I agree with you small goals in the begining and then think about winning when your close to the final table
I feel I do better when not thinking about the win and just concentrate on playing well and winning pots

Shoot for the fkn stars!!!!!! or die trying

That is tough. If everyone is playing just to make the money, you can pick up a lot of extra chips before the final table. If anyone is playing pretty loose, it might be best to just hold out for the money. Of course, as with most things in poker, you need to be able to read the other people playing and adjust your play accordingly.

Play to win, always playing to win. The bubble is the best way to exploid the players that are just playing to make the money. Plus its no fun telling someone you cashed, lots of fun bragging that you won

I need a big bankroll to make my goal successive :)

I used to play to just cash...and I would make min cash usually...I have been working on playing for the win, when bubble time comes...I pick my spots, bc most ppl play tight during the bubble. I agree with whoever said reading the other players at your table..I feel that is key as well =)

i play to win the money comes with it

If u play very good.....money come!!!!

No doubt, mind state in every game should be to play for the win. Actually its very easy to spot which is playing for money and wich is playing for the first

Allways go for the money. If you paid for a tournament you need to try and get at least your buy-in back. If you do make it in the money, always try to win the tournament. Now if your just squeeked past the bubble because your short stacked then you tournament is probably going to end very soon. Just always put your best effort in every tournament to win it and you will do well.

I always play to win and dont accept less. To me getting that deep run and top 3, even a win, is just as good as the money. Nothing beats the feeling knowing you played good finished good and got reaffirmation that you still got the skill to beat the best.

I always play for the W but not with reckless abandon. I take each hand one at a time and carefully evaluate each individual situation I find myself. Always focusing on making the correct decision regardless of the results.

Earlier I put for myself the purposes stage by stage, but then I have understood that it not that. Now I play each time only on a victory. Only a victory and not to a step back)

I would say one should only play to win ...But it also depends on the prizepool structure a lot !!!

Matters alot and prizes but my opinion is that playing poker for money, so money money money

Always play to win but in this so many sharks its not an easy thing to do ,they will call almost anything with anything sometimes I wonder what they are thinking or do they have their eyes closed.

As is written in Bhagavad Gita whch i hav never read but recieved in email Work incessantly but dont be attached to the results same goes for poker u can lose what u make so we wont get affected by our losses if we are not attached to them instead we should focus to strive ahead so we dont get bothered abt past the present n future is what matters. Since this post turned out to be so philosophical i will also mention my fav. quote of all time 'What lies behind you and what lies ahead of you matters little when compared to what lies within you.'

Play for fun and for money!

It depends a lot on your cards and the table your at. If everyone else is tight and just trying to sit and make the money be more aggressive even if you aren't running well. If everyones being aggressive and your not running well maybe its best for you to try and just sit until you hit the money. But in the long run I think it's smarter to sit and wait till the money and then begin playing because at that point you've already got your money back so there shouldn't be a lot of weight on your shoulders. However there is a point where your stack is going to become to low and your going to dig yourself into a hold you can't get out of. I'd say the problem most players make is that when they do sit and aren't running well they don't play any hands. Normally when your that far in a tournament people are going to have a higher level of thinking and are going to be more aware of their surroundings. Hence they will see you've been sitting out a lot. Because of this if you push every now and then just to take the blinds you aren't likely to get called just make sure you're there aren't to many people left to make a move and hope no ones get anything worth calling.

Lol i like this reply -i play to win money come with it------poker is the game that you can play better, know more and outplay your opponent and still lose. brutal play like a pro for 99.99% of the tourney then your a a loses to k9

I trying to keep average stack game and do not make stupid moves.
When taken to the prizes - play only to win

Well i would haave to say are frist thing is to get itm and from there we do what we can to win sometimes you have to fold some big hands to get there but with the rite play it will come gl at the tables and hope you do well

Of course i'm playing to get itm first then i try and win the tournament. Money is great but winning the whole tournament feels better.

I always play to win if your in a completive game no matter what your playing you want to win