Trouble at final tables

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paperboy

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im new to playing poker, and have been playing low stake tournaments online. ive made the final table a few times, never being the chip leader going in. I struggle to know how to play at final tables and i only ever play the monster hands. When i get these big hands i min raise and it normally gets folded back round to me, i dont get enough chips from this and dont know how to change strategy? should you alter your game play?
 
Balyev

Balyev

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That's like if I is a small stack at the final table, I just put all of course with a good hand, almost always helps.
 
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lost2qandisa

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The final table is a different beast. You must be very aggressive. If you are short stacked, you push and pray with almost any A or K. Play suited connectors. Any pair. Any hand that has at least some potential is a player. If you flop a pair, even mid pair, push unless you know a certain player in the pot is really tight and has not bet yet. If you have a really big stack, bully the passive players on their blinds. If you have a big had like AQ suited, bet big and hope you get someone desperate in the pot. You have to use your position at the table very wisely. Thats how I play!. Not sure if it is right but I have had 2 freeroll 1st places this week and placed in money a few more times. I am still learning too. Good luck!
 
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kmichaels

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My tactic at a final table is quite simple, but at the table is not that easy to do. It´s:
-If you are short stack the only way to play is basically go all in with hands better than 10,10 or better than A10.
-If you have a medium stack only play suited connectors, any pair, hands like that but paying the minimum to see the flop. If you have a huge stack you can play a lot of hands, win a lot of pots but you have to be careful. You have to chose the right spots or you will lose your entire stack.
 
Arjonius

Arjonius

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One thing you can try is playing a bunch of STTs. They're not the same as an FT because everyone starts with the same stack. The payout structure is different too, but maybe not as different as you might initially think since MTT payouts are usually top-heavy. Also, if you play 9-or 10-man, there will be stack size difference once players start to bust, so that there will often be stack differentials to consider after a while, similar to what you have right from the start of an FT.
 
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DaleM

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If you have a large stack you should open up your range, and play rather aggresive post flop. In low buy-in MTT's newer players sit back hoping others players to bust out so they can move up in pay out, if you notice these players you need to exploit them.
 
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IvanShovski

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It's tough to gain practical experience in playing large field MTT final tables because you are simply not going to reach the FT that often.

I would focus on 45-man SNGs and experiment with different final table strategies until you get a feeling for what works.
 
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turtelliusshellius

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One thing you can try is playing a bunch of STTs. They're not the same as an FT because everyone starts with the same stack. The payout structure is different too, but maybe not as different as you might initially think since MTT payouts are usually top-heavy. Also, if you play 9-or 10-man, there will be stack size difference once players start to bust, so that there will often be stack differentials to consider after a while, similar to what you have right from the start of an FT.

I partially agree with this person. The first thing you should do is read strategy articles, like the one in the second thread comment. Once you understand the strategy and want to practice it (since making the FT of MTT's isn't something a person does "all of the time") then begin playing single table SnG's. This will allow you to practice adjustments as players drop out and comparatively to your own table stack. As said above, there is a slight difference between it and your average FT since stack sizes all start the same in STT's, but it's not enough of a difference to discourage the practice. Also, once you get good at that, you will have to learn how to continually adjust to less and less players (because to be successful at shorter handed you must up your aggression and expand your preflop hand range). To practice in this manner, practice with 6 handed SnG's and Heads Up SnG's. As well, read as many strategy articles as you can and watch some strategy videos on youtube (just search keywords: poker strategy). I'd recommend the wsop Academy videos, but anything by a pro is normally good. Also, find a video that fits your style. For example, if you are a tight player, watch Helmuth's videos, loose player, watch Gus Hansen's, etc. Find ones that fit your style, or how you prefer to play because you shouldn't change your own comfort levels in the beginning while still learning.
 
abzdolc

abzdolc

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may be u have to play HU sit and go, micro limit, or 6 max to feel how to play final table
 
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locha2013

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I try to avoid to get to the final table with the smallest stack, because then you have to win a all in or else you get soon knocked out. I often play aggressive at the final table and steal the blinds with good hands to let the opponents know that I'm playing and not waiting.
In contrast when I have a big stack I try to avoid many pots because I don't want to loose my money. I wait till some players get knocked out and till I get great hands and only them I playing. The question is you want to become first or is third-best also okay. So I'm not that aggressive with a big stack like with a small stack.
 
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