Do last longer bets put you under more pressure?

Is there more ICM pressure when you are in the running to win a last longer bet in a tournament?

A student recently asked me about a last longer bet he was in, and whether it makes ICM more severe.

The short answer is yes, they do.

The bubble may have burst, but if just a few players in the bet remain, it means you have to play much tighter than everyone else, assuming, of course, the payout for the bet is significant relative to the main prize pool.

If it's just a 20 quid bet between friends, don't change how you play.

The good thing about last longer bets is that they are rake-free, so if you have an edge on the field, you are guaranteed a long-term profit.

Rake free, but extra pressure

There are also last longer bets that operators run, for example, for poker satellite winners, which are obviously no-brainers to compete in if they are free to enter.

The worst thing about last longer bets is when players not involved know you are in the running to win them. They can exploit you by pressuring you at the table, knowing you can't play as wide as everyone else.

I have previously been in the final two players in a last longer bet. I made a private deal with the other finalist to free us both up from the shackles of this extra ICM we were under.

Last longer bets are great if you have an edge or they are free to enter, but be warned, they do put you under extra pressure.

You can get Dara's free book on effective poker study by joining his mailing list.