The best reward for online poker players can be found in online poker tournaments. If you're not familiar with them, online poker tournaments are competitions where players use chips to determine their placement in the tournament. The blinds rise over the duration and you can't cash out of a poker tournament, you are in until you have no more chips left. It's very different from a cash game because you can't get out early without sacrificing all your chips. While the number of players that'll receive cash payouts from their play varies wildly between games, it's frequently very rewarding just to make it to the final table. It's a test of endurance, but the rewards are worth it.
Before you play in your first poker tournament, whether it's online or virtual, you have to make sure you're ready for it. Be well-rested and alert. Even if it's online, it's not uncommon for multi-table tournaments to go for hours. Even with rising blinds, big tournaments take a while to shake down. Make sure you have the time and energy to go the long haul.
Once you're in the tournament, you're committed. Don't be discouraged until your last chips are gone and approach every hand smartly. In early stages of the tournament, it's a good idea to play tight to try to build your chip stack but then look at getting more aggressive and play hands you'd have let go in earlier rounds. Other players are going to be more interested in protecting their stacks and you may well be able to steal blinds or choke others out at the turn and river. Later periods, you'll have to play by ear. Hopefully you'll be able to read your opponents and have more confidence as the game proceeds. It can be nerve-racking but worth it.
Take advantage of the tournament's break periods. Most online poker rooms offer a five minute break at the 55-minute mark in their tournaments and this is time you shouldn't spend checking your email. Get up and walk around, go to the kitchen, use the restroom, maybe even do some jumping jacks! You'll find that you come back to the tables with a clear head and ready to proceed while your competition will frequently be sluggish because they didn't use their break wisely. Don't eat fatty snack foods, either. Instead, drink water and protein-heavy snacks like pistachios. If you must have caffeine (and believe me, we understand,) try to keep it minimal because coffee nerves can force bad decisions.
These are just a few tips that can help you play better in online poker tournaments and real-world events alike. By maintaining your focus and not playing wildly, you can find yourself in the money more easily than your nerves would have you believe.
