1554 MTT Final Table
Introduction
In this article
- How to master the various phases of the final table
- How your stack influences your play
- Your strategy when heads up
What are your goals at the final table? Are you set on taking 1st or was just making it to the final table a success in and of itself?
If your only goal is winning the tournament, you should play aggressively and take risks.
You may, on the other hand, not be as concerned with taking 1st place as with making it as far as possible, as each elimination results in a (often steep) increase in prize money. In this case, you should avoid heavy confrontations and wait for the other players to eliminate each other.
This article will help you find the golden middle between risk taking and risk avoidance. You can't play too passively, and you can't be overly aggressive, either. The way you play depends heavily on the number of opponents remaining and the respective stack sizes. You will often not be able to play the way you would like to simply because the conditions (or stack sizes) don't allow it.
And now it's time to learn how to play in the various phases of the final table.
The early phase, 9-7 players
As an average stack, you should simply play your cards in the early phase of the final table. One of the biggest mistakes players make is trying to pull off a tricky move. Setting traps and/or trying to bluff opponents out of the pot is simply not appropriate play.
With so many opponents remaining the danger of one of them having a very good hand is simply too high. The important thing is to keep patient and play your cards. As far as chip distribution goes, you are in the middle of the pack and have nothing to worry about at the moment.
Don't get caught in any battles with the chip leader or other aggressive big stacks - it's simply too dangerous. Your goal should be to play against the short stacks and other mid stacks and to put them under pressure.
Here is a perfect example hand in which a lot of players would tend to make a wrong decision:
You are on the BU with 16 BBs. Everyone folds to you. You look at your cards and see 73o. The SB and BB are both short stacked with less than 8 BBs.
What do you do?
A lot of players think this is a good spot to push and take down the blinds, but this is a mistake.
Start by asking yourself which hands would call. You're pretty much an underdog against any single one. Now, a lot of people say it's important to put the short stacks under pressure. This certainly isn't wrong, but the key word is 'selective' aggression.
Put pressure on the short stacks when you have a good hand. You want to be the one picking the situations you play in and do not want to allow yourself to be forced into any tough spots.
If you were to try stealing and got called, you will usually lose with your trash hand. Not only that, but you won't get any respect for your raises in the future. And that's the worst thing that can happen to you: Losing a large portion of your chips and being short stacked yourself while giving yourself the image of a maniac. With all this in mind, folding is the only correct decision in this example hand.
Don't start taking any big risks until a few short stacks have busted out and you're in the top 4 or 5. When you're an average stack (ca. 15 BB), having a tight image is very important. Otherwise your opponents won't take your raises seriously and will frequently force you to make an all-in decision.
Wait for a good hand and attack the short and mid stacks. If you have a big stack behind you and know he likes to resteal, you may want to go directly all-in instead of making a standard raise when you have an Ax or pocket pair hand. Getting re-raised would only force you to make a difficult decision.
Being a big stack at the final table isn't as easy as it sounds. A lot of players think it's their job to control the action at the table and eliminate the short stacks from play. Controlling the table, however, means creating pressure with mediocre hands. And this is the wrong approach to take. Your best weapon is your stack - don't throw it away on a daredevil move. Once again, the key word is 'selective' aggression.
Don't take any unnecessary risks. You decide when you play and you play when you have a good hand. The last thing you want is to give up your chip lead and double up a short stack on one poorly played hand.
Stacks&Stats
UTG+1 15 BB
UTG+2 13BB
MP1 21 BB
MP2 23 BB
MP3 15 BB
CO 19 BB
BU 30 BB (Hero)
SB 12 BB
BB 25 BB
Pre-flop: Hero is Button with A
, Q
UTG raises to 4 BB, Hero???
What should you do?
UTG raised with a big stack in the BB, a sign of a lot of strength. You will hardly be able to generate any fold equity by pushing. You're usually slightly favored to win with AQo, but you will end up in a lot of coin tosses when you push against a pocket pair. All in all, your opponent's range is too strong and your chances of winning the pot too small.
