Talk about intimidating! Your very first live poker tournament can be stressful, whether it is a small $40 buy-in daily tournament at the local casino or the BetMGM Poker Championship in Las Vegas with thousands of other players.

There are some basic ways to keep others from knowing that you are playing your first tournament. Obviously, you will choose from poker tournament formats with which you are familiar, either from playing online poker or home games. It’s also important to know the details of the tournament, such as the start time, blind levels and general structure, buy-in process, and options for rebuys or reentries.

Essential Poker Tournament Strategies for First-Time Players

Arrive early at the poker tournament location. Of course, you never want to be the first person to take your seat in a tournament, but you can take some time to become familiar with the area, scope out the cage and bathroom facilities, and know the lay of the land.

Once in the tournament, follow the action. Pay attention to other players, from how they handle their chips to how long they take to act, from betting patterns to the general flow of play. By knowing general live poker rules for beginners, you will be familiar with minimum raise requirements and other betting rules, but it can’t hurt to watch other players. 

Refrain from getting fancy with bluffs, chip tricks, and twirling cards into the muck. In the beginning levels of your first tournament, focus on playing straightforward poker. Play premium hands, and stick to general position strategies, such as defending blinds and raising on the button with premium hands. Keep it simple.

Managing Your Bankroll In a Poker Tournament Setting

When stepping into the tournament arena, play buy-ins that are well within your bankroll means. Assuming you already knew how to build a bankroll in poker and entered the tournament with the proper buy-in, the only thing to do at that point is to manage the reentry process. Many tournaments today offer rebuys and reentries, even unlimited reentries. Analyze your bankroll ahead of the event to understand if you can or should rebuy or reenter, if the opportunity arises.

Of course, coming from an online poker background, you will be familiar with the reentry process and bankroll needs for such tournaments. But keep in mind you still need to be careful with how to allocate money for a tournament. Take it from a seasoned pro by reading Darren Elias’ top tips for bankroll management.

Reading Your Opponents Is a Key Skill for Beginners

As mentioned, it is very important to pay attention to your opponents in every tournament, especially in your first one. A key part of live poker is reading other players. There are the basics, such as watching for any nervous movements, misplays and mistakes they make, table talk. Watch their actions and how they interact with others.

On another level, there are several ways to read your opponents according to their actual play. This is vital in learning how to crush poker competition. Watch other players’ betting patterns to better gauge when they might be likely to call, raise, or fold. Pay attention to their betting amounts. And make mental notes about any differences in their pre-flop and post-flop play.

Common Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid in Poker Tournaments

In an effort to look like a seasoned tournament player, it can be tempting to toss chips instead of simply moving them, tossing cards instead of simply mucking them, and being too talkative. Use your inside voice, focus on keeping mental notes, and save the theatrics and witty table talk for later.

Online poker players will need to shift into live tournament mode. Common poker mistakes to avoid as poker beginners online are, in many cases, different than in live games. Some of the most common mistakes new players make in live tournaments are:

• Not knowing when it is necessary to show cards
• Acting out of turn because of not paying attention to the action
• Not taking advantage of position with a wide range of hands
• Trying to bluff too early in a tournament
• Getting frustrated with being card dead

The key is to stay calm, remember the basics of variance, and be patient.

Adjusting Your Play at Different Stages of the Tournament

Your beginner strategies in this first tournament should be conservative with a nod to the basics. However, as you make it past the first and second breaks, past a color-up, and toward the money bubble, adjustments are necessary.

As others depart the tournament and you approach the money bubble – and then make it into the money – you must become more aggressive. With deeper stacks and rising blinds, there may not be as much time to wait for premium hands and perfect positions to play them. Use the reads you’ve accumulated by watching your opponents to start bluffing, making more aggressive plays, and using position and bet sizing to intimidate the other players.

Navigating the Final Table: Strategies for New Players

Should you make it to the final table of your first tournament, take a moment to mentally regroup. Shake off any nerves. Understand that you earned the seat and played well enough to get there. 

Take all of your tournament strategies thus far and multiply their importance, especially paying attention to the action and your opponents. This is the time to listen to your intuition based on what you’ve learned thus far and incorporate those lessons into your play.

Play Online Poker at BetMGM

The absolute best preparation for playing your first live tournament is playing online tournaments. Sites like BetMGM provide the opportunity to play poker online for just a few dollars per tournament. This is where you can develop your own personal strategies, find your comfort zone, and gain experience with playing position and playing various ranges.

When you sign up to play on a site like BetMGM, take advantage of the online poker welcome bonus to make the most of your first deposit. It is the best way to boost your bankroll from the start.