Tournament Advice

My Little Secret

By Sherry Nixon

Recently, a good friend of mine asked me how I always seem to survive past the middle limits of a tournament?  I thought about that question for a bit.  Of course the long answer to that question has to do with strategy and technique, but a shorter answer is that I have a little secret I use.  I say trick but it is really a tool to get me into the proper mindset of playing a tournament.  The one single strategy I use to set myself up with a positive, strong, competitive, mental attitude is to make sure that I win the first hand.

 For me, arriving to a tournament can be an anxious occasion.  I must drive about two hours to arrive to the casino, all the while anticipating the excitement of the game.  When I finally arrive, I am eager to play.  I must force myself to think clearly about that valuable first hand, to slow down and wait for a good hand and a good position to play.  And I know that if I win this hand my session has a better chance to literally pay off for me.

 Over the years I have viewed this as one of my personal secrets.  Winning the first hand says to my brain that “oh yes today is going to be a winning day.”  It establishes my first impression on the table as a winner.  And announces to everyone that they should stay away from me. 

 I remember reading an article about Tiger Woods.  When asked if he could give just one simple secret to winning a golf tournament, he said, “I always try and start things off with a really good shot, and make sure everyone I’m playing with that day sees it.  This gives me the edge on my opponents, and starts my day off to play solid golf on the rest of the course.” 

 That bit of advice has always stuck with me.