Hi all,

I need some advice! I think I have a very specific leak in my game, which is mid-pocket pairs (6-10's). I'm fine playing these super short (less than 5BB's = Shove), and usually with more than 30BB's I'm set mining. My specific problem seems to come towards the end of tournaments where I need to keep stealing blinds to stay ahead and I have between 10 and 15 BB's. I'll explain my approach and then perhaps someone can tell me why I am being a stupid donk?

If I have between 10 and 15 BB's - I probably make a 2.5 x raise and fold to a re-shove (9's and 10's I'd probably call)

If I have between 5 and 10BB - I just shove. Problem is, if I get called I'm usually crushed.

I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing here....sure I'm picking up chips when people fold, but always eventually get busted with this strategy...I know most strategies are situation dependent, but does anyone have any specific advice as to playing mid-pocket pairs towards the end of tournaments (specifically with 5-15 BB remaining)?

As a default, I don't think you can go terribly wrong shoving any pocket pair with <10bbs. You're not always crushed when called, but flipping.

10-15: It depends.

It'd be better to see specific situations as I, or anyone else, can describe certain thought processes we use and why.

EP: Limp

MP: Limp. No raisers from EP maybe raise, MAYBE. Depends on what LP looks like they're gonna do.

LP: Raise. Button always raise.


Sound good or too generic?

Nope that's a pretty good guide. Obviously as always in poker, it's situational but it's a good start point. I saw a really good video on cardrunners actually which has given me a good appraoch to this. Very unconventional, but seems to work...
He was saying in many cases, rather than shoving with 10BB or less, do a 2.5x raise. They need to shove back on you pretty wide (I think breakeven was they need to re-shove top 40% of hands) to make it unprofitable for you. If you do get shoved back, in most cases you should fold...

That would have solved every situation where I get snapped off and broke trying to steal blinds with marginal hands. It's quite important that you only do this against experienced SNG players who will either shove or fold your min raise.

I saw that same guide, was good!

With 10-15 big blinds you should be shoving these hands from late position and folding them in early position with the exception of 99 and TT if you are closer to 15 bbs. Also keep in mind when the blinds are increasing and adjust accordingly. Aka if the blind is going to hit you soon your 10 bbs may soon become 5 so you may want to get your chips in with a pair now because you may not find something better.