You fold, hard as it may be. Remember, you decide when to play and you put your opponent under pressure when you do.
Now let's see what happens when we make a small change to our example hand:
Stacks&Stats
UTG+1 15 BB
UTG+2 13BB
MP1 21 BB
MP2 23 BB
MP3 15 BB
BU 30 BB (Hero)
SB 12 BB
BB 9 BB
Pre-flop: Hero is Button with A, Q
MP3 raises to 3 BB, Hero???
The situation is similar, but some decisive factors have been changed. This time the raise is from MP3 and only 3 BBs, and the player in the BB is a short stack. This raise will often prove to be a blind steal. You are well ahead against his range and can also generate a decent amount of fold equity. And since his raise was small, he won't be getting very good odds to call, either. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to generate a good amount of fold equity when your re-raise is at least five times that of your opponent's raise.
Resteals, or re-raises (usually all-in) with a medium strong hand like A5s, for example, are an option when ...
- ...your opponent's raise looks like a steal
- ...your opponent's stack at the start of the hand was app. 5-7 the size of his raise
- ...your stack is clearly larger than your opponent's
- ...your hand has halfway decent chances against his calling range, meaning you won't be dominated all too often (for example: AQ+, A2s+, 45s-KQs, 22+ against a JJ+, AQs+, AKo calling range).
Having a big stack is important. It's your insurance against getting busted by a monster. Needless to say, you shouldn't get too carried away with your resteals, but they are a very effective weapon for winning tournaments and intimidating opponents.
You are a short stack when you have less than 10 Big Blinds. You can't afford to wait too long before you make a move. You do need to act and your goal should be to steal the blinds at least once each round. Of course, this doesn't mean you should make the mistake of pushing with any two; the rounds in the early phase are long enough for you to wait for the right spot to make a move.
Wait for good, playable hands like medium strong Ax hands and KQ/KJ. When you pick up a playable hand, you should go directly all-in. There is no point in playing around with 3 BB raises. Putting 1/3 of your stack in before the flop commits you to the hand, so you're best off putting it all in.
Going all-in is often enough to get better hands (like pocket pairs) to fold and to take down the blinds. If you do get called, you're usually in a coin flip or a (small) underdog. It should also be said that you should generally only make such a move when everyone has folded to you. You have to be more careful once someone has limped in in front of you and need a very good hand if a raise was made in front of you.
Here is a list of the important aspects to keep in mind in the early phase of the final table. As a big or mid stack you should raise/resteal; as a short stack you should push all-in.
- Your cards - Pay attention to calling ranges. 78s is usually better than A3o, since it is less likely to be dominated.
- Your position - How many players behind you could have a monster?
- Your image - If you just raised two hands in a row, folding A8o should be obvious.
- The blinds' stack sizes - Attack mid stacks and short stacks; they are the ones you can hurt.
- The blinds' playing style - Try to attack passive/tight opponents.
Note: Always pay attention to these aspects no matter how big or small the stacks may be.
How to play with 4-6 players (short-handed)
As an average stack with max. 5 opponents remaining it's time to start thinking about playing to win. A single mistake, however, can quickly lead to elimination. The most important aspect to pay attention to as an average stack is: your position.
Your goal when playing a hand is having position on the short stacks. You want to pit yourself against the short stacks and avoid confrontations with bigger stacks. The short stacks can't knock you out of the tournament, the bigger stacks can.
Take a look at this example:
The table is 5 handed. The blinds are at 500/1000, the ante at 100. You are in the SB with 28k in chips with A30. The chip leader is in the BB with 74k in chips. Everyone folds to you.
This would be an easy raise in a normal cash game, but this isn't a cash game, it's the final table. You can't just make standard moves; you need to think strategically. Let's take a look at your options:
- Raise: This would be risky. You won't know where you stand with your hand (unless you see something like AA3 on the flop). You won't know what to do if you hit an ace, bet and get raised all-in. It's a textbook way ahead / way behind situation. If you don't hit perfectly and the BB is a good player, you're putting your chips at risk.
