PRACTICE OPPORTUNITY # 6:
The structure of a typical one-table no-limit holdem satellite has ten players starting with $800 to $1,000 in chips each. The blinds are usually $10-$15 in the first level of play. They rise of $15- $30 in the second round, and go up to $25 -$50 in the third round, $50-$100 in the fourth round, and $100- $200 in fifth round. The blinds rise to $150- $300 in the sixth round and so on through poker the rest of the tournament. While you are playing these one-table tournaments, use the betting charts on pages 60-61 as a guide for your betting poker strategy.
The strategy in this section is adapted from championship Satellite Strategy.
The First Round
The relative strength of a starting hand changes depending on the number of players in the game. Because more people are playing against you when the game is ten-handed, you need a stronger starting hand than you would need when the game is five-handed, for example. A marginal poker hand that you would throw away when the game is ten-handed may become playable when the table is short. Also remember that when the game is ten-handed in the early stage of the satellite, there isn't much blind money in the pot no limit game to fight for, therefore you have less reason to try to steal pots with substandard hands.
Your position at the table is especially important in no-limit holdem. Play more conservatively in early positions. In the first three positions after the blind, you definitely want to play only premium hands and usually bring it in for a raise when you enter the pot. You can play more liberally from middle to late position in unraised pots when two or three limpers are in the pot. You are looking for a situation where you can win a pot a and maybe double up, all the while trying to avoid getting eliminated. Always remember that you cannot win the satellite during the first round of play, but you can lose it if you make a mistake.
Trouble hands can be even more trouble in no-limit holdem than they are in limit holdem poker. The blinds are very small in relation to the risks involved, so why get involved with a K-Q when someone raises in front of you? You could lose your whole stack with this trouble hand. You might want to slow-playing in early position with pocket aces or pocket things in the first round hoping that someone will raise and you can reraise him.
The Second Round
In the second level, the blinds usually go up to $10-$25. Things will be pretty much the same as the first level. You're seeing who's playing fast, who's tight, who's scared. You're also looking for people that you might be able to steal a pot from later on as well as identifying players who might try to steal from you. Knowing these things, you can decide who to play with when somebody comes in for a raise, and can better judge what kinds of hands you want to play.
The Third Round
At the third level, usually about seven card stud or eight players are left. The blinds rise to $25-$50, meaning that it costs you $ 75 per round to play. The normal raise is $150-$200. You want to continue playing conservatively in this level, all the while looking for an opportunity to double up with a premium hand.
The Fourth Round
The blinds are $50-$100. Now you have to pick up a few more pots Because, with fewer players still in action, the blinds are coming around faster. Your goal is to preserve your chip position if you already have a lot of chips, or gain on the chip leaders if you're trailing. At the least, you want to survive and maintain your relative chips position.
Players now are playing more aggressively in order to pick up the blinds. Even the tighter players have to start opening up their game (playing looser) because of the larger blinds and the smaller field of players. From the fourth round onward, it is very important to know when your chips are in jeopardy, when you are committed to the pot, and when you need to improve your chip position by gathering some chips poker winning principles.
Stealing the blinds at this level becomes very important, and you're always trying to figure out who's out of line (playing a weak hand) when they try to steal your blind. You are reading your opponents and trying to figure out what they actually have. If you are fairly certain that you have the best hand and you think they're weak, you can try to make them lay down a hand by coming over the top of them (reraising, moving in) before the flop. You're not looking to see flops, you want to win it before the flop. In fact when you come over the top of someone, or raise trying cash course to steal the blinds, remember that you are making a play in the hope of improving your chip position.
If you get broke in one of these plays you run into a better hand or you get drawn out on that is just a part of the game. In order to play no-limit holdem poker games well, you must make these plays when the time is right.