Tournament Prep
Success happens before the first hand is dealt. Use these guides to prepare your mind, body, and strategy.
Get your mind right before the first hand is dealt.
Spend 10 minutes visualizing yourself playing well, making good decisions, and handling bad beats with composure. Do not visualize winning the money, visualize playing the hands correctly.
Refresh your memory on standard short-stack spots.
Review your push/fold charts for stack sizes between 10-20bb. These spots come up frequently in tournaments and are purely mathematical. Don't guess in these spots.
Pack your grinding bag with essentials.
Bring layers of clothing (casinos are freezing), a portable charger, headphones, water, and healthy snacks. Being comfortable allows you to focus solely on the game.
Adjusting to the early stage dynamics.
Identify who the weak players are at your table early. In the early stages of a tournament, survival is not the goal - accumulation is. Attack the weak players while stacks are deep.
Rest and nutrition are crucial for long sessions.
Ensure you get at least 8 hours of sleep the night before a major tournament. Fatigue is the enemy of focus. avoid heavy meals before playing.