I am playing tonight- please give me your best tips

[pokerTim]

I am playing NL tonight, 10 people per table, the blinds start off at $100 (SB) $200 ( BB)

I am looking for some last minute tips that I can use tonight.

[aaronw]

I assume it is a tourney? Also, how many chips you start with?

[pokerTim]

It is not really a touney, just whoever wants to play, comes out and plays, we usually have 4 tables with 10 people per table.

I believe we start off with either $3,000 or $ 4,000 in chips.

[aaronw]

So it plays like a cash game? No blind increases, correct? I would say just play a nice TAG style and you should be fine. Don't try to bluff a calling station. And value bet a lot.

[pokerTim]

It is like a cash game but no cash is used. The chips are free and we go until we are eliminated. We play for prizes

The blinds do increase. I think every 30 minutes or so.

[UrAteUp]

Then it is tourny structured. Play big pairs hard. When you get the best hand push with it. You will ALWAYS find one nit who will call. Know your odds. Since it is tournament based play smart and don't risk all your chips at any time for a long shot. Watch other players actions more then your cards. By this I mean if you are in position and you put out a bet watch how others react to it. Look for tells. Finally if you have a questionable hand then come back and post it to the forum so you can get good feedback on various ways to play it.

Most important advice...just have fun and enjoy it.

[pokerTim]

Thanks UrAteUp. I will try and remember those tips. It is not always easy to remember tips in the heat of action, but I will do my best.

Big pairs are Jacks and higher correct? What about a pair of tens?

[UrAteUp]

Big pairs to me are AA and KK and sometimes QQ. The main thing is do not limp into a pot with any of these three hands. You might trap a player but more often then not your going to get beat. Raise with these and make it about a 3-5xBB raise. You want to lessen the number of players in a pot against big hands. That is what gives them their value. Against multiple players a PP stands little chance if it does not improve.

[pokerTim]

It was a BADDDD night last night. I was in the late position all night, a good spot to raise from and I didn't get the cards to do so. I would get 3 7 or 9 3 and so I had to fold. The one time I did get AA, I raised and the flop I believe was K K 6:heart: so I had 2 pair and I was beaten with 3 of a kind when someone decided they were going to play their pocket 6's.

When I finally started to get some good cards late, I didn't have enough chips left to do anything.

[Muck]

I was in the late position all night

You make it sound like you didn’t change the dealer?

[pokerTim]

We did change the dealer, I meant to say I was in the same seat all night. The dealer did change however.