Practical Advice Concerning Tournaments

I’ve been playing tournament poker since the early 1970s and find it to be quite enjoyable. In today’s column, I’d like to advise some of the newer (and not so new) players, dealers, and tournament directors on some basic tips that will make the tournaments run smoother. I am breaking this column into three sections; one for players, one for dealers, and one for tournament staff. These tips are meant to be procedural for the most part, rather than strategic.

Player tips:

1. Prepare for the tournament. Bring the items you will need in order to be comfortable all day…things like cushions, jackets, change for the cocktail server, and snacks. Get a copy of the structure sheet so you can formulate the appropriate playing strategy to match the structure.

2. Pay attention! Listen to the announcements that pertain to the tournament. Watch your opponents to learn their playing styles. Know the TDA rules.

3. Do not use $25 chips to call bets of $200 or more if you have larger denomination chips available. For example, I played in a tournament today and saw a player make a call of $400 using 16 $25 chips when he only had 18 of them, yet he had $100 chips and $500 chips available in his stack. What this does, in addition to taking extra time to count out so many chips, is to make him short of ante chips for the upcoming rounds. Think ahead and preserve ante chips so you’re not constantly requiring the dealer or other players to make change for you.

4. Use the information on the tournament clock. Know when the new limit is about to start. This is important because your stack-to-pot ratio will be cut significantly and you may want to move your chips into the pot while they have more impact.

Know how many chips are in play. Keep in mind that you’re going to need about 10 percent of the chips in play to have an average stack at the final table.

Know how many players are left in the tournament. While I don’t advocate just trying to squeak into the bottom of the money, it’s important to know when you are in the bubble stage because that’s a good time to pressure your opponents who are just trying to survive long enough to cash.

5. Respect the game. Be considerate of the other players and the tournament staff. Speak up if you see an error occur such as a pot being pushed to the wrong player.

Dealer tips:

1. Run the game; keep it moving. Announce the bets and raises loudly and clearly. Announce the bring-in in and who is the first bettor in stud games. Be sure that players act in turn.

2. Take pride in your job. Dress neatly and appropriately. Don’t chew gum. Try to deal as quickly as you can without sacrificing efficiency. Hold personal chat to a minimum. Make sure the rules are enforced.

3. In ante games, ask for antes while you are shuffling. Be sure that everyone has anted before you collect the antes.

4. In no-limit, don’t count the amount of the bet or raise unless another player asks for a count.

5. When a player busts out of the tournament, yell out, “Seat open, table – –.” This is the only appropriate way to let the tournament director know you have an empty seat. Phrases like “Lost one,” or “player down!” are never appropriate.

Tournament Director tips:

1. Prepare for the tournament…give the players enough chips so that the dealers don’t have to constantly make change. Have the necessary supplies on hand like towels available for spills, structure sheets, all-in buttons, seat cards, and drink holders. Start the tournament on time.

2. Give players enough starting chips so that it isn’t necessary for the dealers to have to constantly make change. Color up chips when they are no longer needed in play.

3. Know the TDA rules and enforce them impartially. Make sure you have enough information to make a proper decision. Protect the integrity of the game.

4. When you break a table, bring racks so the players can keep their chips in sight while they are moving. Be sure the players know where their new tables are located. Keep an eye on players to ensure that they go directly to their new table and don’t stall to avoid taking the blind.

5. If a deal is proposed at the final table, make sure that all players understand the deal and agree to it. Make sure that players who don’t want to make a deal are not harassed.

The above tips may be basic to most of you, but it never hurts to review the basics. Please feel free to write to me with requests for future column topics.
Now, let’s play poker! ♠

Linda Johnson is a member of the Poker Hall of Fame and the Women in Poker Hall of Fame. She is available to host tournaments, seminars, and corporate events. You can contact her at her website www.cardplayercruises.com.