Tossed from the Tournament
Poker tournaments are games of elimination, and tournament players recognize that if they play of lot of tournaments, they will be eliminated more often than they finish first or even in the money.
Tournament players must adapt a mindset that there are losses over the long term and that they continually seek to improve their playing style so that they also win a certain percentage of time. Those winnings should exceed losses. If not, then cash games are your best bet.
Since losing some tournaments is inevitable, a poker player must be able to reconcile that they made the correct decision that ultimately resulted in a depleted chip stack. For instance, you bet out a flopped set, only to be beat by a better set or flush after the turn or river. You got your chips in with “the best of it” but the ensuing cards then gave the best of it to an opponent.
Betting out big with a made hand is the right decision. If you are short stacked, under the gun and dealt a medium hand, like K-10, you probably have no choice but to go all-in if the next blind is going to devastate your stack. It may prove futile, but you made the best possible move given the circumstances
It is when your losing play stems from bad judgment that your tournament abilities come into question. For instance, bluffing with marginal cards when you don’t really have a good read on your potential opponents, is poor play.
Every bet you make in a poker tournament should be based on sound logic, position and your opponents’ play. Don’t risk your tournament life with questionable calls and raises. Every time you are eliminated, re-examine your play for leaks to make sure you are making the right decisions according to each hand’s circumstances. Being confident and committed about making the right decisions will in the long run make you a winning tournament player.
