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
But you can't get enough action
But you can't get enough action if you confine your play to hands in which you have a favorable position. You must act on what you know about the habits of the players in the game. Suppose the player on your right is the first to speak and opens or bets. If you believe the pot will be a big one and will offer you favorable odds, you should play in anticipation of a big pot. In a game where players play the cards close to the vest, you would not play any doubtful hand without waiting to see how some of the cards fall; but then, in a game with close-to-the-vest players, you should not play a doubtful hand anyway.
In the final round of betting,
In the final round of betting, position is most important. The best possible position is when you are last to speak and there is only one player you are afraid of. Your turn will come after his and you will already know his decision. The worst possible position is between two players that you fear. If the player before you bets, you are fearful to call even if you think you hold a better hand—the other dangerous player bets after you and may raise.