Lots of poker players have different strategies for playing in multi table tournaments.

There are the players who like to get a large stack to start with by going all in most of the time and stealing blinds.  They may be chip leaders at the beginning of the tournament but just keep checking out where they end up because they rarely make the money.

To last in an MTT you have to play steadily from start to finish.  I've played in tournaments with 4000+ players and made the final table by only playing 17 hands....!!!!!  Sounds unbelievable but its true.  It was a bit boring too but worth it to make it to the final table.  My prize was some cash and a ticket to a million dollar freeroll.

My strategy for large MTT games is to play really tight at the beginning - only play premum hands like AA, KK, QQ or AK, AQ, AJ.  As players are knocked out and it gets near to the bubble (where you go out just before the paid places) - loosen up a little and steal some binds with reasonable hands like mid pockets.  As the blinds are going to be quite large (obviously depending on the number of players and the speed of the tournament) they are worth stealing from the low stacks who are desperately trying to make the money.  Chances are that they will fold their hands unless they have a huge pair like AA or KK.  Once you hit the paid places, I find its better to tighten up again and go back to the premium hands until the final table. 

Throughout the game - you must watch the way your opponents play - make some notes if you can - it will stand you in good stead for later.  (I have won many hands based on the notes I've made on a players)  Watch for how much they raise with different hands.  Checkout their betting when the cards have flopped - you can learn so much from a player by their betting patterns and the hands they play.  Watch out for the "slow players".  Slow playing pocket AA is a very dangerous game - I see it all the time and Aces are cracked so many times - however, you can lose a large amount of your stack if someone is slow playing a great hand so care with your betting unless you have the nuts.

So you've sat through a large MTT and you're nearing the final table.  This is when you will see loose play by your opponents.  They will steal at any opportunity but beware because the one time you think that you've had enough and you're going to fight back - they have a brilliant hand and knock you out.

Once on the final table - chances are that 6 or 7 players will be tight and there will be 3 or 4 players playing loose - generally the chip leaders.  Wait for the premium hand and hit them where it hurts.  Dont forget that pocket pairs have huge value in this situation - so if they are mid pockets like 8s or 9s - try and limp in with minimum bet and just call the BB if you can.   A low flop i.e. 267 would be perfect or a card that gives you trips is even better.  Get your chips in the pot and take that pot down. 

If you make it this far and you end up heads up - make sure you raise with reasonable hands and steal at every opportunity.  Don't fall into traps and fold when you know you are beaten.

I hope this is of some help to you poker players and it would be great if you could post your MTT strategies here too.

Best of luck!

Blueday