These days when someone thinks of poker they likely think of the World Poker Tour or the World Series of Poker, where they play tournament poker in a format known as the “freezeout.” In a freezeout tournament there are enough players to field multiple tables, which is why these are often called MTTs, or Multi Table Tournaments, and require different strategies to win compared to Friday nights with the lads playing for cash. Playing a Multi Table Tournament requires a slightly different skill set than a single table tournament or a cash game, and the first item in that set is “Playing not to Lose.”

To Win, Don’t Lose
In a MTT situation you may be one of a dozen, or a hundred, or a thousand players, all of whom want to get as far into the event as possible, as the payouts grow exponentially the further you go. It is possible to get deep in an event simply by avoiding risk; while you are sitting on your hands not playing, lots of other players are doing the opposite and, as a result, many of them are busting out of the event. Each player that busts puts you closer to cashing and the final table. This “flying under the radar” technique may not seem like playing good poker, as it appears you are not playing at all. Success at MTT poker, however, requires that you outlast your opponents, and this is one of the best ways to do so.

However, the escalating blind levels ensure that you can’t non-play to the final table, as without winning chips and building your stack you will eventually be blinded off.

Selective Aggression
The best style of poker, many experts agree, is “Tight Aggressive”, which means you wait for the best chance to make a score, and then you go for it. This does not necessarily mean you wait for the best hands, however, but rather the best situations in which to act. Luck is, after all, a part of the game, and if you don’t get great cards for the first half of a MTT event, you are going to have to make do.

If you happen to catch cards then by all means play them, even early in a MTT event—just remember that the best starting hands can be cracked by community cards in most games. This means pushing all in during a No Limit Hold’em event pre flop with pocket aces does not guarantee your win. So, how do you build chips with minimal risk, which is the ultimate goal of early and mid MTT play?

•  Play the situation. Look for chances to steal blinds and unwanted pots; if the two players to your left are the timid sort, raise from the button a few times to collect their blinds, and if a dangerous flop hits the board and the table seems to fear it, bet out and scoop the chips. 
• Pay attention to stack size. Size really does matter in a MTT event; a player who has triple your chips or more won’t necessarily be intimidated if you push all in, but a player with about the same amount of chips will be.
• Admit defeat. You can lose over and over again in a MTT and still emerge the winner, as long as you control how much you are losing. If you valiantly bluff at a pot with nothing and face an over the top push back, get ready to toss your hand. If you start with pocket kings and a decent player reraises you when an ace hits the flop, say goodbye to your cowboys and stay awhile.

Playing a MTT requires patience and staying power, so remember the key components to basic Multi Table Tournament strategy- avoid situations where you risk elimination, be ready to toss away strong hands when you are beat, pay attention to the chip stacks around you, and look for chances to pick up pots you didn’t deserve.