Jonathan Little is one of the most widely recognized poker players and coaches in the world. He has coached thousands of players and authored many poker books, helping players elevate their game and thereby contribute to the growth of poker across the world. In this poker strategy guide, we’ll share Jonathan Little’s top 10 tips for dominating small-stakes tournaments.
1 – Play Tight In the Early Stage
In the early stages of a poker tournament, it’s important to play tight and avoid unnecessary risks. You can’t win the tournament in the first level, but you can definitely lose it, so focus on staying disciplined.
Stealing blinds isn’t very valuable at this stage, so instead, take the time to observe your opponents and learn their tendencies. Rather than forcing big plays, splash around in small pots and wait for the right moment to capitalize on a premium hand that can beat strong holdings like pocket aces.
2 – Raise Often and Raise Small
A key poker strategy is to raise often and raise small instead of limping into pots. Never open limp—if your hand is strong enough to play, it’s strong enough to raise. A good standard raise size is between 2 and 2.5 big blinds, which keeps the pressure on your opponents while minimizing risk. As your position improves—meaning you act later in the betting round—you should widen your range and play more hands aggressively.
3 – Defend Your Big Blind Often
Most players avoid playing from the big blind, but defending your big blind is crucial, especially with antes in play. Since you’ve already invested chips, you should defend your blind frequently rather than folding too often.
Be sure to 3-bet when appropriately to put pressure on your opponents and prevent them from exploiting you with frequent raises. For example, if the late position raises, then you should raise big. For instance, if they raise 2.5BBS, you should check-raise 10BBS. Understanding proper ranges is key, particularly when facing a raise from late-position players like the button.
4 – C-Bet Less
When continuation betting, it’s important to be selective rather than betting automatically. If your opponents are weak and passive, you can get away with c-betting every time, but most players know how to counter this strategy.
Instead, aim to bet closer to game theory optimal (GTO), only c-betting consistently when you have a significant range or nut advantage. Be especially cautious on middling and low-connected boards, like 7-6-3, where your opponent is more likely to have strong hands that can fight back.
5 – Think about the Future Streets
Always think ahead and consider what will happen on future streets before making a decision. If you have a hand that you don’t want to face a raise with—like a middle pair—it’s often better to check rather than bet and risk building a big pot unnecessarily.
If you’re not looking to commit all your chips, focus on keeping the pot small in the early stages of the hand. Smart planning will help you avoid tough spots and maximize your chances of making profitable decisions.
6 – Play Wide In Later Levels
As the tournament progresses, you should start playing more hands to take advantage of your opponent’s tendencies. A great way to win is by forcing opponents to fold when they still have decent equity but are afraid to risk their stack. Many players over-fold in later levels, making aggression even more profitable.
Consider raising slightly wider than GTO suggests, keeping your raise-size around 2 big blinds. Additionally, make sure you understand solid push/fold strategy to maximize your chances of survival and success in the tournament’s later stages.
7 – Use the Bubble In Your Advantage
The bubble is one of the most important phases of a tournament, and you should use it to your advantage. Many players desperately want to make the money or reach the final table, which makes them overly cautious. If you have a large stack, apply pressure and push these players around, especially in key bubble situations.
On the other hand, if you’re short-stacked, focus on survival by playing tighter and looking to move up the payouts rather than taking unnecessary risks. Understanding bubble dynamics can give you a huge edge in tournament play.
8 – Learn about ICM
Understanding ICM (Independent Chip Model) is crucial for making the right decisions when payouts are involved. ICM influences strategy by assigning a monetary value to your chips, meaning survival becomes more important than pure chip accumulation.
As a result, small pairs and suited connectors decrease in value, while hands like A-x suited, K-x suited, and big broadway cards become stronger. Big stacks can take advantage by raising wider, while short stacks should avoid unnecessary non-all-in bets and focus on shoving or folding. Mastering ICM will give you a huge edge in late-stage tournament play.
9 – Master the Foundation of Pre-Flop Charts
A strong preflop strategy is the foundation of winning poker. You must know fundamentally sound preflop ranges and study them until they become second nature. If you’re guessing, while your opponents are playing optimal ranges, you’re at a major disadvantage.
Learn preflop charts by heart so that your decisions become automatic and precise. Whether it’s opening ranges, 3-betting spots, or push/fold scenarios, having a solid understanding of preflop play will set you up for success in every hand you play.
10 – Play in the Right Tournament
Choosing the right tournaments is just as important as playing well. You want to compete in games where your opponents make more mistakes than you do. Just because a tournament is available doesn’t mean you have to play it—be selective.
Manage your bankroll wisely and focus on playing when the fields are soft. Nights, weekends, and big-guarantee events tend to attract more recreational players, giving you a better edge. Maximizing your opportunities in the right tournaments will lead to more consistent success.
Keep following PokerProNews for more such valuable tips from top poker pros and coaches.
Source: MyPokerCoaching
