Having Patience in No Limit Holdem Tournaments

An absolutely essential skill for any good tournament player is patience. Too often, in the early stages of a tournament, you will see players start to get anxious and overplay their hands in an effort to double up.

What exactly does it mean to be "patient" in a no limit holdem tournament? Put simply, it’s knowing when to wait for good situations. Now, this certainly doesn’t mean you should just sit on your hands and wait for pocket aces. It merely means you shouldn’t rush things until your tournament situation dictates it.

In a tournament, patience is an extremely beneficial skill. In ring games, you don’t make anything unless you’re taking money from others. However, in a tournament you can make money by simply folding and letting everyone else go out around you. You are paid solely for your ability to survive. Thus, it pays to not rush things and make mistakes.

So how do I incorporate more patience into my game?

Obtaining patience is not an easy thing to do for action players. Some players have the need to be involved in nearly every hand. If you’re one of these players, you’re going to have a hard time succeeding in tournaments unless the cards are particularly kind to you. You must learn when to sit on your hands and do nothing.

Again, let me emphasize: I’m not suggesting you play so tight that you’re only coming in with premium cards. I’m merely suggesting that you wait for good situations. Don’t force things just to meet some magical chip count, or to stay ahead of the average chip stack. You can float for quite a while on a measly stack, then hit a small rush and be well above the bubble. Waiting around for this rush can be an extremely profitable play.

There are certain times during any tournament where it becomes more beneficial to sit on your hands and wait things out. During the early stages, many players employ the “double up or die” mentality. You should be far more patient during this stage. Taking coin flips early on is a losing proposition. On the winning side of the coin, you slightly increase your chances of making the money. However, on the losing side of it, you face complete and total elimination.

Another good time to be patient (assuming you can afford it), is during the middle-late stages. Players are under increasing pressure to keep up with the blinds, so every hand you enter must be well chosen. I have been in numerous tournaments where I was the lowest chip stack right before the bubble, and ended up winning it. Pick your spots wisely, don’t rush things, and you’ll increase your chances of placing in the money.

Conclusion

While patience may come easier for some, I think every player should take a look at their game and find places where they’re in too much of a hurry. Learning to wait for good situations will pay off immensely in the long run, and will increase your chances of having profitable results as a no limit tournament player.

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