Tournament Strategies
After receiving pocket cards, you are immediately faced with a choice: play your cards and either raise or call the blinds, or fold.
Practice Matters
Keep a Poker Face.
Keep a Poker Face. Don't complain when losing or show elation when winning. Emotional displays prohibit clear thinking and the proper evaluation of your hand. Don't indulge in unnecessary conversation. Keeping a poker face means keeping the same disposition at all times. Such restraints are very difficult to acquire overnight, but they are essential requirements of a good Poker player. When you achieve them, not only will you play your best game, but your opponents will not be able to figure your hand so easily.
Forget Friendship.
Forget Friendship. Upon entering a Poker game leave friendship behind. If you hold a "cinch hand" at Stud and you allow a friend to see your hole card without putting in the last bet to call your hand, I can assure you that you won't be a winner. If you want to play a good game, you must bet your hand for what it is worth. Top money winners do. Poker is a game for blood.