Tournaments
4 Tips to Beating Bounty Poker Tournaments
Bounty tournaments are very different than regular tournaments because a portion of every players buy-in becomes a bounty on their head. For example, at some poker rooms 50% of the buy-in may go to the tournament prize pool and 50% goes to the player who knocks you out.Since this payout structure is a little bit different than that of a normal tournament there are a few adjustments you should make to your game in order to give yourself the best chance of making the most profit.
Tip #1 - Isolate the Short Stack with a Strong Hand If you are lucky enough to be dealt a strong hand when a player has only a few chips and is likely all-in you should isolate this player so that you have the best possible chance at winning the bounty that is up for grabs.In a normal tournament players will usually check it down when a player is all-in, but in bounty tournaments players will often bet to try to take control of the pot and isolate the bounty player.This is a smart play because if you feel you have the strongest hand you want to make your opponent pay a large amount in order to see the extra cards.
Tip #2 - Try to See the Flop with a Mediocre Hand against a Small Stack If a short stacked player is all-in or looks like they will have to go all-in you should try to see the flop with a mediocre hand.When deciding how much to call pre-flop you should include the short stacks bounty in the calculations, which means you should pay slightly more than normal to see the flop.If you manage to hit the flop you will win the players bounty and likely a large pot.
Tip #3 - Be Patient and Double Up From the Short Stack The one good thing about being short stacked in a bounty tournament is that you know you will likely get called when you move all-in.This means you should start pushing earlier, with around 15 big blinds, and only push with premium hands that you will be leading pre-flop such as pocket aces, pocket kinds, big slick and more.Since players will be trying to win your bounty they are more likely to call with subpar hands.
Tip #4 - Don't Get Carried Away With the Bounties Even though bounties are a great way to win money in this type of tournament you shouldn't get carried away and take your eye of the main goal of running deep in the tournament.Never go out of your way just to have a shot at winning the bounty.You can make slight adjustments to account for the bounty money, but if you just keep your eye on the prize the bounties will likely come to you.
Bounty tournaments are very different than regular tournaments because a portion of every players buy-in becomes a bounty on their head. For example, at some poker rooms 50% of the buy-in may go to the tournament prize pool and 50% goes to the player who knocks you out.Since this payout structure is a little bit different than that of a normal tournament there are a few adjustments you should make to your game in order to give yourself the best chance of making the most profit.
Tip #1 - Isolate the Short Stack with a Strong Hand If you are lucky enough to be dealt a strong hand when a player has only a few chips and is likely all-in you should isolate this player so that you have the best possible chance at winning the bounty that is up for grabs.In a normal tournament players will usually check it down when a player is all-in, but in bounty tournaments players will often bet to try to take control of the pot and isolate the bounty player.This is a smart play because if you feel you have the strongest hand you want to make your opponent pay a large amount in order to see the extra cards.
Tip #2 - Try to See the Flop with a Mediocre Hand against a Small Stack If a short stacked player is all-in or looks like they will have to go all-in you should try to see the flop with a mediocre hand.When deciding how much to call pre-flop you should include the short stacks bounty in the calculations, which means you should pay slightly more than normal to see the flop.If you manage to hit the flop you will win the players bounty and likely a large pot.
Tip #3 - Be Patient and Double Up From the Short Stack The one good thing about being short stacked in a bounty tournament is that you know you will likely get called when you move all-in.This means you should start pushing earlier, with around 15 big blinds, and only push with premium hands that you will be leading pre-flop such as pocket aces, pocket kinds, big slick and more.Since players will be trying to win your bounty they are more likely to call with subpar hands.
Tip #4 - Don't Get Carried Away With the Bounties Even though bounties are a great way to win money in this type of tournament you shouldn't get carried away and take your eye of the main goal of running deep in the tournament.Never go out of your way just to have a shot at winning the bounty.You can make slight adjustments to account for the bounty money, but if you just keep your eye on the prize the bounties will likely come to you.
