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GENERAL POKER STRATEGY - TOURNAMENTS
Back to Poker Tournaments - part I
Back to Poker Tournaments - part II
Final Table
If you are lucky enough to make it through the mind field that is tournament poker you will find yourself at the final table. There are few things more exciting in poker than competing at a final table. Generally there will be big money at stake, and tension will also be high. Different players have different goals at a final table. If your only intention is to win the tournament then you should play essentially the same as you would in a cash game, attempting to get full value from every possible scenario. Most people, myself included, are interested in making as much money as possible. The strategies for that goal are often lay somewhere in between trying to win the tournament and locking up a high finish.
Make no mistake about it, my goal is to win the tournament, and I am not afraid to take risks to do so. That said, sometimes discretion is the better part of valor and it is not worth it to risk a sizable chips stack against someone who can bust you when there are a number of short stacks still in play. If you have one of the largest stacks it is generally good policy to stay away from the other big stacks unless you have a very strong hand. Much like the bubble, you should keep the pressure on the medium stacks, as they have the most to lose. Some experts will suggest that you not pay attention to the payouts as it may impair your decision making ability. I like to know what the prize jumps are, not only for my information but so that I know when my opponents are likely to tighten up some. There is generally a large jump between 4th place money and 3rd place money. My goal is always to make it to the top three with enough chips to fight for a victory. Final table play can be very tricky, and a lot of fun. By this point you should have a pretty good line on your opponents and know who to attack and who to stay away from.
If you play really well, and are really lucky, you will reach heads up play, where you will have only one more person between you and winning the tournament. Heads up play is fast with a lot of action. The structure will in large part dictate how you will play. Often times either you or your opponent (or often both of you), will be so short stacked that it is essentially a pre flop game. You either move in or fold, or if your opponent moves in you call or fold. In these situations any ace becomes a powerful hand. Hands like KQ or KJ become likely favorites. Any pair is a big hand (although small pairs are dangerous because if called you will never be a big favorite, but can be a big underdog if your opponent happens to have a bigger pair). There is a lot of luck when this sort of situation occurs and your fate will often hinge on something like A6 versus a KJ for the title. This is the nature of tournament poker and the only thing you can do to protect yourself is try to have the chip lead when you get heads up, so that you can withstand a loss.
Heads up play will not always be as fast paced as what was just described. Sometimes, especially in the larger events, the structure will allow for some post flop play. Keep in mind, when playing heads up that even middle or bottom pair is often a big hand. Hand values go way down. Often times neither player will have a hand or a draw and the player who is aggressive will win the pot. Passive poker is never good poker and never is this truer than when playing heads up. Big draws should often be played aggressively, as often your opponent will not have enough of a hand to stand the heat. Get inside your opponents head and try to use his tendencies against him. Heads up poker is exciting, made that much more so by the chance to win a tournament. Play well and catch a card or two and you just may win the whole thing.
Final Thoughts
Tournament poker is too complex for me to cover every possibility. What I have tried to do is lay out a game plan that will hopefully help you understand tournament’s and the way the structure of them influences play. Keep in mind that luck plays a big part in winning any tournament and variance is high. It is possible to go a long time without winning or finishing in one of the top paying spots. When things are going poorly keep your head up and do your best to stay positive. It is very important to have a positive mental outlook. Throughout a tournament pay attention to the rising blinds, relative chip stacks, and the stage of a tournament you are in. If you can strike the proper balance between these key components you should do consistently well in tournament poker.