Beginner
NL Tournament Basics: Rules to the Floor
Rebuild NL through a tournament lens: rankings, flow, position, and odds—built for the live floor, not endless cash loops.
Lessons
- 1
Hand rankings at a glance
Ten hand types, strong to weak—no guessing at showdown.
- 2
Four stages of a hand
Preflop, flop, turn, river—clear flow, calmer decisions.
- 3
Starting hands: don’t play junk
Beginners profit most by folding the trash.
- 4
Position and opening ranges
Why late position can open wider.
- 5
Pot odds basics
Use a simple ratio to judge whether a call is worth it.
- 6
Continuation bets in tournaments
Initiative after a preflop raise—under rising blinds.
- 7
Event bankroll and selection
Manage risk with tournament rhythm—not cash buy-in myths.
- 8
Table etiquette and pace
Welcome players get invited to better games longer.