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Step Tournament Strategy
Winners of the first step win an entry into the second step and then compete for an entry into the third step and so on. Generally, players can buy into the tournament at any step (the buy-in at the higher steps is much larger than at the lower steps). However, only at the final step are the major prizes awarded. Many lower-stakes users like these tournaments because it allows them to parlay a $6 entry into an entry into a $400 tournament. Strategy for a steps tournament is similar to strategy for single-table tournaments and satellite tournaments. When about 30% of players receive a step to the next level, you will want to play a selectively aggressive game. Aim to steal the blinds and keep your stack above average. You do not need to amass the most chips to win. However, you want to keep your stack relatively large, so people do not attack you and try to knock you out. By frequently stealing the blinds, you will possess a larger than average stack, resulting in fewer confrontations. The strategy differs greatly between the initial steps and the later steps. At the lower steps, only the top two advance, so people tend to play fairly aggressive. However, the strategy at the 4th step is tricky. The top 4 get an entry into the $400 step. This does not mean that people should play overly cautiously though. In these tournaments, it is probably best to consistently win a few small pots, so your stack does not decrease too much. You want to avoid as many large confrontations as possible, and sometimes the best way to avoid large confrontations is having smaller confrontations and keeping a decent stack size. Towards the end of the the 4th Step, people really attack the smaller stacks, so it is better to have a decent sized stack so you can cruise into the final round. PRE-FLOP STRATEGY LEVELS 1-3 EARLY POSITION (Seats 1-7), play only a pair or AK 1. Only raise AK, AA, KK, or QQ 2. With JJ or lower, limp in. 3. Limp and Reraise all-in with AA and KK in seats 1-3 4. If limpers in front use this calculation to determine bet size (#limpers + 3) x Big Blind 5. Fold 66 or lower in early position. 6. If re-raised up to 3BBs, call 2. Go all-in with AK, AA, KK, QQ. LATE POSITION 1. Raise at least 3BBs with 77 or better, or use the calculation if limpers (limping with 77-JJ is always a good option). 2. Also limp in with speculative hands like AQs, AQ, AJs, ATs, KQs, QJs, JTs if there are limpers ahead of you, raise if there are not. 3. Fold if re-raised with these speculative hands. LEVELS 4-6 Open-raise at least 3x BB (If limpers in front add #limpers x 2BB +3BB) from all positions with: 1. 77-AA, AK, AQ. 2. AKs-ATs, KQs-KJs, QJs, JTs. LATE POSITION 1. Raise with KTs, QTs, KQ, AJ, if you are first in the pot. 2. Raise with 2 cards J-A, T9s, 98s, or 87s if you have a good stack, LP, and no raisers already in pot. Limp with these hands if there are already lots of limpers unless you have less than 10xBB. If this is the case just fold and wait for a better opportunity. If your stack size gets below 10x BB go all-in or fold. You don't have enough chips to limp in with speculative hands. On the Bubble - Your stack is larger than 10x BB 1. Never enter a raised pot without AA, KK, QQ, AK unless raiser has ½ your stack or less. If a small raise to you, go all-in with these hands and call with a few others (AQ, JJ, TT,). 2. When calling down shortstack all-ins, you want to have AT-AK and pairs 77-AA. 3. If shortstack has 2BB or less, it is worth calling from BB with almost anything. 4. When playing with a huge stack, be careful of other huge stacks even with AK, KQs, JJ, etc…. General Prefop Considerations When calling a raise, you need a better hand than you needed to raise in the first place. When a raise has already been called, you need an even better hand. When in the small blind, you can limp with slightly worse hands than normal. When calling min raises once already in for one bet, almost any calling hand is still playable. On The Bubble - Your stack is less than 10x BB See Blind Stealing Theory article. On the Flop EARLY STAGES On the flop, bet, raise, or check raise the amount of the pot with the following, otherwise fold: 1. top pair with a good kicker 2. 2 pair (no pair on board), set, or full house. 3. 4 flush with overcards or other possibilities (bottom/middle pairs, straight draws, etc…). 4. open-ended straight with lots of outs (3-flush, 2 overcards, etc.). Play drawing hands aggressively (you need to have good stack to play a draw) 1. Best to act last: bet the pot \2. Consider semi-bluff in LP 3. If bet to you on flop is ½ the pot or less, raise to size of pot if you have large stack 4.If re-raised, fold Do not slowplay monster hands, especially when draws are on the board. Post-flop, all bets should be 1/2 pot to full-size pot bets. If any recommended bet (3BBs, pot, etc.) is 40% or more of stack, go all-in. LATE STAGES 1. If short stacked, Level 5 and later, go all in or fold. 2. Play very tight with 4 left, much looser when in money. 3. Don’t worry about attacking the short stacks. Quickly increasing blinds and their own loose play will take them out. 4. With three players left, any piece of the flop becomes valuable. Do not be afraid to bet middle pairs if there is no reason 5. When to believe opponent has stronger hand? If there is a raise preflop and an ace or king comes on flop play cautiously. TURN AND RIVER The turn and river should be more easily played. The flop is where your most crucial decisions are made. When you think you are beaten on the river, a fold to a small bet is usually a mistake unless you have no hand at all. GENERAL STRATEGY 1. Top pair, top kicker is usually considered risky in NL, but Party’s Step structure forces aggressive play. Experienced players if flop is rags and pot not raised ahead of you preflop, bet the pot. AKo, AKs are good for an all-in. 2. When holding middle pair, if flop is checked all around and turn brings no scare cards (3-flush on board, 3 straight on board, cards higher than your middle pair, etc…) play that pair aggressively on the turn. When raised, be prepared to abandon your hand if you suspect a trap. 3. Anytime you are prepared to check and call, it is better to bet in the first place. See also: |
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The Mini Step tournament is the brainchild of Party Poker and is now
also featured at The Gaming Club called Rounders tournaments. A steps
tournament acts as a series of single-table satellite tournaments of
increasingly larger buy-ins, culminating in large cash prizes at the
final step. A steps tournament generally consists of five steps.