How do you play when your at the final table bubble?

pcgnome

pcgnome

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 2, 2010
Total posts
2,054
Awards
1
Chips
9
Say your in an MTT with about 10 BBs, and there are 11 players left. Your goal is to get to the final table where the real money is. Which hands are you playing. What type of shoving ranges would you recommend?
 
Robert Krawczak

Robert Krawczak

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
May 7, 2015
Total posts
158
Chips
0
As for me the most important is not to get provoked. At some point, somebody let go nerves and the all-in game begins . And thus you have the ability to get to the final table. For me you should play only monster hand :)
 
pcgnome

pcgnome

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 2, 2010
Total posts
2,054
Awards
1
Chips
9
As for me the most important is not to get provoked. At some point, somebody let go nerves and the all-in game begins . And thus you have the ability to get to the final table. For me you should play only monster hand :)
Of course your going to play the monsters, but those hands rarely show up. It's 250-1 you'll get AA, so at some point you have to put your chips in the pot before the blinds and antes eat up your stack and destroy your fold equity. What types of hands do you play before you lose all your fold equity?
 
Last edited:
D

Doh123

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 12, 2015
Total posts
56
Chips
0
I think it depends of knowledge level of all opponents. Because books say something like (as far as I remember well): others are scary to bust on bubble, so they will play tight, so you must be more aggressive + steal blinds. But if opponents are on same knowledge lvl, they know you know, so they will play aggressive to or trap you.
Just imho.
 
PapaC

PapaC

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Total posts
2,798
Chips
0
Hi pcgnome. That is a really good question. I'm sure you will get a lot of replies on the question. I won a free ticket at Carbon to play in anything the the buy in was $215. I had my friend Kevin railing me. And everything he was telling me was working great. I had never played in anything like that. So needed his help. The min cash was $500 and man that would have set me up good. But the closer I got to the money the fewer good cards I got, but I had the chips to take me farther. And you know what Kevin told me? He said for me (to turtle in) In other words don't do anything until I got a good hand. Well I got nervose and thought I needed to double up to make the money, and hopefully on some more. If I had listened to him I would have made it, but I busted out with only 10 left. Sorry this is so long
 
H

hffjd2000

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 6, 2014
Total posts
2,329
Chips
0
With 10BB left, you are limited with moves. Try to wait for a very good hand and prepare now to go for it.
 
Z

zooboss

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 1, 2015
Total posts
15
Chips
0
i am trying to be more agressive, but it takes much bravery to continue pushing ur opponent when u suddenly realise that u are behind
 
Aces2w1n

Aces2w1n

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Total posts
5,781
Chips
0
When your at the final table, Concentrate on where the big stacks and small stacks are.

Look for stealing situations.

Don't get carried away OOP and use Position to the best of the advantage. And don't let the blinds eat your stack up.

Good cards or Good spots.. You can't wait for both. But we love both ofc.

if you can steal a bit it definetly takes the pressure off yourself
 
P

ph_il

...
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Total posts
10,128
Awards
1
Chips
25
Assuming we're in 11th place with 10BBs...

I play super aggressive and I'm open shoving, shoving in CO/BTN, and shoving ATC in blinds vs BTN/Blind vs Blind situation with a huge range of hands.

Honestly, I have nothing to worry about and all to gain, so I can apply pressure and force my opponents to have somewhat of a hand to call me with. If none of my opponents want to challenge me, I'm glad to pick up the blinds, dead money, and pad my stack.

And even if they do call, I'm usually not that bad off. Worst case scenario is they have an over pair to my hand, putting me at 10% chance to win. Pair vs pair is 20-80 and anything in between is roughly a 30-70 to 50-50. Even 27o vs AK has about a ~30% chance. And I'm not always the underdog in these situations.

If I win, I double up and put myself in better position to make FT. If I bust out...who cares? I'm already in last place, so I have nothing to lose. I think not taking risks here and letting yourself get blinded down waiting for a good hand is much worse.

Of course, this all depends on the dynamics of the table. If they're all playing tight, folding, limping a lot, then go for it. Jam it repeatedly and pick up all those monies. If they're active with a lot of raising, 3betting, shoving, then gap theory comes into play and we don't want to be shoving really weak hands against multiple players. At the same time, don't be afraid to get it in when you have a decent holding.
 
ribbybruno

ribbybruno

Skadoosh!!
Loyaler
Joined
Aug 12, 2009
Total posts
8,807
Awards
16
Chips
478
Assuming we're in 11th place with 10BBs...

I play super aggressive and I'm open shoving, shoving in CO/BTN, and shoving ATC in blinds vs BTN/Blind vs Blind situation with a huge range of hands.

Honestly, I have nothing to worry about and all to gain, so I can apply pressure and force my opponents to have somewhat of a hand to call me with. If none of my opponents want to challenge me, I'm glad to pick up the blinds, dead money, and pad my stack.

And even if they do call, I'm usually not that bad off. Worst case scenario is they have an over pair to my hand, putting me at 10% chance to win. Pair vs pair is 20-80 and anything in between is roughly a 30-70 to 50-50. Even 27o vs AK has about a ~30% chance. And I'm not always the underdog in these situations.

If I win, I double up and put myself in better position to make FT. If I bust out...who cares? I'm already in last place, so I have nothing to lose. I think not taking risks here and letting yourself get blinded down waiting for a good hand is much worse.

Of course, this all depends on the dynamics of the table. If they're all playing tight, folding, limping a lot, then go for it. Jam it repeatedly and pick up all those monies. If they're active with a lot of raising, 3betting, shoving, then gap theory comes into play and we don't want to be shoving really weak hands against multiple players. At the same time, don't be afraid to get it in when you have a decent holding.

Good answer! Most likely you are already ITM at this point! Final table is great but winning the tournament is another story. If you wait for a good hand for too long. The further from winning you will be and your chip stack will be close to nothing.
 
J

joe777

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
May 3, 2014
Total posts
2,694
Chips
0
I would play aggresively with hand like 66+,KQ+,Axs+.
 
N

NKGB13

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Jul 31, 2015
Total posts
1,225
Awards
6
Chips
14
Good answer! Most likely you are already ITM at this point! Final table is great but winning the tournament is another story. If you wait for a good hand for too long. The further from winning you will be and your chip stack will be close to nothing.

That's the point, considering you're already ITM then you should go for it. All or nothing. when your stack grows at a good amount then you can stop for a while and re-think your strategy.

I'm stoping for about 1-2 mins when I get to the final table to take an air, cup of coffee and study my opponents a bit.

That's a good way to start over again and change your mindset. I kinda discovered that when I enter into an strategy and it goes well for 3 - 4 hands I have difficulty to get out of it.
 
Top