This strategy is designed for big buy-in (over $100), crowded tournaments (more than few hundred players). It is applicable for No Limit Holdem only. It's a tight, calculated method that our Poker team pros have employed with great success. 

The strategy is designed for experienced players or pro only. Beginners should use this strategy with cautions. Also, do not use this strategy in non-serious, smaller buy-in tournaments as the benefits of this strategy will be minimal.

Experienced players can use this strategy because it is not a complete A-to-Z strategy. They can complement this strategy with good experience such as player reading, stack size control, bluffing techniques etc. in order to make money.

1. Raise BIG (5-10 times of Big Blind) with AA, KK, QQ

When you hold these pocket pairs you raise about 5 times the value of the big blinds if you were the first to come in.
If there are already players come in on front of you, you raise more than 5 times. The more players came in, the bigger your raise will be, up to 10 times.

For example, the value of the big blind is $10 and you were the first to come in, you raise to $50.
However, if there were already 4 callers on front of you, you may raise to $100.

What would you do if you raised as the above and someone re-raised or went All-in on you? Well, as mentioned before, this is where experience comes to play. Players reading is very important in these very stricky situations. However, it is suggested that you don't call a big re-raise or an all-in unless you hold AA or KK (see section 5 below).

Some may ask why you should not call with QQ, but only with AA or KK. What's the difference?
The reason is the percentage play. There are a great number of players out there who will go all-in with AK. You don't want a coin toss (about 50% chance of winning) with your whole stack by calling with QQ. However, if you hold KK or AA you have at least 2 to 1 advantage over the AK hand.

Furthermore, if you are holding AA or KK and someone have raised on front of you, you do a big re-raise which is 3 times or more than the amount of that raise. For example, the big blind is $10, someone raised it to $30, you re-raise it to at least $90.

2. Raise STANDARD (3-4 times Big Blind) with AK, AQ, AJs, JJ-99

When you hold these cards you raise 3 times the value of the big blinds if you were the first to come in.
If there are already players come in on front, you raise 4 times.

For example, the value of the big blind is $10 and you were the first to come in, you raise to $30. However, if there were already 2 callers on front of you, you may raise to $40.

You don't want to raise more than those. The reason is to protect yourself from better hands. Such hands can re-raise or go all-in on you forcing you to fold your hand. When you got big re-raise or big all-in, you should fold. If you decide to fold, you would only lose that much.

For example, you have raised to $30 and another player re-raised you with $120. You should fold with these hands.
If someone also went all-in with $150, you should also fold.

This call/fold decisions also depend on your ability on player reading and your stack size. If you have a deep stack (such as you have over $500) you may call the all-in raise of $150.

3. CALL standard raises with AK, AQ, AJs, QQ-TT. AVOID go All-in with AK, QQ

If you hold these cards and there was a standard raise on front of you, you call. You may fold these if it was a big raise.

If you were holding AK or QQ, do not go all-in. It's a bad strategy to go all-in with these hands. The reason is that if your opponent calls with weaker hands, you provide them the opportunity to see all 5 cards - draw for free.

If your opponent calls with a better hand, the odds stack against you even you are going to see all 5 cards. In either case, it's not advantageous to re-raise all-in with AK or QQ pre-flop.

4. LIMP in with small pairs, AJo, ATs, Axs

If you are holding these cards, you just flat call (limp) regardless of number of players that have called on front of you.

For example, if the big blind is $10 and there are already 2 callers on front of you. You flat call $10 with AJ, A5 suited, 77.
If there is a raise (standard or big), you don't want to call with these hands.

5. Only call BIG ALL-IN with AA, KK. Only calls AK 4 times BB Max.

If there is a big all-in on front of you, you don't call unless you are holding AA or KK. You don't call a big all-in with AK or QQ.

A big all-in is an all-in raise with a value of 5 times or more of the big blind.

For example, if the big blind is $10 and someone went all-in with $300, you only call this if you are holding AA or KK.

If you are holding AK, you should only call to a raise of the maximum 4 times of the big blind. You don't call a big all-in with AK even they are suited.

6. Avoid playing with Chip Leader or Last hand winner

There are 2 players you should always watch for at your table: chip leader and the last hand winner.
These are very dangeous one to play against. They can really hurt you.

Beside the odds, there are factors such as luck and streaking in this game. When a player is streaking, he can win every hand with any 2 cards. At some point, a player can have luck against all odds. Although this seem to be unscientific, you have seen this before and it happens a lot in a tournament.

Therefore, it is adviseable you don't want to play against the chip leader or the last hand winner unless you have premimum hands.

If these players are in the hand, you don't bet unless you have made a big hand. You don't bet on a draw and you don't want to bluff them.

7. Plays more hands on early rounds

It is adviseable to play more hands on early rounds when the big blinds are at small stakes.
For example, if the big blind is $2 and you have $500 stack, you may want to flat call with J9 suited, 78 suited, pocket 6's, etc. The hope is that you flop the nut and double your stack size.

Remember that only when you flop the nut, these hands are valuable. Otherwise, do not invest more chips into the pot.

For example, if you play J9 suited and you flop top pair, you may just want to check through check through. If someone bets, you should fold your hand. You don't lose anything other than your initial investment of $10 if you fold.

8. Protect your chips - NEVER RISK ALL CHIPS, unless you have MADE a big hand

It is adviseable to protect your chips at all times.

You don't bet for your marginal draws. Marginal draws are non-nut flush (such as Q high flush draw), gut shot straight or under pair draws.

Furthermore, You don't call for these draws either if someone bets.

If you have a big draw and someone goes all-in, you don't want to call it either. For example, if you have a nut flush draw, and someone makes a big all-in which is about the size of your stack, you should fold. You only calls this if you have already made your nut flush.

You never risk all your chips unless you have made a big hand.

Remember you don't have to call an all-in, you always have option to fold. This is to protect your chips at all times.

9. Control your emotion

It usually happens that players go on tilt after losing a big portion of their stacks. Few hands later, you see these players are gone for good from the tournament.

The reasons being these players do not know how to control their emotions. If someone cannot control the emotion, they cannot control their stack.

Just play your game and stick to the game plan even you lose a big chunk of your stack.

10. Survivor is Winner

In a big tournament, surviability is a very important factor. In fact, a tournament winner is the last survivor of the game.

You should always think of being survival to get into the money list, being survival to get to the final table, being survival to get into the last 3, etc. As long as you have chips, you are still in the game and you give yourself a chance to win.

The longer you survive the better chance you have to be the winner of the tournment.