Multi-table poker tournaments require a unique blend of skill, patience, and adaptability, challenging players to outlast and outsmart a crowded field. In this article, we’ll break down eight essential strategies to help you navigate the twists and turns of MTTs and maximize your chances of a deep run.
Know What You Want
Before you sit down to play a multi-table poker tournament, be clear with yourself about what you want.
Most people show up to a poker tournament like an accident. They don’t know what they want. When they get put in pressure situations, they start scrambling. They have no idea what to do.
Are you trying to squeeze out every dollar? Would a cash be meaningful to you? Then grind every thin ICM spot out and be thoughtful about each hand. Take your time and play solid.
Is the buy-in not that large to you? Are you willing to rebuy? Will a min-cash not change your life? Do you want to play some final tables? Do you just love playing?
Then go for the gold. Have fun. Pressure people on every deal. You have a mental asset that these players don’t have.
Isolation Raise More
Most of the time these days, a multi-table poker tournament starts with larger stacks. People feel like they have tons of Monopoly money, so they limp constantly. This frustrates people who study poker. They want their games to be gentlemanly demure meetings between grandmasters. They don’t like this horde of orangutangs who are spilling their beer while they limp/call with 8-6o.
What do people say in these situations? “No one ever folds to my raises! No one could beat my games!”
When I hear this, I translate it to, “no one folds to my ridiculously small raises and I feel entitled to more respect.”
Listen. You’re playing cards with people who are getting some time off from accounting jobs or trash collecting. They pay their taxes. They’re not bad people. They’re just bored and they’ve got some money to gamble with. They want to see some flops and blow off some steam. Stop thinking you’re better than everybody else.
If you want these people to fold, then speak in the terms that make sense to them. Are there two limps when there’s a big blind ante, so there are 3.5 big blinds in the pot? Then isolation raise to 7 big blinds. Are there four limpers in a $1/$3 game? Make it $32 preflop.
Go to two times what’s in the pot, and you’ll make them pay attention. They haven’t seen raise sizes like that before. Many will fold.
Reraise More in Multi-Table Poker Tournaments
Continuing, you should reraise larger as well. You say when you three-bet nobody respects your raises, right? Let’s test that out.
Someone opened to 3X the big blind ahead of you. There is a big blind, big blind ante, and a small blind out there as well. The total pot right now is 5.5 big blinds. Threebet to two times that. Go to 11 big blinds. Let’s see how brave people are behind you now.
Did someone cold call the preflop opener? Now there’s 8.5 big blinds in the pot? Then squeeze to 17 big blinds. Let’s get the party started! They think they’re real poker players, but you’re the one who is ready for action!
Use Larger Bet Amounts
When your opponent in a multi-table poker tournament is likely to have top pair, bet bigger!
Are you in a multiway pot with a bottom set? Is the top card on the board an Ace? Aces are extremely likely for someone to play preflop. They’re not going to fold! Stop doing cute small bets that make you feel theoretically superior. Start stomping on fools and bet 80% of the pot! Get your value now!
Go For Thin Value Constantly
It’s hard for working people to find time to play poker. The spouse is going to wonder why you want to spent seven hours at a casino as opposed to spending time with them.
When the average postman finally gets some time off work to play cards, he doesn’t want to fold. If he’s got some kind of decent hand and you bet 40% of the pot on the river, he doesn’t want to fold anything. He wants to gamble up. He wants to play some cards! Let’s go!
Indulge him. Value bet thinner.
You’re not value betting enough until you accidentally value bet the second-best hand.
Shove On Medium Stacks On The Bubble
If you do develop a stack before the bubble, and there’s a better chance of that if you’re going for thin value and betting bigger in multiway pots when no one wants to fold, then you’re going to have some options.
Many people want to go home and tell their spouses they made money from playing cards. That helps them justify the time away from the household. As long as they get a min-cash, they feel everything else is gravy. They also want to justify all the time they spent playing.
Fantastic. Let’s exploit them. When they raise you can shove on them and threebet them more. Use large amounts. Let them know they can go home if they want to.
Do you get caught sometimes when you do this? Of course. But if you suck out and win that pot, no one is going to want to play back at you again. You’re making this final table.
Sit Back Once The Bubble Bursts
Once the bubble bursts in multi-table poker tournaments everyone feels like they’re freerolling. Now, they will get their chips in with damn near anything.
If you believe you’re ahead of someone’s range and no one else is likely to join the party, then get your chips in and gamble. But if you can’t do anything, then just be patient.
Don’t make loose speculative opens with short stacks behind you. They’ll shove on you. Don’t cold call with short stacks behind you. They’ll shove on you.
Shove On Medium Stacks At The Final Table
If you’re fortunate enough to get to the final table of multi-table poker tournaments with some chips, then you need to use them to close the show.
Are there some short stacks at the final table? Most of your opponents want them to go bust so they can move up in payouts. They won’t want to play a big pot until that happens.
If someone with 30 big blinds raises when there are two players sitting there with 4 big blinds or 8 big blinds, then your job is to tell the 30 big blind stack they can be the next person out. Re-raise them. Threaten them. Let them know they can bust out next if they want this action.
Conclusion
Mastering these strategies can make the difference between an early exit and a profitable finish in multi-table poker tournaments. By playing decisively and adapting your tactics through each stage, you’ll set yourself up for a strong run and maximize your chances of taking home a substantial payout.
Want to read more from APT Head Pro Alex Fitzgerald? Try his article about the Three Most Underappreciated Poker Skills.