Learn the fundamentals.

A lack of fundamentals is the biggest reason for losing in Texas Holdem poker. Understand the game before you begin to play. The Internet, library, and book stores are loaded with information on how to play Texas Holdem poker. I've included some excellent books below to get you started.

Learn to be patient.

A Texas Holdem poker game can go for hours (especially tournaments). However, you may not get any quality cards for a long stretch of time. Be patient and wait for good hands. When they come play them fast and strong. Beginners make the mistake of playing trash hands when they are bored, which eventually sends them to the "rail".

Don't play on tilt.

Texas Holdem poker is a game of LUCK as well as strategy. Sometimes you're the lucky one and sometimes the other player that you're up against is the lucky one. You may lose a pot with a good hand because you're opponent may have a better hand in the end. When this happens, don't go on tilt. Suck it up and move on. You'll be a winner in the long run if you stick to the fundamentals.

Be the best player at the table.

If Doyle Brunson or Daniel Negreanu invite you over to their house to play Texas Holdem poker. Don't go until you've become a professional poker player. If you're a beginner, these guys will eat you alive and you'll go home broke. You want to be the best player at the table, which will increase your chances of winning.

Practice...Practice...Practice.

If you don't practice then you can't get better at playing poker. You have to play and play often to improve your skills. Don't be shy...just go for it. You'll make mistakes along the way but that's okay. That's just part of learning the game. What's important is that you learn from your mistakes.

Bankroll Management.

Don't play with money you can't afford to lose. You'll make bad decisions during the poker game if you're worried about paying the rent or your car note.

Have fun.

What's the point in playing Texas Holdem poker if you're not having fun. I like to have fun by wearing humorous poker t-shirts. I've including some links below for poker apparel. If you're not having fun then don't play.

In the section below, I'll cover my Sit-n-Go Poker Strategy for Success!

Sit-n-Go (SNG) poker tournaments are one-table games with usually nine or ten players in each game. The tournament starts as soon as the table is full.

Prize money is the total "buy-ins" from all the players and usually the top three places are paid out in the ratio 50%, 30%, 20%. So for example if it's a $5+$0.50 tournament with ten players, the total prize fund is $50 split $25 for first place, $15 for second and $10 for third. The $0.50 is the fee to the poker room from each player.

The way to win consistently at Sit-n-Go's is to be "tight/aggressive". "Tight" means you only play premium hands and "aggressive" means you bet big to scare your opponents. Betting big means 4 times the "big blind" or the size of the pot; which ever is larger. Once you know what to do, stick to the strategy and don't be tempted by table conditions. The name of the game is survival. Your goal is to get paid by finishing in the top three. Nothing else matters so your philosophy must be based on limiting your risk.

Planning

Don't play in games with more than ten players. This will decrease your chances of finishing in the money. Your SNG tournament "buy-in" should be equal to or less than 10% of your total bankroll. So if your total bankroll is $100.00 then you should only play in tournaments with a maximum "buy-in" of $10. As your bankroll increases, your tournament "buy-ins" should increase if you use the 10% rule. The reverse is true as well; as your bankroll decreases, your tournament "buy-ins" should decrease. This strategy will help you to manage your money when you're on a winning streak as well as a losing streak.

Early to Middle Stages

Play tight in the early to middle stages of the game. Let the others players knock each other off. This will increase your chances of finishing in the top three. Hands that I will play from any position: AA, KK, QQ, JJ, AK, AQ, and AJ.

Hands I will play (for cheap) in middle to late position include any two suited connectors. I am looking for the nuts or near nuts hand (nut flush, full house or straight) on the flop.

Also, I'll play any small pocket pair from any position because I am looking to flop a set.

Once you hit a hand, bet big to force your opponents to fold. If they are chasing a draw, make them pay for it.

Final Stage

Once you're in the money (in the top three), follow this strategy:

If you're big stack, avoid other big stacks unless you have a premium hand. As before, when you have a hand; bet big. If you're only up against a short stack player and you have a decent hand (A-x) or better, bet big if the short stack didn't raise. You want to take advantage of the short stack players. If they call, be ready to fold.

If you're short stack, go all-in with A-x or better. Do this until you're no longer the short stack.

Finally, if all chip stacks are about equal, stick to the original game plan.

Conclusion

The key to finishing in the top three in single table SNG tournaments is to be a "tight/aggressive" poker player. Only play premium hands and bet big if your hand hits. Make it expensive for your opponents to see flops or attempt to complete their draws.

This strategy works for me. However, I cannot guarantee it will work for you. If you use this strategy and have success (or not), please let me know by leaving feedback below.

Good luck at your next SNG tournament.