Single Table Texas Holdem Tournaments
This format is very popular in online Texas Holdem, and is also referred to as a shootout, or a ‘sit and go'. This style of no limit hold'em is the mainstay in my online portfolio and is the reason I have been very successful playing online tournaments. I'm going to share one of my secrets to winning online Texas Holdem later on this page.
Single table Texas Holdem games can be interpreted a couple different ways. For the purposes of our conversation here, I am referring to single table tournaments, where all the players start with the same arbitrary dollar amount. This format has both advantages and disadvantages, but for most good online poker players the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages and this is where you can make your money. Let's see why…
If your running well and you've won a couple nice hands and have a healthy stack, unfortunately you can't win more than what first place pays, but hey you're making money. At the same time, if you're catching cold cards all you have at risk is how much you put up to enter.
Unlike a Texas Holdem Poker cash game, especially no limit Texas Hold'em games, your risk is defined in a tournament. If your tolerance for risk is low or you're a player that goes on tilt, at least here, your downside is limited. This is a very important point and here's why…
Lets cut the chit chat, and Just Play Texas Holdem.
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For example, you play very well all day long and have doubled or even tripled your chips. But, in a No Limit Texas Holdem cash game, all it takes is one bad hand with somebody who has more chips then you and all your hard work could be wiped out.
For instance, you're holding pocket AA's and a player with more chips than you goes ALL In. You have to call the bet and your opponent turns over KK's. Now you’re nearly a 4 to 1 favorite here but every five times you play this hand you're supposed to lose once, based on the odds. (See outs and odds and pre flop odds). Your opponent flops a (K) and you lose all your chips in the hand.
On the flipside, if you're playing single table tournaments all day, either one tournament or many at once and the above situation happens, it's no where near as devastating. In the long run you will be rewarded for you good solid play and will avoid these kind of massive swings to your bankroll. Here's the deal…
It's not about any individual bad beat but more about the bottom line. (I.e. I started the day with $400 and ended the day with $550. In single table tournaments it's all about the bottom line.) Not overexposing your bankroll and playing in a somewhat controlled environment. This is one of the keys to success in online Texas Holdem.
At PokerRoom.com, single table Texas Hold'em Tournaments range from $5 to $200 buy-in. What this means is in a $5 buy-in game you pay $5 (plus a small percentage to the house) along with 8 other players and put this into the pot.
Each player will start with $1,000 in chips and the last three players left will split the pot, with the winning player getting the largest piece of the pie, usually 50%.
Like every other form of Texas Holdem poker you need to have a keen sense of your position at all times, who you're playing with and your own state of mind. All of these subjects are addressed in other sections. Over the course of time you need to have a game plan and stick to it.
With steady, consistent play in Texas Holdem poker tournaments you will see your results improve over time. For the most part, if you're consistently making it down to the final four players, you're doing well and now it's time to brush up on your Texas Holdem short game or start to think about making deals...
You can also play single table cash games, where you play at a single table, with other players, in a limit game or even a no limit format. Here you bring your real virtual dollars to the table. If you're playing online, most online poker rooms will only allow you to bring up to a certain amount to the table. We'll cover this in more detail, under the cash games tab.
If you simply want to play then click on how to get started