Tactical Checklist for
Online Texas Hold'em Tournaments

This is my personal list of "sit-&-go" ("SNG") Texas Hold'em tournaments. This list will do you no good. Use it at your own risk -- and never when you're at a table with me. ;-)

Early game  |   Mid game   |  End game

SNG Tournament Strategy

1. Discipline: 
   • Hands don't matter; only ITM matters.
   • Ego destroys strategy
2. Courtesy
   • Be courteous and pleasant. 
   • Don't create enemies.
3. Calm:
   • Anger &/or frustration distract.
   • Don't be frustrated by "crazy" players.
     • Let them take each other out.
     • Focus on your own playing.
4. Finish in the money.
   • To win a tournament, you must make it to in-the-money.
   • Focus on staying in the tournament early on.
   • Stay In the Tournament must be the aim.
     • You can move up later.

The early game ~ blinds at 10/15, 15/30, 25/50

1. Only join with a monster hand: like AA, KK or QQ.
2. Cheap flops ONLY and  ONLY with premium hands like:
   • AK, AQ, JJ, TT, 99, AJ, AT
3. Don't make pre-flop raises
   • You won't chase the nuts out.
     • They won't fold but will re-raise instead.
4. Question any pre-flop raise put to you.
   • The iffy players will suck out your money.  Stay away! 
5. No tricks or bluffs in the early game.
   • Bad-beats will call w/ any shiny card and chase your raises.
6. Work your value bets.
   • You will usually get paid off, maybe even with a re-raise.
7. Most, of the players at your table are unskilled and goofy
   • Don't play them w/o monster hands. Don't give them your money!
8. Play solid tight poker.
   • Do not chase big pots.
   • Don't try to be tricky.
   • Try not to advertise your skills.
9. Watch the other players.
   • Find the other 1 or 2 good poker players.
   • Note who the weak/passive players are for later manipulation.
   • Note who's playing loose or tight and, in general, play against their style: tight or solid to loose; aggressive to tight (depending on cards and position).

Marty Smith of The Mzone Report lists six things you need to keep in mind in the early game as another way to say it:

1. Half the field will be gone soon. (That is; don't chase them. Let them go.)
2. Hold'em is a game of big cards. (See my #1 & #2 above.)
3. The flop is NOT going to help your hand.  (Again see #1 & #2. Play tight.)
4. Early exits are usually avoidable. (Don't chase big pots.)
5. Stay in the green Mzone as much as possible. (Keep your stack.)
6. "Gift season is coming." (Wait for the opportunities and they will give you their chips.)

Mid game ~ blinds at 50/100, 75/150, 100/200

1. Loosen up slightly;
   • With higher blinds you can't afford to wait for only top premium hands.
2. Work raises with premium A-x, KQ, KJ and pairs to 44,
   • but ONLY in position.
3. Don't chase any large pots.
   • There are still crazy ring players & river rats here.
4. But use your observations to
   • start stealing blinds from the passive players and
   • make some aggressive plays against the now generally tighter table.
   • Remain cautious against both the good players and the bad beats.
5. Goal is still Stay In The Tournament and make it into the money. 
6. If you get short-stacked:
   • find a hand you like and push it all in,
     • try to isolate 1 player who will be obligated to call.
7. In a tight chip race with another short stack,
   • try to sit on a couple hands to get him to move first.
   • But if you get something like 55, 66 through A-5+, you’ll probably need to go all in.
8. If you have a big stack:
   • raise the blinds of the players on or near the bubble (4th place)
     • there's a good chance they will fold just to survive.
     • But watch out for players down to 1-2X the big blind as he may call with any 2 cards if you raise his blind. 

End game ~ Highest Blinds, 2-4 players left

1. At this point the blinds are 200+ante and up
   • High blinds turn a tournament game toward luck.
   • Some players go "All-In-All-the-Time" when in the money.  
2. Skill will have some factor in how high you will place.
   • Bring out your trick bag now:
     • like limping in with AA
     • check-raising your mid pairs
   • Vary up your play; don't expose betting patterns.
3. If a player goes all in pre-flop at this point, they probably don't have a great hand.
   • More likely: AJ, AT or a small pair 88 or below.
   • If this player has a great hand would they be going all-in or would they be trying to limp in or raise to get some some action?
4. If someone is constantly picking off your blinds, you’re going to have to make a stand.
   • Push back with a hefty re-raise.
5. If the small blind keeps limping in, set him straight by raising his calls a few times
6. Aggressive play is always a factor in the end game
   • Pushing all in with a good flush draw isn't a bad idea.
     • Just make sure you don't get targeted like the player in #3 above.

This is my personal list of reminders for when I'm playing online "sit-&-go" ("SNG") Texas Hold'em tournaments. This list will do you no good. Use it at your own risk -- and never when you're at a table with me. ;-)

Tips & Quotes From Some Pros

Phil Hellmuth's Top 10 hole cards for limit Hold'em:

1. A-A

2. K-K

3. Q-Q

4. A-K suited

5. J-J

6. 10-10

7. 9-9

8. 8-8

9. A-Q suited

10. 7-7