- Fold: Folding is the easiest way to avoid confrontation, but to be honest, it's a weak move. You have a playable hand; such a weak move is not exactly a sign of skill.
- Limp: Which leaves limping. Limping is often underestimated. But the fact of the matter is you have a hand that is too weak to raise the chip leader, but also too strong to fold. So you limp in. This keeps you in the hand and you can see what happens. If you hit the flop well, you bet. Otherwise you wait and see what the Big Blind does and either call (according to pot odds) or fold.
You would, of course, play this hand very differently if the BB only had 8k in chips.
There would be no question about it. You put him all-in. If he doesn't fold and doesn't have aces, you will only be slightly favored to lose if you're not favored to win with your ace.
Once again: When you are an average stack with 4-6 players remaining in the tournament, you play cautiously against big stacks and aggressively against short stacks.
Not much changes for the big stacks. You don't need to take any big risks, since the blinds aren't too significant in relation to your stack size. Right now the others are under pressure and trying to make something happen with less than ideal moves. Time is in your favor and you decide when and whom you put under pressure.
Do not call any all-ins with marginal hands. Don't expect anyone to be going all-in with 72o, either. When it comes to all-ins you make the move and force your opponent to decide. You should also try to avoid playing for big pots. Taking down small pots is a great way to eat away at your opponents' stacks. Big pots can cost you your chip lead and give your opponents breathing room.
Take a look at this example:
The game is 4 handed. The blinds are at 500/1000, the antes are at 100. You are the chip leader with 52k in chips and are in the BB. The BU goes all-in for 11k. The SB folds and you look down at T8s.
The biggest mistake you can make is calling this all-in. The BU might be trying to steal with a marginal hand, but your hand isn't very strong and you will probably be the underdog if you do call. You're not looking to double him up; fold and wait for a better hand before you take aim at your opponent.
You should, however, call such an all-in with a good hand like AJo or 88, even when you're not in the BB. These +EV situations help you increase your chip lead even further.
You should also resteal in the right situations. For example, you can occasionally re-raise an average or short stack with a marginal hand, assuming you can generate fold equity (5-7 times the amount of the original raise).
If you notice everyone giving you respect (which they should) you should not underestimate the power of your raises. Some opponents will fold anything but QQ+, AK to the chip leader.
When you are short stacked, you can take advantage of the average and big stacks' strategy. They are waiting to pick up a good hand and put the pressure on you. If you don't act now, the blinds will eat you up. It's time to start playing more aggressively. After all, what do you really have to lose?
You're barely surviving and there is no way to win the tournament without doing something. Waiting for the others to eliminate each other won't help you much. You'd have to double up 10 times in a row just to catch up to the chip leader once you're heads up, which is pretty unlikely. Your focus should be on stealing the blinds while your opponents are waiting to pick up a good hand.
The game is 4 handed, the blinds at 500/1000 and antes at 100. You have 13k in chips and are first to act with QTs. What do you do?
There is really no question about it. You push. There are really only two possible outcomes:
Either everyone folds and you win the blinds (2k in chips). If you manage to do this a few more times you'll be back in good shape.
Or you get called. You'll be in a coin flip situation if your opponent shows a small pocket pair, which is fine. You're low on chips and have to look for these situations.
Of course, you could have bad luck and run into a monster hand like AA/KK/QQ and you're as good as gone. In any other case, however, you are only a slight underdog or, with a bit of luck, even slightly favored to win. All in all, pushing is the correct move.
Look for the right opponent to attack. The other short stacks profit when you get called. You're best off attacking them. If you're the only short stack, attack the average stacks. You're better off doubling up against an average stack than a big stack, since an average stack will then be a short stack, putting him that much closer to elimination and you that much closer to outlasting one more player.
Don't wait too long for a good hand. You have to act if you want to win. You never when you'll pick up the next big hand, but you do know that your fold equity decreases every time you fold a hand. After all, if your stack gets so small that your opponents can basically call with any two, you might as well stop playing altogether.
