AN ONLINE POKER TIP FROM POKER LEGEND DOYLE BRUNSON 

There is more than one theory about how to play early in an online tournament. But I believe there’s just no reason to risk getting knocked out in the first round.

I’ll usually take a few stabs at a pot, maybe leveraging a hand or even bluffing, but in either case, I won’t get much money involved. I think this philosophy is especially wise online, because many players move all-in too recklessly. This all-in tactic might sound like an easy road to profit, but in truth, you’re going to be tempted to move all-in yourself with only a small advantage – which is not a good idea. Yes, it can be profitable, but you risk getting busted out with a hand that just didn’t warrant that kind of risk. There’s more profit in letting the loosest players attack each other and reduce the field. Early in a tournament, you can afford to wait for a major advantage before committing a large share of your chips or even all of them.

What usually happens early in an online tournament is that some weak players will double up or even increase their chip stacks by more than that, while many other reckless players get eliminated early. I try to survive and build gradually during the early rounds. If I get a hand to go to war with, I will. But, unless that happens, I’m not just willing to get knocked out early.

The most successful strategy I know is to survive and to build gradually through small pots until the cards give you the opportunity to win big. There’s no rush – in online or in real – world tournaments.

Later in the tournament, the stakes will get so big in comparison to the chips on the table that you’ll have to gamble. You’ll have to take chances sometimes, even be a little reckless and hope for the best. But my advice is not to do that until you must.

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