Tournaments – Single Table No-Limit Practice Hands

Suppose you are playing in a $6 buy-in, one table, No-limit holdem tournament. It’s the first level, the blinds are $10-$15, you have $800 in chips and you’re first to act. You look down to find 7  7 . What is your play?

1. Move all-in
2. Raise to $30
3. Raise to$100
4. Call the $15

You have not strong but a medium pair, but still, one that warrants seeing the flop with. The best play is to not jeopardize a lot of chips, just call the $15 and see what everyone else does, because If you will made a big raise and someone called, you would probably be behind.
The correct answer is D.

If someone makes a big raise you will have to fold. If they make a normal raise of 3-4 times the big blind you can call and hope to hit a 7 so you can play a big pot. You would rather see the flop cheap. You are under no pressure to play in the first couple levels unless you lose a bunch of your chips.

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You are playing in a $6 one table No-limit holdem tournament and the blinds are $25-$50. You lost a couple pots and now only have $400 of your original $800 left. The Tight player is in the $50 big blind; everyone folds to the Aggressive player at your right who raises the pot to $150. You are on the button and look down to find J d J . What is your play?

1. Move all-in
2. Fold
3. Call
4. Raise to $300

First, you have to understand the situation. The Aggressive player knows it’s easy to steal from the Tight’s big blind, because He will probably folds for a raise if he doesn’t have a premium hand. You have a pair of Jacks, which is not a very good hand, but a good chance of being the best. You have a little chip problem from your previous losses. If you just call the $150 bet you will only have $250 left anyway. It is best to choose A. to move all-in and give the Aggressive player a chance to fold his hand before the flop. This way, you can limit the field.

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Another $6 one table No-limit holdem tournament and the blinds are $15-$30. You have $1000 in the big blind with 5  5 . The Tight player with $1000 raises to $60 in first position. The Reckless t player calls next to the button, everyone else folds. What is your play?

1. Fold
2. Reraise to $150
3. Call
4. Move all-in

When the Tight player comes in for a small raise you know he has some kind of a hand, possibly even a big pair crying for a call. The Reckless player could have anything. You have a pair of fives; so you need to choose C to call the $30 and hope to hit a set.

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Suppose you are playing in an $11 buy-in, one table No-limit holdem tournament and the blinds are $200-$400. Four players are left; you have $600 in chips on the button, holding A  10 . The player in the big blind has $4000 in chips and the small blind has $3100. The Tight player who is under the gun and has to take the $400 big blind next hand, only has $300 left. The Tight player folds to you. What is your play?

1. Call $400
2. Fold
3. Raise all-in

The single table tournaments pay three spots … first, second and third but the fourth gets nothing. Let’s assume that A  10  is probably the best hand. Since the Tight player must go all-in on the next hand and a cinch that the big blind will call your raise now, it is best that you choose B. to fold. If you had more money, say $1200, you could then move all-in and try to pick up the blinds. Sometimes it is better to try and slide into the money.

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You’re heads up in a $22 buy-in, one table, No-limit holdem tournament and the blinds are $250-$500. You are the button with $1750 and the $250 small blind; your opponent has $5500 and $500 in the big blind. You look down to find K  10 . What is your play?

1. Call
2. Raise to $1000
3. Fold
4. Move all-in

Since the blinds is this high, you must play. K 10 it isn’t a big hand, but it is possibly the best hand. You must go after the blinds, In order to have a chance of winning. Choose D. to move all-in. You could even move all-in with a worse hand simply with the hope that they don’t have a hand they can call you with. If they do call, maybe you can get lucky and draw out. Being this short with the high blinds, you are forced to gamble.

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