Multi-Table Texas Holdem Poker Tournament Strategy

Multi-table Texas Holdem Poker tournaments can consist of a dozen tables to hundreds of tables.   Multi-table tournaments can take several hours to complete.  The big ones like the WSOP can take several days. 

When I play in a multi-table Holdem Poker tournament I start out playing very tight.  I will play only the best starting hands and will use my position at the table to my advantage.  I typically do not go all in during the beginning stages.   I would have to have an unbeatable hand to do so. 

I like to stick to AA, KK, QQ and AK. 

One of my best weapons in a multi-table tournament is televised poker!  That’s because televised poker tournaments have given many a warped view of how poker is played.  On TV you will see lots of bluffs and all-ins. 

I like to let those players with the warped sense of how Texas Holdem is played knock each other out.  I’ll continue playing tight and taking an occasional pot.  This will serve first to protect my chip stack and then ultimately add to it. 

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As the tournament progresses, I will loosen up my game slightly.  At this point, my opponents that have been playing with me know that when I am in a hand that I have something.  They will learn to fear my raises and this will help to get some players to fold.  I will not play too many hands and I will not play junk hands. 

The key though is that I will still be playing solid hands.  I will look to add AQ, JJ, AJ and 10-10 to my list of playable hands.  When I am dealt one of these additional hands the decision to play them or not will depend upon my position at the table.  If I am in early position I will probably fold.  In middle position I will play AQ and JJ.  In late position I will add AJ and 10-10.  BUT it will depend on whether the pot has been raised or not and how many times.  I will assess the strength of my opponents’ hands before committing to play the additional hands or not. 

I will read my opponents and see what types of hands they play, what they raise with, call etc… Many of the players in the tournament will still be overly aggressive and play too many hands and try to go all in every chance they get. 

If you have played in a multi table tournament before, you will be familiar with the player that keeps going all in every chance they get and inevitably they get knocked out of the tournament.

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Once I have progressed to where I am "In the money", I will keep playing just as I have been.  When the opportunity arises, I will look to steal the blinds and add to my chip stack.  At this stage many players seem to tighten up.  Picking up blinds and adding to my stack will allow me to boss the other players around at the table.

Once at the final table using your position to your advantage is crucial.  I play solid starting hands but also loosen up a bit and I add additional starting hands to my game.  I make sure that I don’t play to many hands though.  As the field thins out the value of starting hands go up.  The blinds are big; I pick them up when I can.

I have now put myself in perfect position to win the tournament.

Multi table texas holdem tournaments are not the best way to earn a lot of rakeback. However, it can be a good idea to have a second table open while playing the MTT. For instance having a short handed no limit game would guarantee you good rake back and it will not distract you too much from your main focus, the multi table tournament.