Changing Tactics in Poker Tourneys

An integral ingredient of any player's game is the ability to shift and change tactics and game plans when the situation calls for it. In the ever unpredictable world of Poker tourneys, the capability of changing strategies is vital.

Of course, you cannot just alter your approach at a Poker tourney. You will have to consider the proper time to do it. This will vary with the kind of tournament that you are playing, but some of the most important stages can include the following.

One is when you have been competing with the same Poker tourney players for a while. After a few hands, you will have gained information on the tendencies of the players before you, and they will have categorized you too (i.e. being very tight).

At this point, it would be a good idea for you to change and be loose. This will rattle them and you can take away a lot of their chips. Because you will be moved on to another Poker table, your opponents will have no time to adjust to your sudden move.

Another good time to alter your strategic approach in a Poker tourney is when the size of your stack changes. This is actually a necessity; if you find yourself with a big stack, you should take advantage and punish your opponents. Do not just sit back and play to protect your chips; take the other players out of the game.

Yet another time when you can choose to switch from being tight to being aggressive is when you get near the money. At this stage a lot of Poker players will start to play tightly. Take this opportunity to be more aggressive and take it to them.

You should also change the way you play if you find yourself being taken out of a lot of pots. Chances are you have been too predictable. If you are being called often, it means you bluff too often, or that you are too loose. Not getting any pots may mean that you are being too tight. You should be willing to take some chances and play with more hands.

Poker is an ever changing game, and this necessarily requires that you are able to adopt and change as well. In a tourney, you will find yourself pitted against any number of opponents, and the more that you are able adjust, the more successful you will become.