In a ring game, your starting hand standards generally don't vary. They remain the same for the complete session. In a Poker tournament on the other hand, your starting hands vary significantly has the tournament progresses and chips move from one player to another. Additionally the style of play the predominates Poker Tournaments and the usual NL structure dictate a big modification to those starting hands that may be quite profitable in a Poker ring game.

The biggest modification is the omission of suited pockets from the list of starting hands. Most ring games have an average of 4 or 5 players before every flop At a Poker Tournament table the average is probably 3 or less except at the very beginning of the tournament. (In a re-buy/add-n tourney this period of normal play may last until re-buys are no longer allowed.) If you play suited cards in a ring game you can expect to win about 1 out of 5. With good multi-way action your flush draws can supply a positive expectation. In a Poker Tournament on the other hand where heads-up is the normal action, you do not get the pot odds required to make a flush draw worth while.

There is a second consideration and more important consideration. In a ring game if you bust out you go to the ATM. You can bust out 4 times and wait to win on the 5 th . In a Poker tournament if you bust out, you're done and on the rail. If your still not convinced, look at this example.

In all types of poker, straight draws probably lose more money than any other "starting" hand. Don't even consider connectors, unless they have intrinsic high card value. The hand JT does not have high card value and has a negative expected value anyway.

Here are the starting hands:

•  Limit your starting hands to the absolute top tier of hands; AA, KK , AK s and AK. QQ is a marginal starting hand in an early position.

•  Any hand that does not contain an Ace is barely marginal. (Especially in a freeroll where many players believe any ace should see the flop.)

•  Do not play 2 suited cards hoping for a flush, if they both don't have intrinsic high card value.

•  Straights lose.

•  If someone raises in front of you, consider folding.

Of course we'll discuss modifications that are required during the different stages of the Tournament.