Final table strategy

I am finding my self at more and more mtt final tables be it freerolls or micros or w/e. It seems I just cant ever finish the deal. I think maybe it is b/c i start playing extremly tight and get my blinds stolen alot. Any tips for you gurus out there that will help me seal the deal when it comes down to it. I know it is probably a 90% mental thing I have going but any help is appreciated

I think the main thing is not to be suspicious of every raise, and not to let your SB or button push you off your blind all the time. Playing good cards is fine, you don't need to bluff all the time, but if you want to win you can't go in thinking about the money increases, thinking, I'll fold this because we have 2 shorter stacks at the table, let them go out before I play.

It is at least as much about position and relative stack size as it is about cards. Watch the other players closely and try to determine who is playing scared and can be bullied.

Aim to win one pot for each round of blinds, if at all possible. This will ensure your stack is not depleted by the blinds/antes.

Don`t call. Aim to be first into the pot and open with a raise. If the pot has already been opened, stay out of it unless you feel strong enough to raise.

If the chipleader has you seriously out-chipped, don`t enter any pot against him without a very strong hand.

In most tournaments, the really big money goes to the top three spots. There is little to be gained by folding your way into 5th or 6th place, so be prepared to take a calculated risk to chip up (and settle for 9th or 10th if you get unlucky).

Egon knows FTs ^^

As do you, Rex, as do you.

Actually, one of my current projects is to write a piece for the learners` section entitled "Your First Final Table". It only exists in outline at present, but I will try to deliver this side of Xmas.

It would be so much easier if I didn`t have a life outside this place too.

I dont play a lot of times in FT, but if I had enought chips to play, i play many good hands.. but somethimes the bad hand is a good so you need to feel how play the other people, how many bluff or how many good hands their had... good luck

If I might piggy back off of Rex and Egon, you might want to check out Colin Moshman's Sit & Go Strategy as it is basically a 9 man S&Go strategy book which is very similar to a MTT Final table. It has an excellent section on high blind play and can really improve your blind steals as well as idetifying blind steals and when to resteal. The book has made me much more aggressive though i am working on not being too spewy at the same time.

deadhxc said:

I am finding my self at more and more mtt final tables be it freerolls or micros or w/e. It seems I just cant ever finish the deal.

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You can train for that playing turbo SNGs. Most of those have blinds going up fast enough so that you still have a significant amount of players when stack to blinds ratios falls to the levels encountered in final tables.

BelgoSuisse said:

You can train for that playing turbo SNGs. Most of those have blinds going up fast enough so that you still have a significant amount of players when stack to blinds ratios falls to the levels encountered in final tables.

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I have been getting in the 1v1 antonious sattelite freeroll since they run non stop I hit the final table on both the 360person and 180 person but best I have done so far is 3rd. Gotta be 1st on the 360 and 1 or 2nd on the 180. It is helping me alot though indeed. Thanks everyone or the advice so far. Keep it coming if you like I am like a sponge when it comes to things I havent heard before.

BelgoSuisse said:

You can train for that playing turbo SNGs.

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To some extent, yes. However, the distinctive thing about a final table in any reasonably large MTT, which you don`t get in any other environment, is the level of excitement, stress, and sheer tiredness.

The players will have been playing anything from four hours upwards to get to this point and, for some of them, this will be a new (or at least unfamiliar) experience.

Egon Towst said:

To some extent, yes. However, the distinctive thing about a final table in any reasonably large MTT, which you don`t get in any other environment, is the level of excitement, stress, and sheer tiredness.

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The you can train by going out, dancing and drinking till 5am and then you come back home and play a turno SNG...

BelgoSuisse said:

The you can train by going out, dancing and drinking till 5am and then you come back home and play a turno SNG...

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Lol. Good plan.

deadhxc said:

I am finding my self at more and more mtt final tables be it freerolls or micros or w/e. It seems I just cant ever finish the deal. I think maybe it is b/c i start playing extremly tight and get my blinds stolen alot. Any tips for you gurus out there that will help me seal the deal when it comes down to it. I know it is probably a 90% mental thing I have going but any help is appreciated

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I think that the issue here is to play all the medium range cards,that you'll normally fold and support them with great bets and not all in!!
At such levels where the blinds are big enough,you'll get to steal the pot 2 out of 3 times and double up your stack at no time!!!
Another thing is to change constantly gour gears so that the others can't figure out what you have!!!