In a cash game, chips have a cash value. In a tournament, chips equal , not money.
In a tournament, chips are worth more than chips .
If you lose all your chips in a tournament, your is over.
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|
| 1. Registration | |
| 2. Blind Levels | |
| 3. Antes | |
| 4. The Money / Bubble | |
| 5. Final Table | |
Formula: Your Chips ÷ = Big Blind Count
| Your Chips | Big Blind | Big Blind Count |
|---|
| 20,000 | 200 | |
| 20,000 | 800 | |
| 15,000 | 600 | |
| 8,000 | 400 | |
Deep Stack
50+ BB
Strategy:
Playable Stack
20–50 BB
Strategy:
Danger Zone
10–20 BB
Strategy:
Push / Fold
Under 10 BB
Strategy:
Count every player shorter than you before making a bubble decision
Avoid coin flips on the bubble — a 55% favorite is not worth risking your tournament life
Target medium stacks who are afraid to risk their own tournament life
Once in the money, shift from survival mode to accumulation mode
The big stack has the most freedom on the bubble — use it to apply pressure
At blinds of 400/800/800 ante, the total pot before cards: chips.
Every orbit without playing costs approximately big blinds.
Antes make blind stealing more profitable because the pot is before the flop.
What is the most important concept from this lesson?
What is the biggest mistake you have made (or might make) in a tournament?
One thing you will do differently in your next tournament: