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Whether playing online or face to face you will need a good strategy to make sure you last until the end of any Texas Hold'em tournament or 'sit'n go' you enter.

Before the Flop

1. To start with only play quality hands. If you don't you will quickly use up your chips on hands that can be easily beaten. More than likely you will lose or be out of the tournament quickly.

By quality I am referring to hands such as AA, KK, AK's QQ, JJ, TT, AQ's, AJ's KQ's 99, AQ, AT's, KJ's, QJ's, JT's, AJ, and KQ

Play other smaller pairs when it is cheap to look at the flop. If you get a 'set' (3 of a kind) you will be in a good position to win the hand and you can bet up big. You may still be beaten if someone hits a flush or some other good hand but the odds will be in your favor.

If you have a high pair enter with a raise. This will have the effect of cutting down the number of opponents you will have in the hand. As you have a quality hand to start with it gives you a good chance to win the hand head to head or with a limited number of opponents.

Don't make the mistake of over betting before the flop if you have a hand such as JJ you can be vulnerable to Kings Aces or queens you should check the flop and see if you are still top pair if not then bet cautiously or fold if you think you are beaten.

After the Flop

2. You will know where you stand after the flop. If you have hit the flop and have top pair or a good hand then bet up and try and win the hand there and then. The longer the hand goes on the higher the chance someone else will get lucky and get a flush or straight.

If you do not get a good result with the flop especially when holding a hand such as AQ you should think of folding especially if other players are betting big, as there is every chance they already hold a pair which will beat you.

Position

3. Your position in relation to the blinds is very important, especially in No Limit Hold'em. If you are in early position i.e. one of the first to bet then you should be very cautious and only bet if you have a good hand. As you progress closer to the blinds you can bet with less appealing hands but still don't bet with rubbish hands.

The reason for this is you can easily be caught out in early position by another player going all in, or making a large bet that you did not want at that time. If you get caught in this position and you have a relatively weak hand then fold straight away or risk losing your whole stack.

Bluffing

4. If you are positioned just before the blinds and no one else has entered the pot or raised you may want to try a bluff. If you have a moderate hand make a raise there is a good chance both blinds will fold. If you get caught out and one of the blinds makes a large raise then just fold. This plan will not work every time.

After the Turn card

By this time you will have a good idea where you stand. You and other players only have one more chance to make a straight or flush so you should be careful betting if you are still chasing a flush or straight. Try to stay out of big confrontations with big stacks as they can put you out of the tournament without the same risk to themselves. Try and focus on medium stacks and smaller stacks to yours.

The River

5. This is the last card and you will now know what your final hand will look like. Bet strongly now if you have made a straight or flush. If you have a moderate hand call any smaller bets or fold to any large bets.

These are some handy tips that I use before playing tournaments. If used properly they can help you to the final table of most tournaments.

1) No set no bet, this is a saying that a lot of good players use when you are dealt a small pocket pair. Basically if you don't get a set (3 cards the same i.e. 3 x 2's) then don't make big bets or you will most likely regret it. You can be easily beaten by an over card.

2) Don't over bet before the flop. This is a mistake that a lot of new players make. Its best to see the flop then if you hit cards you like bet up big.

3) Don't chase. If its expensive to chase a straight or flush you are probably best to let the hand go.

4) Play premium hands only. Resist the temptation to play hands that can get you into trouble.

5) Bluff from position. If you are just behind the blinds and no one else has entered the pot voluntarily then try a bluff. It does not really matter what cards you have. If you are re-raised then you can always fold if your hand is no good.

6) If you have a pair or two pair, watch out for possible straights or flush draws that other players may have before committing a large amount of your stack.

7) Maximize profits from a good hand when you hit a full house, high flush etc then bet big or go all in. If someone calls you can easily double your stack or more.

If you hit four of a kind or straight flush, then make sure you slow play the hand to the river then go all in to maximize your profits.

8) Don't over bet without a good hand i.e. trips or a flush etc.

9) Have patience and don't raise with poor hands. Its easy to get bored waiting for a good hand an you can easily be tempted to play less than premium hands.

10) Stay out of large confrontations. These are the easiest way for you to be eliminated from a tournament especially if you have a less than premium hand. Large confrontations will usually eliminate 1 or more players from a tournament this only helps you to move closer to the final table and a chance at a win.

11) If you do make it to the final table of a tournament you are going to have to become a lot more aggressive especially when there are only a few players left.