How to play with 3 players (3 handed)
Why do we have a section on 3 handed play? Unlike short handed play, you are always in the action once there are only 3 players remaining. Either you are on of the blinds or you are on the button. There's no time for sitting back now.
When you're an average stack, your goal is seeing the short stack eliminated, assuming there is one.
This doesn't mean you should fall asleep, fold every hand and wait for the big stack to take him out. You should, however, try to avoid confrontations with the big stack and don't play for big pots with a short stack at the table.
Put the pressure on the short stack and remember our key word: 'selective' aggression.
You are on the BU with K9o. The short stack is in the SB, the big stack in the BB. As always, start by going through your options.
- Fold: You don't want to play against the big stack, but as we said: You don't want to fall asleep or play weak, either. And in this case, folding would be too weak.
- Raise: From an objective standpoint this would probably be the best option, since you will often be ahead with your hand. But you're going to run into a problem if the big stack decides to play along. After raising pre-flop you will be forced to play for a large pot, which is exactly what you are trying to avoid.
- Limp: And you're back to limping. You stay active and have position. You can look at the flop and see what happens. If you miss and the BB bets, you can easily lay down your hand. If he checks to you, you can bet roughly half the pot and see if is enough to win. If the BB stays in the hand and you haven't improved, you should hit the brakes on the turn.
You have to be careful when limping against an aggressive big stack. He is likely see your limp from the BU as a sign of weakness and could raise with trash. In such a situation in would be better to raise and try either keep the pot small on the flop or take it down directly.
If were to make a switch and put a small stack in the BB and a big stack in the SB, everything changes.
Raising to put the BB under pressure would be an absolute must. And if the SB stays in the hand and the BB folds, you still have position. If the SB checks, you can bet to find out where you stand with your hand. If he calls again, slow down and see if you can take your mediocre hand to the showdown cheaply.
Remember, this phase is all about chips and position. When facing a short stack, you need to use both to your advantage. You should also go directly all-in with Ax hands and pairs when your stack is between 10-14 BBs. You don't want a big stack forcing you to fold.
With only two opponents remaining your focus should be on keeping your big stack. Having the chip lead is a major advantage when you reach the heads up phase. It allows you to put your opponent all-in and win at any time.
You should also note that the payout structure often increases dramatically after 3rd place. Your opponents will often do the exact opposite of what they should do - they start thinking about making it heads up and winning the tournament and start playing much too passively. You can take advantage of this as a big stack by playing aggressively and taking down the pots they aren't willing to play for. Just be careful when an opponent tries claiming the pot with a large bet, especially if it's coming from an average stack. He would rather wait for the small stack to be eliminated than take any risks trying to get a few chips off the chip leader; if he is challenging you, he probably has a hand.
There is only one thing to do at this point as a short stack. Play very aggressively .The average stack will often be waiting for you to be eliminated and the big stack is looking to maintain his lead. Neither of them have any reason to call an all-in with a marginal hand. You can take advantage of this by picking up the pace and pushing with very marginal hands. After all, you don't really have anything to lose and the blinds will eat you up if you wait too long for a good hand. And this is exactly what your opponents would like to see happen. At this point in the tournament, the two biggest stacks usually team up against the short stack (you).
This is why you have to play so aggressively. And remember, never call an all-in (unless, of course, you have a monster). You are the one who puts the others under pressure and force them to decide if they want to call an all-in with a marginal hand.
Heads up
You're heads up and just one opponent away from a big victory. You don't want to make any mistakes and up end taking 2nd. There are two important factors to pay attention to when you are heads up. The first and most important being your opponent, the second being chip distribution. Let's take a closer look at these two factors and see how to get the most out of both.
When you're heads up you only have one opponent. Understanding how he perceives your actions, what he thinks they mean and how he reacts is a major advantage. The key is getting inside his head.
This is the most important psychological aspect in heads up play: You have to understand your opponent and know how to use this information against him.
