I recently squeezed into a final table of a tourny. Blinds where 5,000/1000 no antes

I had about 6,000 in chips with 9 ppl left. There was one other player with 2,000 chips.
Playing in this situation sucks ass. I got a few q's -

1) 9th pays $90 while 8th pays $120. The smaller stack than me was going to be hit with the blinds before me. Whats my pushing range here?

2) Now the blind have passed the other short stack (he's got $500) and I'm in the BB. Same playable hand range?

I felt extremely handicapped by the presence of the other shortie, $30 is a decent jump in payout (lil more than one buy-in). I wasnt getting any marginal hands so it wasnt a problem, but if I picked up AJs UTG or something when he's still in I'd but put in a tough place.

Personally, and a lot of pros think this way too, once they are at a final table, they are happy with the payouts, and are not looking to just move up one or two spots. They are looking for a top 3 finish. You can only doing this by building a stack, and quick. So what if you go out before the short stack. Hell, the CL could take out everybody else at the table and that short stack could squeak into second without ever winning a hand.

I'd play to win here, not to be an "also ran that ran better than one other guy at the final table".

I guess I was worried b/c my M was so freakin low that I didnt feel I was a final 3 contender.

Originally Posted by Fishodeath

I guess I was worried b/c my M was so freakin low that I didnt feel I was a final 3 contender.

Doesnt matter. You still have to play good poker. Go for the gold the only way you know how. If you get a good hand you have to play it. That folding a decent hand so another smaller stack can go out is for bitches.

Originally Posted by Fishodeath

1) 9th pays $90 while 8th pays $120. The smaller stack than me was going to be hit with the blinds before me. Whats my pushing range here?

AA,KK,QQ,JJ,AK that is is imo. were prettymuch toast w 1bb. just hope the other shorty loses.

Originally Posted by Fishodeath

2) Now the blind have passed the other short stack (he's got $500) and I'm in the BB. Same playable hand range?

27o+

if 90% of your stack is in there, youd be a fool to fold w/ anything.

2ndly i think the blinds in your post might be wrong, thus my responce might be wrong.

blinds 5,000 and 1,000? you have 6k stack?

oh, yea srry. Blinds were 500 1,000

Originally Posted by Fishodeath

oh, yea srry. Blinds were 500 1,000

Ha! I thought the blinds were 5k/10k and you had 6k.

You still have an M of 4, and could force a fold . . . . You'll pick up 25% of your stack just by getting the blinds.

I'd probably push any 2 cards when the BB was a medium stack I could really hurt . . . or was really tight. If you're UTG, I'd probably wait for 1/2 a hand . . . if I didn't pick one up and went into the BB, I'd reraise all in with any 2 cards that are unlikely to be dominated (say 85o). I'd even let everyone know you're all in on this hand before it gets dealt - tends to chase away the moron who would otherwise raise with 44 in the CO to win the blinds. And if you get something truly awful (like Q2) you can still fold and potentially push in the SB.

But you've got to face the facts: you need to double up here, not worry about moving up 1 place.