Among poker players there is a common belief that poker is a unique art form. There are many types of poker to master but mastering play at more than one table seems like a difficult one. Success at the multi-table poker tournament is a precarious balance of keeping the pace just right. If you wait too long for good hands slowly a beginner will be upset by the clock. On the other hand if a player goes too fast playing unnecessary hands, burnout occurs.

Then again it’s all about the math. One plays according to the stacks; your stack size and that of your opponents, the size of the blinds and the pace of the clock. That “over the top” feeling can come to a poker player as the factors affecting play constantly change.

Maintaining a keen awareness of everything going on is a lesson in multi-tasking and requires real concentration. Taking a stance when the blinds get serious is a good way of taking some substantial wins but only after the pace has picked up and the blinds and pots are worth the effort. Broadening the range of hands the player raises with should work in proportion to the blinds going up and the field getting smaller.

At the beginning of a tournament best practice means playing tight but that doesn't mean waiting for ultimate ace hands. Deep stack tournaments will see a lot of flops at the early stages and one can play a pre-flop strategy almost like a cash game. The player that masters the unexpected raise strategy with those 'interesting' hands may just catch the wave and grab a huge payout.

So be patient, pace yourself and remember don't throw good money after bad if you fail to hit. Having a stubborn streak can wipe out even the most advanced player, so staying flexible and knowing which side your bread is buttered on is key. Online poker can hone these skills to a fine art without having to go to Vegas or Macau.

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