How to Win the Championship : Hold'Em Strategies for the Final Table

by Cloutier, T.J.

• ISBN13: 9781580421669
• ISBN10: 1580421660
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-05-01
• Publisher: Cardoza

Summary

If you're hungry to win a championship, this is the book that will pave the way to success! T.J. Cloutier, the greatest tournament poker player ever shows you how to get to the final table where the big money is made-and then how to win it all. You'll learn how to build up enough chips to make it through the early and middle rounds, and then how to employ T.J.'s own strategies to outmaneuver opponents at the final table and win championships.

Author Biography

T.J. Cloutier has won 59 major tournament titles, more than any other player in the world, and includes 39 final table appearances at the World Series of Poker, also more than any other player in the world. Doyle Brunson calls T.J Cloutier "the premier tournament player in the world." Joseph Hachem, 2005 World Champion credits T.J.'s books with his victory.

Table of Contents

Introduction	11	(2)
PART 1: WHAT SEPARATES THE GREAT PLAYERS FROM THE GOOD PLAYERS	13	(14)
The Attributes of Great Players
Great Players Make Very Few Mistakes
Great Players Have an Innate Sense of Timing
Great Players Know How to Make More Money on a Hand
Experts Don't Burn Up Their Chips
True Champions Have Stood the Test of Time
PART 2: THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PLAY FOR GETTING TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE	27	(18)
Set Your Goal for the Tournament
Be Careful Before You Decide to Move All In
Try to Increase Your Chips at Each Level
Recognize the Impact of the Antes and Blinds
Be Aware of Your Table Position in Relation to the Big Stacks
Take Note of Your Place on the Curve
Get to Know the Nature of Your Opponents
Always Make Quality Decisions
PART 3: WHEN YOU'RE ONE TABLE AWAY FROM THE MONEY	45	(14)
When You Have a Small Stack
When You Have a Medium Stack
When You Have a Big Stack
PART 4: WHEN YOU'VE MADE IT TO THE FIRST MONEY TABLE	59	(14)
When You Have a Short Stack
When You Have a Medium to Large Stack
When You Have a Large Stack
PART 5: WHEN YOU'VE MADE IT TO THE SECOND MONEY TABLE	73	(36)
The Table-Two Plan
With a Big Stack
With a Medium Stack
With A Short Stack
When You're Playing Against the Short Stack
When the Last Two Tables Combine
Big Blind is One-Half of Your Stack
Big Blind is One-Fourth of Your Stack
PART 6: PLAYING THE FINAL TABLE	109	(26)
When You're Playing 10-Handed
At the Television Table, the ``Official'' 9-Handed Final Table
Plan Your Play According to the Nature of Your Opponents
Play Your Best Game
Play Carefully When You Have a Medium Stack
Always Maintain a Positive Attitude
Playing Seven-Handed
PART 7: SIX-HANDED AT THE FINAL TABLE	135	(28)
Start Off With a Plan
Putting A Plan Into Action at the 2000 WSOP
Size Up Your Opponents
Playing Against Super-Aggressive Opponents
Putting a Power Play on a Short Stack
Select the Hands You Play Carefully
Play in Position
Know How to Play Your Relative Position in the Chip Count
When You Have a Small Stack
When You Have a Medium Stack
When You Have a Commanding Lead
When the Starting Stacks are Fairly Even
PART 8: PLAYING THREE-HANDED AND HEADS UP AT THE FINAL TABLE	163	(30)
When You're Playing Four-Handed or Three-Handed
Adjust to Your Your Opponents' Style of Play
Your Chip Count
Your Table Position
The Quality of Your Hands
Raising and Limping
When You're the Short Stack
When You're the Big Stack
Practice
Playing Heads-Up
The Cards You Play
Your Position at the Table
Going All In
When You're the Short Stack
In Summary
PART 9: THE ANATOMY OF A CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE	193	(34)
PART 10: MORE TOURNAMENT STRATEGIES	227	(18)
When You Hit that Stone Wall in Tournaments
On Outthinking Yourself in Tournaments
The Biggest Mistake Amateurs Make in No-Limit Hold'em
On Gathering Chips at the Start of a Tournament
A Big Slick Story
On Observation
The Dumbest Play I've Ever Made
PART 11: MORE THOUGHTS FROM T.J.	245	(16)
Tournaments Have Changed
On Making Deals
Is It Tougher to Win Tournaments Today?
It's About Time to Bury Dead Money
Just a Touch More Modesty, Please
Bad Beats and Lame Laments
PART 12: TJ'S TOP TIPS FOR PLAYING NO-LIMIT HOLD'EM	261	(6)
Eight Tips from T.J.
PART 13: GLOSSARY OF POKER TERMS	267