Few days ago I received an email from an -apparently- very nervous guy who told he just won a seat to EPT Montecarlo, on a 30$ satellite, and that he doesn´t know what to do, this is going to be his first live tourney and he asked me for some advice.
He gave me the idea for this post.
I wrote some things before about this, advises to newbies in live tourneys (in spanish), but this case is a Major Tourney, so let´s see what else I can do. I´m not giving any technical or strategical advice. If I had the formula to win a Major and could summarize it in a small, generic decalogue which could work under any circunstance, I would be writting this while drinking a fresh Mojito on a Caribbean Beach, and I´m not. So, I´ll give away just some simple and common tips, which, in any case, I would like to hear when I played my first major.
10 -SIMPLE- THINGS YOU SHOULD DO WHEN QUALIFY FOR A MAJOR FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME
1.- PLAN YOUR TRIP AND STAY, NOW! AND DON´T SACRIFICE YOUR COMFORT
You don´t want the trip-planning to be something that stress you. Even if the tourney is in 4 months, book your hotel and flight now and don´t spend a minute later worrying about that. Do not procastinate on this.
And, when you qualify online, the site give you some money for travel expenses. Some players prefer to keep that money in their accounts. Don´t do it. Use that money to book in a nice hotel, as near as possible to the casino. A nice hotel where you can rest and relax and have all the intimacy you need to be on your best mood.
2.- ARRIVE ONE DAY BEFORE
Or even more. Lot of qualified players prefer to arrive on the same day they´re playing so they can save one hotel night. That´s a mistake in my opinion. First of all, Murphy is unpredictable (delayed flights, luggage missed,...) and besides that, you´ll arrive pretty tired and won´t have time to relax properly.
Also, it´s good you arrive with time enough to see the poker room, the lists of players, do your registration and warming up for the tourney, getting used to all the tourney atmosphere
3.- MAKE A LIST.
Remember Steve Dannenmann on 2005 WSOP Main Event? He finished second, and showed up in camera lots of times with a small list where he wrought small advices and tips for himself. That was the first important tourney he played. Do the same thing. Write on a paper all the sentences that helps you to stay focus and confident. Some day I´ll post the one I used on my first...
4.- PLAY TIGHT
On the beggining mainly. If tight is not your natural style, and you don´t feel confortable, then play your game. But in order to avoid all the initial nervousness is better to stay fit to a tight strategy on the beggining, that will give you time to watch your table, get to know the players while you wait for good cards. You´ll feel more comfy playing good cards.
5.- DON´T FORGET THE TOURNEY COSTS YOU NOTHING
30$!! That´s nothing!! Don´t let yourself be overwhelmed with all the big amounts on play or even with the buy-in of the tourney. It cost you just 30$! You´re not gambling anything. Someone could say "this tourney costs the same amount I earn in months of work". Forget about that! you´re not paying that, you already won it! Enjoy the moment, and play your best without thinking on the money.
6.- SMALL GOALS
Don´t think about reaching the final table or the money on Day1. Take it slowly. Your first goal could be something like trying to stay calm at the first level, without losing too many chips. Take it from this point and go ahead: "I have to steal two blinds on this round", "I have to make my stack a 20% bigger during this level"... Small steps.
7.- FACT: THERE IS DEAD MONEY
Yep! There´s dead money even in a major tourney. Don´t think you´re going to play with Antonius, Hansen, Negreanu, and Ivey on the same table (that kindda stuff only happens to me :P).
You´ll have for sure bad players at your table. Seek and destroy them! There´s 9 players at the table, you don´t have to play only with the best. Look for the weakers and try to play pots against them.
8.- DON´T GIVE UP. NEVER
Be confident. Don´t go there thinking "I have no chances" or "doesn´t matter if I get out on the first day". You achieved this playing good. You had beat lots of players to get your seat there, you should know something!. If you´re running bad, be patient, it will get better. Don´t give up. The structure of these events is quite good and gives you time. If you´re on tilt, or just lost a big pot, go out for a walk.
9.- DON´T HESITATE. ON DECISIVE MOMENTS, BE BRAVE.
Don´t be scared. Play as you know, think about all the hand, take your time, but don´t hesitate. Don´t avoid big pots just because you´re jeopardizing all your stack. If you´re sure you´re ahead, but you have to put all your chips in the middle, just do it.
10.- LEARN!
If you have a very difficult table, and you´re seeing unbeliveable plays, don´t discourage, don´t desperate. Instead, think about it as the best poker lessons you ever had. Watch and learn from the bests. I can say from experience I learnt more playing two hours with very big pros, than in months playing my regular levels online.
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And an extra advice, courtesy of Raul, of 52cartas.com: DON´T BRING A STARTING HANDS CHART TO THE TABLE! (I swear I saw this many times!! one was in montecarlo, actually!)
GOOD LUCK!
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