Playing in a poker tournament is a different kind of experience than playing in cash games or a sit and go. When you play in a poker tournament you need to bring a lot more patience and focus for the tournament because you are playing short handed against a lot of players. The blinds will go up and it will cost you more to stay in the game, but sometimes your hand will be good enough to win the tournament. It is very important to be patient and wait for a good hand, and for a good opportunity to double up.
In tournament poker hands that you and your opponents eek out, make sure you take a good look at the board, and consider folding. You might want to consider folding right away, depending on the players around you, the size of the blinds, and your chip stack. With that said, you should play each poker hand like it is the last one. Do not get involved in why you called the raise, or go all in with a poker hand you have not perfected. Always play each poker hand perfectly, and if you cannot afford to play perfectly then do not enter the tournament for real money.
Besides perfect play, there are also things to be aware of when sitting at the table. You should be aware of the types of players at your table, and you should adjust your poker strategy accordingly. If you are at a table with a lot of calling stations, and you have a high pocket pair, you should be careful about playing the hand. Try to save the money for other things, like paying for a good poker software program to improve your game, or purchasing a good poker e book to improve your strategy. When you sit down at a poker table you should feel confident and secure. You should never be worried about what to do or what your opponents are holding, as the worst thing you can do is let others push you off your hand, or entice you to make a bad call.(128.199.107.129)
Other than just keeping yourself from losing money, you should also be aware of the resources you spend to go to a poker table. You might want to pack a basic poker book with you just to have a quick look at the game, and the moves you can make before you sit down. You should also bring sunglasses to the poker game with you, as they will not be useful in taking blinds or other bets, and they can be used to prevent others from reading what you look at. But the most important rule of thumb is not to take your sunglasses off! When you are tempted to remove your sunglasses while playing, trust me, you will look less confident and your opponents will take advantage.
In conclusion, it is important to never become so intent on doing a particular thing that you forget about others around you, or forget about your own table. Take the time to consider your opponents and act accordingly, and you will find that a lot of poker games around you will become a lot more enjoyable and profitable.