5 Characteristics of Winning Tournament Players

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The following list was developed to discuss what characteristics and traits are most exhibited by successful tournament players.

 1. Responsible Bankroll Management

Responsible bankroll management is the first and possibly most important characteristic.  Regardless of a player’s skill level, the high level of variance within tournaments makes responsible bankroll management crucial for any player wanting to maintain long term success.  The specific amount for an individual bankroll will vary depending on a number of factors.  A few things to consider when deciding on the size of a bankroll include; range of tournament buy-ins, size of the fields, structure of the tournaments, strength of opponents, personal style of play, and payout structures.  Here is an article by TPE founder RonFezBuddy on the topic of MTT Bankroll Guidelines.

2. Ability to Adjust Style of Play

The second characteristic shown by successful players is the ability to adjust their style of play.  Not only will these individuals change their play to range between patient and aggressive depending on their stack size, but they will also take into consideration opponent styles, type of tournament (re-buy, add-on, deep stack, etc), time during tournament (early stages, on the bubble, etc), and their current table image.  Additionally, these players know when to take risks during different stages of a tournament and when to avoid risk.

3. Positional Awareness / Knowledge of Shoving Ranges

Building on changing style of play, other characteristics include positional awareness and recognizing opportunities to shove.  Even though the knowledge of position is important in all aspects of poker, it is extremely relevant in tournaments.  Quickly realizing which players at the table are less likely or more likely to defend their blinds and position can be very beneficial in the later stages of a tournament.  Secondly, an effective way to exploit a superior edge is by understanding shoving ranges and when it is appropriate to open shove rather than open raise.  For additional information on shoving ranges I suggest purchases a personal copy of “Kill Everyone” and studying the charts supplied at the end of the book.

4. Mental Preparation / Tilt Control

 High levels of variance associated with tournament poker, at times, they can cause tournaments to be frustrating.  There will be many highs, as well as many lows.  Mental preparation and having the ability to control the desire to tilt is essential for success.  These skills can be very challenging and may take time to fully control and understand, but adding these traits will greatly increase the likelihood of success in tournament poker.  One of the best ways to improve on this is to be realistic with expectations.  For example, after making five final tables out of ten tournaments and winning two of those in one night, a player should not expect similar results every time they sit down to play, just as a player who fails to cash in any of the fifty tournaments during a single day should not expect that every time. Here is an article by TPE founder RonFezBuddy on the mental game of poker.

5. Good Study Habits / Continually Learning

The final characteristics among successful tournament players are continually learning and good study habits.  These can be achieved through various methods.  Aside from reviewing personal hand histories and play, some of the best methods to learn and improve results include; reading blog posts, actively reading and posting on forums directed at tournament players, and watching training videos that will not only add new concepts to one’s game, but also help stay updated with current trends in today’s evolving tournament poker scene.  Here is a video by TPE Pro Daryl Jace about how to become a better poker player.

Mastering each of these five traits will help tournament players’ results and allow for the best potential for success.