Hitting final table in a live poker tournament is always big thing. It not only gives you a sense of accomplishment but also puts you in contention for the big prizes. Knowing what to look for and what adjustments to make can make a huge difference at the final table. If you are set on taking 1st place, you cannot be passive. Sure, you will have to play aggressively and take some calculated risks to extend your stack to put pressure on your opponents. You should avoid heavy confrontations with big stacks and should look for short stacks or passive and tight players who will fold to most of your heavy bets.
Your game also depends on the number of players remaining in a hand. If there are two to three players left and you are last to act with a good hand, you should play aggressively. Here is how you should play Finable Table:
Early Phase of Final Table
As Big Stacks
Being big stack at the final table, many players think that their job is to control the table and create pressure at the short stacks even with mediocre hands, which is a wrong approach. Your best weapon is your stack, don’t throw it away on daredevil moves by taking unnecessary risks, else you will lose your stacks in no time. You should apply pressure on your opponents when you have a good hand.
As Average Stack
As the final table begins, you should simply play your cards as an average stack. One of the biggest mistakes most poker players make is that they try to set traps or bluff opponents out of the pot. With many opponents remaining in the hand means someone may have a very good hand. So keep patient and simply play your cards. Don’t get caught in battles with the chip leader or other aggressive big stacks.
If you are an average stack, have a tight image on the poker table. For example, you are the button and only small blind and big blind are left in the hand. Now you have 73 off suites. A lot of offline poker players think it is a good spot to bluff or put pressure on the players in blinds, but this is a mistake. You are pretty much underdog with this hand and if someone in the blinds calls, you are likely to lose your stack. So try to steal only when you have a good hand and avoid confrontations with trash hands. Having a right image is very important especially when you are an average stack or a short stack at the final table
As Short Stack
When you are a short stack with less than 10 Big Blinds, you cannot afford to wait for long to make a move. But it does not mean that you should go all-in with any cards. Wait for playable hands like Ax-, K-J, A-K and go directly all-in. There is a no point of calling or raising when you have just 10Big Blinds. The best way is to get your stacks in pre-flop and steal blinds from short stacks or tight players. Going all-in can get good hands (like pocket pairs) to fold and to take down the blinds. But remember, you should make such moves when everyone has folded to you. You need to be very careful if someone has made a big a big raise before you, call or raise back to him with a good hand only.
Here is how to play as a short-stack at the final table:
• Pay attention to calling ranges 78s can be better than A3o
• Make a move after considering how many players left in a hand
• Mind your image. If you have raised 2 times in a row, fold your A8o
• Attack mid and short stacks and avoid confronting with big stacks
• Attack passive and tight players in the blinds to steal their chips
• If your opponent’s raise looks like a steal, bet 4 to 5 times to re-steal
• Identify a few players who you will be able to steal or re-steal chips
• If you are a small stack, try to quickly double up or triple up
Middle Phase of Final Table
When you have reached the middle phase of the final table, you need to open up your game a bit, because there are only 4 to 5 players left in the game and if you have a good hand, your winning probability is always higher. Hands such as A-7 offsuit, which you often don’t play in nine-handed, become raiser when you play short-handed table. To take the edge on the finale table, you need to steal one set of blinds in almost every hand, because you cannot wait for pocket pairs or other tops at this stage. If you wait for very big holdings, the blinds & antes will eat out your stack and you will be short-stacked in no time.
Some offline players become very tight and passive at this point and are trying to move up the payout ladder. They don’t want to take the risk of busting out. Take advantage of such players and steal their blinds. Don’t wait for big hands. Your holdings such as A-10, A-J, A-Q, and A-K are monsters at this stage. A-9 down to A-5 are your quality cards, and you can even play A-4, A-3, and A-2 with a raise. Watch out who is trying to accumulate chips and then try to re-steal from such players. Avoid calling all-ins,because whenever your opponents go all-in, they are likely to have a monster to kill your hand.
Here is how to play in the middle stage
• As big stack steal the blinds from small stacks
• As a short stack, don’t confront with big stacks
• Identify the loose players and act against them
• Don’t call all-ins especially if they are big stacks
• Avoid being passive, as it won’t help you to go far
Final Phase of Final Table- Heads-Up
Heads-up is the most crucial stage at the final table and it will decide who will win or lose. While second place will also give you a good amount, 1st place will be receiving double of your amount. It is a point of the game where you should think of strategies to win. Yes, it is an accomplishment to make a final table, but it is more of an accomplishment to make your way into heads-up play.
The heads-up depends on relative stacks. If you have an edge over your opponent, be prepared to shove around him/her. Try to get your opponent all-in whenever you have a better holding or you simply try to steal blinds whenever the opportunity arises. A few things you should apply in heads-up:
• Being big stack, don’t let small stack dictate you
• Get your opponent all-in if you have a better hand
• Don’t wait for big hands to keep your stacks size up
• If you are a short-stack, move all-in again and again