How to play the final stages of a tournament with a short stack?

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Rgregor

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How to play the final stages of a tournament with a short stack?

In general very tight game although my doubts about that. It seems to me that certain hands worth risking not to be eaten by the blinds.

But since I came on a FT with about 4,500 chips and blinds at 400/800 and having a lot of patience I could go on increasing until get to have 100,000 chips.
It was like a satellite where it won tickets, I ended up among the winners and the second largest stack.

But generally I end up being eaten by the blinds until they have to give a shot in the dark and generally being eliminated.

How you play in these conditions?
 
dnegsisabadreg

dnegsisabadreg

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Limit your preflop decisions when short-stacked. Bet/folding before the flop is no longer an option so we should basically be looking to go all in or fold. Use your best judgement regarding how many players are left to act behind you and how many have limped/raised in front of you.
 
ribaric

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How to play the final stages of a tournament with a short stack?

In general very tight game although my doubts about that. It seems to me that certain hands worth risking not to be eaten by the blinds.

But since I came on a FT with about 4,500 chips and blinds at 400/800 and having a lot of patience I could go on increasing until get to have 100,000 chips.
It was like a satellite where it won tickets, I ended up among the winners and the second largest stack.

But generally I end up being eaten by the blinds until they have to give a shot in the dark and generally being eliminated.

How you play in these conditions?
Wait for a good card and a good position thats the only way. If you are in good position and everybody folds you can steal some blinds and with a good hand you can get easy double up
 
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joe777

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Shove with 66+KQ+A10+,when you are already under 10 bb in the FT with less than 9 players.You need to atleast steal the blinds and antes as it were already big enough.Sometimes you really need to take the risk and avoid being bubbled.
 
drapichrust

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well, you need to steal blinds aggressively in right moments, dont let yourself below 10BB, if so go all -ins, because later your stack is less meaningful and you can be called easly
 
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John Allen

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I would say still look for at least 99+, but Joe's response is pretty good. Also the first guy to respond was right on. You're looking for fold or go all-in, and you'll want to do it quick before the blinds eat you alive.
 
eidikos

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hi!
shove with decent hands and try to shove-bluff with position in some situations
you should aim in top places and dont wait to cash only in 1 better place
 
ribbybruno

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Agree with the answers here to push All-in with 10BB or less. You are going to have to risk going for it with K-x or A-x in Late Position if somebody hasn't pushed already(as long as the Blinds are not Super Stacks acting after you). There will be others that will be short stacked as well. Put them to the test and try to make them fold not the other way around.
 
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ph_il

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-If possible, try not to let your stack dwindle down to 10BBs. I say 'if possible' because there will be times where you lose a hand and your stack is down to 10BBs or less. However, you should never let it dwindle down by the blinds or antes.

-steal and resteal blinds more often. If the blinds are tight, constantly attack them. If the button is raising it a lot, resteal with a raise or a shove. 20-30BB stacks are perfect sizes for making plays like this.

-You don't have to wait for 10BBs to shove decent hands. Shove 15, 20, or even 25BBs with decent hands to pick up large pots uncontested. I love doing this against a lot of limpers or min raise with a lot of callers. I do this with 1010+, AK, or sometimes just air if my opponents are very passive. With blinds, antes, and all that dead money, you can increase your stack by 20%+

-Dont be afraid to take flips in the mid-late to late stages in the tournament. I dont mind taking 60-40s either because while you will lose and bust out before the money a lot, you'll also end up at the final stages with a much larger stack.
 
milka1605

milka1605

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I look forward to a good map and push in Allin. If there is no card but steal the BB a position allows you a chance to use.
 
arborest

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looking for 10-10+ or AQ AK then push all in :)
 
rastapapolos

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when you're short stacked you have to push or fold and depending on your position on the table, for exemple in UTG+1,2,3 you push with 99+, in MP1,2,3 you push with 77+,TJs and in late position 22+, 86s, 56s, Ax
 
dj11

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Get, read, re-read, and understand everything in Harrington on Holdem Vol 1 and 2. Some will say this info is dated. DO NOT FALL FOR THAT ! The info in those 2 books will outlast those who nay say it.

And BTW, he calls the situations described in the OP as inflection points.

One of the points he makes is that without monsters (AA,KK) you probably don't want to get involved in a pot with 5 limpers. Rather, he suggests you want opportunities where you can be the first better. He calls it First in Vigorish.

The books describe a way to evaluate your situation, and offers ample examples for how to react to your predicament..
 
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Ivanlmp93

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I Agree with you

I have to say one thing. in these stage and when we are shortstack somthing is true, while few chips more agressive.

you must attack the second shortstack person is my tactic, i become very agressive and attack the other shorstacks.

great post.


see you in the game :) :jd4: :jd4:
 
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leandr0s

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at the later stages pay jumps arent really big (unless we are talking for the final table) so scared poker is not the answer. you should be ready to take your chances and even move all your chips in the middle for flips. (aka calling an all in with KQo or with a small pocket pair..) because at that point what you really care about is to bring a decent stack to the final table so you can chase those top 3 places holding the big money. after all you are short... whats the worst thing that can happen? you are already in danger. the ones who are more afraid are those who HAVE chips to lose..
 
Elmanchy

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you needstatistic on your opp
just learn steal bb vs tight players
play agressive and smart
just play agressive
 
EA2USN

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Patience is the most thing, 1st determine if it is possible to cash without playing a hand i.e. how close to the money. Then try to steal or shove with a wider range if you are in late position and you know your opponents tendeincies. If not you still need to be patient and wait for the right oppertunity to get your stack in for instance if yiur deakt KJs utg you short and your sure you getting several callers with your shove your better folding if you fet suited connecters like 78, 89, 9T and your late possition and folded sround and have to rocks on the blind then shove. Situation should dictate your shove in most casses not the strenght of your hole cards.

Harring is a great read as dj11 points out.

Just remember there are only a few hands in a tournament that by winning the hand will win you the tournament, but every hand your in as a short stack can potentslly end the tournament!
 
Karozi615

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fold
fold
fold
fold
fold
fold
fold
fold
Watch big stack implode and jump up pay ladder
fold
fold
fold
get your money in 82/18 against someone
fold
fold
rinse and repeat until there are 3-4 players remaining and you have 30+ big blinds, then start opening buttons with min raises and expand your range significantly

collect everyone's chips
 
skiptomyloot

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if its not turbo, i would say fold early positions, shove when you are on bigblind and force opponent to fold when you are on the button or cutoff. if bigstacks are limping preflop, shove more against them, since they might be playing weaker hands. if you get trapped or coolered, really nothing you can do about it except try to get it in
 
makisaa

makisaa

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In these contitions play carefuly, studing the psycology and the maths of the game and attack when you decide!
 
Olgert1992

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If you play tight and for you a cards, does not go in the late stage, try to steal blainds . If players at the table know that you call on a map gives advantage to you. But when for you on hand 3-6 blaind, to wait a good hand and give all in. Even with A 2, A 3.
 
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