Playing the Early Games at No Limit MTTs

With the cash prize increasing every year, the popularity of No Limit multi table tournaments (MTT) will only continue to increase. While this encourages a lot of players to get into the game, few are able to make any headway. If you are serious about winning, you must know how to play the game, especially the early hands.

There are a lot of things to keep in mind, but one of the most important that you will have to remember is despite the fact that they utilize the same game ( Texas Holdem No Limit) a tourney and a cash game are not the same. You cannot use the strategy and concepts that you normally apply in a cash game in a No Limit MTT.

To get by the early tables, a No Limit MTT strategy that you must try to use is to play it more tightly than usual. This means that if you are not on the button, you should only play more selectively. However, this does not mean that you can fold your way to the pots. This is a mistake that a lot of players make; the way to play is by striking a balance between being tight and playing when you have the hands.

For example, if you have AQ in middle position and the big blind calls and the button raises, you will want to fold. Your hand is solid if you are playing a cash game, but in a tourney it is very susceptible, so fold it.

On the other hand, if you are holding a suited connector and the flop is cheap enough, play it. Also, you will want to take into consideration the players you are against. if they are all weak and passive, then you can take more chances than usual.

Something else that you will have to consider is that in a No Limit MTT, you cannot take too many risks. For this reason, bluffing is something that you will not want to do at the onset of a tourney. Getting an additional thousand chips for your stack, versus losing the same amount may be too much of a gamble.

The early tables at a No Limit MTT is not as easy as some think it is. Although a lot of inexperienced players abound at this level, it can still be a challenge. But if you follow the suggestions above, you will be able to sail in through the latter stages more smoothly.