the money—creates maximum ICM pressure.
Big Stack Strategy
With a big stack, apply maximum pressure. Raise liberally and put medium stacks to difficult decisions. They can’t play back without risking their tournament life.
Medium Stack Strategy
Avoid confrontations with big stacks unless you have premium holdings. Look to pick off short stacks and steal from other medium stacks who are playing scared.
Short Stack Strategy
Find a spot to shove and double up. Don’t blind down to nothing hoping to squeak into the money. A min-cash isn’t worth sacrificing your chance at the big prizes.
Final Table Strategy
At the final table, pay jumps become significant. Each elimination means more money for everyone remaining.
ICM Considerations
The ICM model shows that chips are worth less the more you have. This means:
- Risk-averse play is often correct, even with edges
- Calling all-ins requires a higher threshold than in cash games
- Shorter stacks should be more willing to gamble
- The chip leader has enormous leverage
Pay Jump Awareness
Know the payout structure. Sometimes folding a marginal spot is correct because the pay jump from 5th to 4th exceeds your expected chip gain from a risky confrontation.
Short Stack Play
When your stack drops below 15-20 big blinds, your strategy simplifies to push/fold. Learn the push/fold charts based on your position and stack size.
Basic Push Ranges (Examples)
- 10bb on Button: Any pair, any ace, K5s+, K8o+, Q8s+, QTo+, J8s+, JTo, T8s+, 97s+, 87s, 76s
- 10bb in Cutoff: Pairs 22+, A2s+, A7o+, K9s+, KTo+, QTs+, JTs
- 10bb UTG: Pairs 55+, A9s+, ATo+, KJs+, KQo
Common Tournament Mistakes
Playing Too Tight Early
Deep stacks are valuable—use them! Don’t sit and wait for aces while the blinds eat your stack.
Overvaluing Min-Cashes
Play to win, not to cash. The real money is in top-3 finishes. A min-cash is often just your buy-in back.
Ignoring Stack Sizes
Always be aware of effective stack sizes—both yours and your opponents’. This determines which hands are playable.
Panicking When Short
Getting short-stacked isn’t ideal, but it’s not over. One double-up puts you right back in contention. Stay focused and find your spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How important is ICM in tournaments?
A: Very important, especially near the bubble and at final tables. However, don’t let ICM paralyze you—chip accumulation is still crucial for reaching those high-equity situations.
Q: Should I play tight or aggressive in tournaments?
A: Generally aggressive, but situationally tight. Aggression builds chips, but you must pick your spots. Blind aggression leads to early exits; calculated aggression leads to final tables.
Q: When should I go for the win vs. laddering up?
A: At pay jumps, consider laddering. Heads-up or three-handed with a chip lead, go for the win. Balance risk against reward based on the specific payout structure.