If, for example, your opponent is too aggressive, you should slow down and wait for the right spot to get him caught in a big pot. If, on the other hand, he is too passive and folds a lot of hands before the flop, you should pick up the pace and put him under pressure. Let him know you're not going to let him wait to hit the flop before playing for the pot.
Analyzing the game objectively is very important when you are heads up. It's also the hardest part. Sometimes you will have to recognize the fact that your opponent is better than you.
Of course, this doesn't mean you should simply give up. Use this information to your advantage. If, for example, you are better than your opponent and can outplay him after the flop, you should try to get him involved in as many small pots as possible. Winning these small pots will add up. Playing small ball takes time, but it's also safer.
Try to avoid major confrontations and to eat away at your opponents stack until you have app. 10 times as many chips as he does the blinds start eating away at it for you. Now you can start putting him all-in pre-flop and hoping the right cards come if he calls. And if he doesn't call, the blinds will keep eating away at his stack and he will have to start calling with weaker and weaker hands.
You should do the exact opposite when facing an opponent who can outplay you. Trying to beat a good opponent like Phil Helmuth by playing small ball is a good way to lose all your chips. Play big bet poker. Push at every chance you get. Phil once said he would never call an all-in with queens, and that's how he will play against you, too. You go all-in, he says he has queens but is going to wait for a better hand. Then you show 76o and tell him to keep waiting.
Let's take the example to the extreme. Your mom is going to play heads up with Phil Ivey for a million dollars. Both players will start with 10,000 in chips. The problem is, your mom doesn't know anything about poker; but she's a good spirit and is up for challenge. So how can you help her prepare to play heads up against Phil Ivey?
You might tell her:
- "Mom, play your draws straightforwardly, he likes to bluff."
or
- "Try to steal his blinds when you can tell he doesn't have a good hand."
or maybe
- "Try to take advantage of your position after the flop. Throw in an occasional check/raise when you are OOP to find out where you stand."
But your mom will probably shrug her shoulders and say, "OK, dear..."
The only strategy you can teach her is big bet poker taken to the max. Your instructions should sound something like:
- "Mom, any time you don't have a 2 or a 3, you go all-in. Do this every single hand."
This gives your a chance, albeit small, to beat Phil Ivey. Going all-in pre-flop means your opponent's post-flop skills no longer matter. Now it's up to Phil Ivey to call with the right hand
When you have a big chip lead, you can usually just play your cards and try to get inside your opponent's head. Once you get a feel for how he is playing you can adjust your game accordingly.
If you are behind in chips, there are a few things to pay attention to: How far behind are you and how high are the blinds? These two factors influence how you play. Take a look at the last two examples.
You have 130k in chips, your opponent 300k. The blinds are at 2000/4000, the antes are 500. You are on the BU with A3o. A good hand for heads up. What should you do?
Raise! Unlike our example for short-handed play, you can now play according to ChipEV. If you're in the SB and your contibet gets called, you can check the turn and often take your ace high hand to the river. A3o has good pre-flop equity, but it isn't very playable. This is why you should usually raise with such a hand. You're happy to see your opponent fold. You could even go all-in based purely on equity, but the blinds are too small at this point to make it worth your while.
You've got a feeling that your opponent can outplay you. Once again, you have 130 in chips, your opponent 300k. He raises to 16k and you look down at ATo. What should you do?
The decisive factor is the fact that he seems to be a better player. Your only real choice is going all-in and telling him it's up to him. AA is the only hand that has you hopelessly behind. There's even a good chance you could beat a hand like KK.
Your opponent will often fold to your all-in and you win 16k chips. He will often fold better hands like small pocket pairs, especially when he feels he is better than you, too.
Conclusion
This article has shown you the need for a final table strategy and why you can't play the way you do in a cash game or in the early phase of a tournament. Read this article carefully, then re-read it until you have understand all the concepts we have discussed. You're not playing for peanuts; there is a lot of money to be won at the final table.
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