If you are a poker player, you most likely have at least dabbled in online play. But that doesn’t mean that you have spent a lot of time learning the nuances of tournaments or how they differ from real-world tournaments in brick-and-mortar card rooms and casinos.
Whenever you play a WPT poker tournament, there are a lot of things to consider, from the proper preflop action to playing your position, tourneys are a whole different animal from cash games, and online tourneys are even quite different than physical ones.
That’s because playing on the internet gives you numerous opportunities that you wouldn’t have otherwise. Let’s take a look at a few of the things you need to think about before jumping into the action:
Always Pay Attention
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many players don’t follow this rule. Whether it be surfing the web or watching TV, playing online allows players to engage in casual entertainment when they should be focusing on the game.
Stay Within Your Bankroll
Here is another simple, yet difficult task for many tournament enthusiasts. The temptation to go up in stakes and play for higher payouts proves too much for many players. Far too often someone wipes out their entire bankroll in just a few tournaments when, if they had exercised more discipline, they could have played in dozens of games.
Consider Satellite Options for Bigger Tournaments
If you do want to play in those more expensive buy-in options, however, there is an option that won’t put such a dent in your roll; satellites. Satellite tournaments pay entries into bigger tournaments as a reward, rather than cash.
Don’t Play Too Many Tournaments at Once
This is another option that you would never have in live tourneys. If you are entered into an online game like a WPT poker tournament, there is nothing stopping you from entering as many as you want.
However, the more tables you have going the more difficult it is to keep up with all the action and mental mistakes become much more common.
Learn How to Play Different Stack Sizes and Positions
Many players never take the time to learn how to adjust their strategy for different situations. Understanding the role that your position in the hand plays in how to bet is crucial to making the right moves at the right time.
Additionally, the strategy you implement for playing a short, average, or large stack also varies quite a bit.
Whatever You’re Looking for, There’s a WPT Poker Tournament for You
So, whether you want to play in a zero-risk freeroll, or you prefer the nosebleed high stakes, WPT has whatever you are looking for. But remember, all the tips, tricks, and knowledge you can acquire about online tourneys are only good if you actually use them.
Don’t be one of those players that know the correct move but can’t resist the temptation to gamble or make a bad bluff. Implement these strategies and watch your tournament cashes go up and up.