Hi all,

I'm starting to lose my confidence in Final Table plays as I seem to get knocked out earlier than I should. One such example was going from Chip Leader (approx 200,000 chips, blinds 10/20K) on final table of 9, to finishing 7th in about 3 hands!

I tend to play final tables quite aggressively (generally stacks are below 10x BB), and will shove any pair, Ax, K-10+, QJs, and most suited connectors. My calling range is significantly higher than that...A-10+, 77+.

The trouble is when i get called, I am almost always dominated (my A-5 against AK for example). Is this just bad luck or am I being overly aggresive? Is there anything i can read / study to improve this area of my game?

Any help appreciated!

Originally Posted by colinbradley7

Hi all,

I'm starting to lose my confidence in Final Table plays as I seem to get knocked out earlier than I should. One such example was going from Chip Leader (approx 200,000 chips, blinds 10/20K) on final table of 9, to finishing 7th in about 3 hands!

I tend to play final tables quite aggressively (generally stacks are below 10x BB), and will shove any pair, Ax, K-10+, QJs, and most suited connectors. My calling range is significantly higher than that...A-10+, 77+.

The trouble is when i get called, I am almost always dominated (my A-5 against AK for example). Is this just bad luck or am I being overly aggresive? Is there anything i can read / study to improve this area of my game?

Any help appreciated!

A-5 is not a tier one hand. How you got to the final table is surprising.

Just wait for a monster..AA KK AK QQ JJ. Simple.

You can try and steal blinds with baby pairs but you should lay them down facing pressure from a bigger stack. other players will realize you're totally spewing and rape you.

Personally, the only time I go mental and bet/raise high on the final table is when there is only me and one or two others left and I have the largest stack. It seems to work for me as they are afraid to call me as it would hit their stack hard. Sometimes however it doesn't work.

A static shove/fold range at <10bb is generally a bad idea. At the higher end (8bb+) your range should still be tighter, especially Out Of Position. As your stack becomes smaller is when you can open up your range.

I would probably shove most Kxs before I'd shove suited connectors. You're at least going to have one live card against medium pocket pairs and you block KK&AK. Ax is okay to shove with as a blind steal. You're likely dominated when called, but against tighter player you have more fold equity since you block AA,Ax hands which a large part of their calling range will be.

Generally I don't start ramping up the aggression until I'm about 4-5 handed, where people are starting to tighten up to make the next pay spot because the money is becoming very important to them.

Originally Posted by KnightofNarg

A

Generally I don't start ramping up the aggression until I'm about 4-5 handed, where people are starting to tighten up to make the next pay spot because the money is becoming very important to them.

+1

At a full table your shouldn't be in a great hurry to get it all in especially from EP1 thru MP2. Shorter stacks are more desperate and have to but if chip leader or in the top 3 then you should have time to pick your spots - more so from position. At 10BB or less howerver you are pot committed with a standard bet so pushing does add fold equity except vs a shorter stack looking to dbl up with any half decent hand. Once half the table is gone, you can then open up your starting hands but you still have to pick your spots and let the other remaining players do their share of the work to eliminate another shorty..

Originally Posted by TehBearJew

A-5 is not a tier one hand. How you got to the final table is surprising.

Just wait for a monster..AA KK AK QQ JJ. Simple.

You can try and steal blinds with baby pairs but you should lay them down facing pressure from a bigger stack. other players will realize you're totally spewing and rape you.

I got to the final table because my stack is deeper, and I obviously dont shove A-5 at this stage. I'm curious as to how many 1st places you have got by sitting and waiting for a monster....My experience tends to be that by the time I've waited for a monster I dont have enough chips left to make it worthwhile!

My original question really is whether I'm being overly aggressive. I cant sit and wait for JJ+ cos I usually have less than 10BB. What range should I generally be pushing here? Surely you would be pushing A-5 with >5BB???

That is so brutal, keep your head up!