Four Tournament Tips to Help Make Your Summer Successful
For poker players, this is one of the most anticipated times of the year. Not only is it summer (for half of the world, anyway), but also the World Series of Poker sponsored by 888poker has begun. There are other amazing events elsewhere happening, too, such as the 888poker LIVE Barcelona series that just completed.
If you are a poker enthusiast, you will most likely be taking part in a poker tournament somewhere over the next couple of months. For that reason, I thought I'd share with you a few tips that might help you to perform better at the tables when you do.
Tip #1: Don't let your excitement interfere in your game
Even for the most experienced players, playing in a WSOP event can be enough to cause butterflies in the stomach.
It's all true — there is a lot of prestige and glamour associated with these events, not to mention the sometimes eye-poppingly big prize pools. Even so, it's important to keep in mind that a WSOP bracelet event is truly just one more poker tournament. You will still have to play well and run even better to be able to take it down.
Put all those self-sabotaging thoughts aside and don't let your excitment, the outside pressure, or even how expensive the buy-in of a tournament is interfere with the way you play.
Tip #2: Take it seriously
Most poker tournaments you will be playing this summer are going to be real marathons. In order to optimize your results in them, it is essential that you stay disciplined both in your play at the tables and in your lifestyle and habits when away from them.
Eating healthy (especially on dinner breaks) and getting adequate rest will make a lot of difference after many days of poker — or even in some cases after just a few hours. Getting enough exercise and practicing meditation can also be important tools to help ensure you perform well.
It is also very important to pay attention to every aspect of the game while playing. Don't be on your phone while important information is being given away by other players. Take each tournament you play seriously, and give yourself the best opportunity to succeed.
Tip #3: Be patient
Tournaments can be filled with highs and lows, but through everything you need always to remain patient no matter how things are going.
Keep playing according to your ranges, even after losing big hands, getting unlucky, or simply being "card dead" for long stretches. Also, try to remain patient with regard to your expectations. As we all know, you can play your A-game and make the best decisions, but good results don't always follow. Control what you can, and be patient when enduring what you cannot.
If you set your expectations too high, you will frequently get frustrated. That's not only painful, but can negatively impact your focus and thus your game. Stay realistic and hope for the best.
Tip #4: Take your time before making a decision
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Play NowHow many times have you made a play in a hand and then regretted it later, realizing as you do that if you had just taken another 30 seconds to think over your decision you would have chosen differently?
It is very important to take into consideration all factors before making a decision. There is no need to rush. Think!
Even though deep down you probably already knew some of those tips, I guarantee you that most players don't follow them, even if they do know them. Making these few small changes can enable you to have a very sucessful summer at the tournament tables.
I wish you the best of luck. Remember, if you want to have results that most people don't have, you must do things differently than most people.
Primarily an online player, 888poker Ambassador Vivian "Vivi" Saliba has recently collected numerous live cashes including making the money in both the 2017 WSOP Main Event and 2017 WSOP Europe Main Event. Pot-limit Omaha is her favorite variant, and among her many PLO scores is an 11th place in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Championship at the 2017 WSOP.
