Mistake #1: Playing Too Many Hands Out Of Position
This is one of the most expensive leaks in online tournaments.
When you play too many hands out of position:
- you guess more
- you face more barrels
- you realize less equity
- you get put in tough spots for your tournament life
Fix:
- tighten up in early position
- play more hands from cutoff/button
- avoid weak offsuit hands out of position (they get dominated)
If you want the full tournament foundation first, start with Online Poker Guide: Rules, Strategy & Tips. This article breaks down the most common MTT mistakes and gives you practical fixes you can apply immediately.
Mistake #2: Calling Preflop “Just To See A Flop”
MTTs create a trap: the blinds feel small early, so people call too much.
Common bad calls:
- weak suited aces vs raises out of position
- small suited kings
- dominated broadways
- small pairs without enough implied odds
Fix:
- call with hands that have a clear plan
- prefer 3-bet or fold lines in many spots
- avoid “curiosity calls” that create tough postflop decisions
If you want a pressure-pot refresher, revisit How To Play 3-Bet Pots Effectively.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Stack Size In Big Blinds
A tournament stack is not “30,000 chips.”
It’s 30 big blinds. Or 12 big blinds. Or 70 big blinds.
If you ignore stack depth, you’ll:
- take lines that commit you unintentionally
- miss profitable shove spots
- call all-ins too loose
- get blinded down
Fix:
- always think in big blinds
- know your “zone” (short/medium/deep)
- recognize when a raise commits your stack
If you need the fundamentals, revisit Importance Of Stack Sizes In Online Poker.
Mistake #4: Playing The Middle Stage Too Passively
This is the silent killer of ROI.
Players survive early, then they get scared, fold everything, and bleed blinds/antes until they’re forced into a desperate shove.
Fix:
- steal blinds and antes more in middle stage
- choose profitable shove spots before you’re desperate
- pressure tight players who don’t want to bust
For context on stage changes, revisit Tournament Stages Explained: Early, Middle & Late Game.
Mistake #5: Calling All-Ins Too Wide Near The Bubble
This is where many players torch their tournament.
They say:
- “I’m ahead.”
- “I’m priced in.”
- “I can’t fold this.”
But bubbles are about survival value.
Fix:
- tighten calls near the bubble
- shove wider when opponents are overfolding
- pay attention to who covers who
If you need the bubble framework, revisit How To Play The Bubble Phase In Poker Tournaments.
Mistake #6: Not Adjusting To Table Dynamics
Online MTT tables change fast:
- players bust
- new players sit down
- stacks shift
- aggression levels change
Many players keep using the same strategy for hours.
Fix:
- identify who is overfolding and steal more
- identify calling stations and value bet more
- avoid battling maniacs without strong hands
- take notes on showdowns
Even one note can save you chips later.
Mistake #7: Emotional Punting (Tilt, Fear, Ego)
MTTs are long. Variance is real. You will lose flips.
The two worst emotional modes:
- tilt mode: “I’m getting it back now.”
- fear mode: “I just want to min-cash.”
Both create bad decisions.
Fix:
- take a short break after a big beat
- slow down in high-pressure spots
- follow a simple pre-session plan (time stop, stop-loss, focus rules)
If you need the decision psychology lens, revisit The Psychology Of Online Poker Decision-Making.
Mistake #8: Overvaluing Min-Cashes
Min-cashing feels good emotionally, but it often doesn’t build real ROI.
A tournament player who always “ladder locks” can end up:
- cashing often
- but rarely building a stack to win
Fix:
- avoid low-quality ICM punts
- but still take profitable shove spots when fold equity is high
- focus on deep runs, not just “making the money”
This is the balance good players learn.
Quick Takeaways
- The biggest MTT leaks are positional mistakes, stack blindness, passive middle stages, and ICM punts
- Stop calling preflop “just to see a flop”
- Always think in big blinds and understand commitment
- Middle stage is where ROI is built—steal blinds/antes before desperation
- Tighten bubble calls and pressure overfolders
- Control tilt and fear with simple session rules and pauses
Mini FAQ
What’s The #1 MTT Mistake Beginners Make?
Ignoring stack size and playing too passively until they’re forced into desperate all-ins.
Should I Play Tighter In Tournaments Than Cash Games?
Often yes, especially early and out of position. But you still need aggression in the middle and late stages to avoid blinding out.
How Can I Improve Fast Without Studying Solvers?
Fix your biggest leaks first: stop curiosity calls, track stack depth, and avoid emotional punts near bubble and pay jumps.
Where To Go Next
You’ve now seen the most common mistakes that kill MTT ROI—and the practical fixes that stop you from bleeding chips across hundreds of tournaments.
If you want to reinforce this, the best next move is to upgrade how you think about hands: stop focusing on single holdings and start thinking in ranges. Range thinking makes every decision cleaner, especially in tough online pools.
Continue with Using Ranges Instead Of Hands In Poker Analysis.
