Don't Blow It at the End

TomKat1958

TomKat1958

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Many good poker players never finish 1st or in the top tourney money. Two things seem to happen. One, they get anxious and play hands they shouldn't, hoping for a good flop, because the blinds are high and other players have much larger chip stacks. After playing a skillful game they turn to donks on the final table. Remember to be patient. Secondly, they become easy to read and try to bluff other skilled players when you're better off having some good cards to play at this point. When you go out 6th thru 10th on final table, take a good look at the big mistake you must have made, and remember not to do it again the next time. I watch the first 3 or 4 hands on final table without getting in deep, mostly folding. I always observe 2 or 3 players that want to speed things up and usually make mistakes. Don't be one of them for sure.
 
almanik

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In any tournament on stage of 2-3 tables luck play very important role. Skills here can't help. Stacks almost equall and game depends from all-in spots, that can change everything in one moment.
 
rock0001

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In any tournament on stage of 2-3 tables luck play very important role. Skills here can't help. Stacks almost equall and game depends from all-in spots, that can change everything in one moment.

I agree with you however some players do make some mistakes at the endgame like shoving all in with a weak preflop hand on a bad position like k10 or kj utg with more than 10bb.... some players tend to feel desperate when they have a low chipstack even if all the remaining players have almost the same chipstack so its very important to be patient and play with good hands especially when you are in good position otherwise its would be much better to just shove all in with a strong hand like ak,aq,aj,kq or any pair of medium or high pair. ( when your stack is lower than 20bb)
 
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almanik

almanik

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I agree with you however some players do make some mistakes at the endgame like shoving all in with a weak preflop hand on a bad position like k10 or kj utg with more than 10bb.... some players tend to feel desperate when they have a low chipstack even if all the remaining players have almost the same chipstack so its very important to be patient and play with good hands especially when you are in good position otherwise its would be much better to just shove all in with a strong hand like ak,aq,aj,kq or any pair of medium or high pair. ( when your stack is lower than 20bb)

I think that midle or low pairs and hands like K10, KJ, JQ and so on in the end of tournament is very good to bluff or trying to steal the blinds. Those players, who have too much fear, will fold when they see all in from early position. It can help to collect good stack. In late stages of tournament you can lose with AA against any garbage hand. So, more hands you play with middle or weak hands, more chances to take high place you have.
 
10058765

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I think that midle or low pairs and hands like K10, KJ, JQ and so on in the end of tournament is very good to bluff or trying to steal the blinds. Those players, who have too much fear, will fold when they see all in from early position. It can help to collect good stack. In late stages of tournament you can lose with AA against any garbage hand. So, more hands you play with middle or weak hands, more chances to take high place you have.

Hope the bolded is a joke...in ANY stage you can lose against a garbage hand and just playing more weak hands isn't gonna take you anywhere but the rail UNLESS you know your opponents.
That's what it's about....knowing your opponents and so finding out how to play against them (and with what hands).
Further...take good care of stacksizes.

Finally, anyone saying there's no more skill involved when reaching the final 2-3 tables is clueless.
With 2-3 tables left you can observe any opponent and learn about their tendencies.
ICM comes in play and the closer to the FT, the more it becomes a mental game.
 
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