If the answer to any of the above is no, then simple, do not play in that game. Remember that if you are playing scared, it will be difficult to make proper decisions. A certain amount of fear may be good (no poker player will admit this) but if it overtakes your decisions because the betting is to large for your comfort zone, you will not win. Either you will fold to often, not bet your hand aggressively enough, or even worse, call when you should fold just to prove your courage. I repeat, If the game is too big for you and you are not comfortable, DO NOT PLAY.

Tournaments

Last week I talked about the growth of tournaments due to TV coverage and the ability to get into these larger tournaments by winning a smaller tournament and climbing up the ladder. This week I would like to discuss the ring games at tournaments. These are the other games outside of the tournaments that are played every day.

I know a lot of professional poker players, those who make their living playing regularly. They are going to the office to pick up their pay, earned from players junior in ability and experience. The best place to find these fish, is at tournaments. Hundreds, if not thousands of new players come to strike it rich. After they get blown out of the tournament what else do they have to do but to join the action in the ring games. And that is where the pro is waiting. He loves fish as he generally gives them no chance to win. How do you think a player who spends almost 2000 hours a year for the last ten years will stack up against that new player who has learned that any two cards can win and after all he thinks he is a great player, just like you and me.

If you want to take a shot at winning a tournament, go and have fun. Do not expect your chances to be very high. Merely by the vast number of players, it is extremely difficult to get to the final table. If you decide to play in the ring games as well, keep to the smallest games and try and get some more experience. Inexperienced players should keep away from the larger games.

Next week, in addition to our Tip of the Week we will be discussing “ideal conditions for you to play”

I received the following question: Ted A from Dallas wrote me as follows.

How much should I buy in for in a 10/20 game?

In most casinos the minimum buy in is usually ten times the big bet. My advice is to put about double that amount in. The larger your stake, generally the better you will play. A more important word of advice is re-buying. Do not wait until you are broke or almost all in to re-buy. This often leads to poor decisions and virtually just throwing away what you have left. In the above game the smarter player will get to a minimum, say $75.00 and then buy in. Remember that one of the strategies is to go after the short stack. Don’t be caught short. If you do not want to add to your money on the table, pick up your short stack and leave.