Online Poker Portal - Online Poker Rules, Strategies And Tips

This section is on how to win the single table NL tournaments which are very popular at Party Poker. The buyins range from $5 to $100, so play whatever you can bank.

The goal is place 1st 20% of the time and 2nd, or 3rd 40% of the time. This yields a profit of about the entry buy-in over the long run. So if you play a 10 dollar buy in, you can expect to make $10 dollars every time you play if you achieve the goal.

The way I'll write this strategy guide is by the blind size. Note: The overall strategy is to get ahead quick and stay ahead, or to not die and then quickly come back later. In other words, you'll become the boss of the table throughout the game if you get good cards and get lucky early, or you'll be hanging in there until the late rounds when you make a big move.

Blinds
10-15, 10-20 - regular game, aim to trap a big hand if possible and double up. Don't be afraid to call or go to the flop with a marginal hand that has high implied odds. So, in an unraised pot, I'll go in with 78 suited, because I know if I hit the hand well, I can get paid off quite nicely.
15-30, 25-50 - Tight aggressive play when possible, aim to win a big pot but avoid putting yourself all in or seriously depleting your stack. In layman's terms, play only good hands (the top tier) but don't be afraid to play them strongly.
50-100, 100-200 - You're in three possible situations after the first 30 hands and into these blinds.
You're shortstacked - can only afford about 4 big blinds at the level, and those big blinds are just gonna get more expensive. Go all in with A and a high card, or any pair preflop (provided another person hasn't bet for a lot already). You want enough chips to survive and get into at least third place
Large stacked - you won a big hand in those first 30. Don't let ppl double through though- try to continue to increase slowly, avoid a big confrontation unless you clearly have the best of it. Steal the blinds a lot when you have a decent hand- just put in the minimal raise. Your goal is to win, not to place.
Very short - like almost out. You gotta fight and fight quick. Take a couple long shots, go all in with KQ if you have it, etc. There's nothing worse than being blinded to death. If you're big blind and can only afford one to two more big blinds, go all in no matter what (so if you paid the big blind of 50 and have about 75 in reserve, go all in no matter what).