How to Win at Poker Tournaments: Strategies from 25-Year Veterans

Early Stage Strategy: Play tight and build your stack methodically. Avoid marginal spots early when blinds are small relative to stacks. Focus on playing premium hands in position and stealing blinds from late position. James Gang members learn to identify recreational players early and target them specifically. Don't blow up your stack with speculative hands in the first levels.

Mid-Stage Adjustments: As blinds increase, shift to more aggressive play. Steal blinds and antes relentlessly from tight players. Three-bet light against players who fold too often. This is where most players leak chips by playing too passively. Study hand ranges with coaching from experienced players who've navigated thousands of tournaments.

Bubble and Final Table Play: Master ICM calculations to make optimal decisions when pay jumps matter. Pressure short stacks relentlessly as big stack. Survive as short stack by shoving ranges correctly. These spots require experience - join communities like James Gang ($20/mo) to review hand histories and learn from 25+ years of tournament expertise.

Mental Game and Stamina: Tournaments require 6-12+ hours of focus. Develop routines for breaks, nutrition, and mental reset after bad beats. The best players aren't always most skilled - they're most consistent over long sessions. Private coaching helps identify mental leaks costing you tournament life.