How to Prepare For Your First Live Poker Tournament
Nov. 11 2024, Published 3:00 a.m. ET
Playing in a live poker tournament is more than just a skill test. It’s your moment to shine. It’s a moment where you can feel like an athlete, a pro player, and James Bond at the same time. At the same time, it’s an incredibly anxiety-inducing experience.
It doesn’t matter how good you are during poker night on Tuesday at your friend’s house; when you’re in a tournament, it’s the real deal. So, how do you prepare for something like this? Well, here are a few tips.
1. Play Online
The first thing you need to understand is that the best way to get desensitized to pressure is to repeat a certain action repeatedly. Practice makes perfect, but where do you find so many partners and games? The simplest answer is - online.
There are a lot of online poker sites for real money. It’s important that the money is real so that you feel the stakes. People make different moves in a video game because they know that there are no repercussions (win or lose).
Sure, it’s not a real thing, but just think about it - professional chess players (even grandmasters) always play with people online. Most of these platforms have their own elo system, meaning you’ll be paired with people at your level. The matchmaking here is more accurate than you would expect.
2. Learn How to Focus
Next, you need to understand that there’s a big difference between playing with a few friends, playing in a basement where this is the only game around, and playing in a tournament. There are so many tables around; everyone is worried, loud, and reckless.
Without these random factors, all game predictions would be 100% accurate all the time. You would just have to put team stats next to one another and see who has better odds of coming on top. It’s the randomness that makes all the difference.
While practicing, you may want to emulate these conditions. Have someone sit next to you trying to chat you up, play something distracting in the background (not some ambient music), and try your best to stay calm, collected, and focused.
3. Study the Event in Advance
You want to be there on time, well-prepared, and have some time to unwind before sitting behind the poker table. The only way to do this is to know the timetable of the event in advance.
Just think about it: if you were a sports fan or a betting enthusiast, you would know the game's schedule by heart. Why would it be any different for an event that you’re actually participating in?
Knowing the timetable is professional but also in your best interest. This poker tournament is not the only thing happening to you this week or this month.
4. Watch the Professionals
Sure, poker is one of the games that’s more fun to play than to watch, but you could say the same about any other game. Just think about it: You’re watching a lot of live games already, so why not watch one or two pro poker games if you’re serious about competing?
The viewing experience is a lot different when you’re a player yourself. Now, you’ll look at their demeanor and their decision-making from a more analytical perspective. There’s a lot to learn and even more to notice, so pay attention!
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
5. Most Tournament Players Are Just Like You
Don’t go into a tournament expecting most people there to be poker veterans or pros. The truth is that most people there are just like you. They might have a smidge more experience, but the difference is not nearly as great as you expect.
It’s even better since most of them won’t undergo your well-crafted preparation process, giving you a slight competitive edge over them. Just going there well-rested and focused will already give you an advantage. With a few more steps, you’ll easily steamroll over your competition.
