The cold hard truth is that there is is not any "one-size-fits-all" strategy for going for the win when at a last table in a multi-table tournament. It is, as always, a case of risk and reward.
If you have a look at any payout structure for a last table, you will see that almost all of the money is within the top three spots. Look closer and you may see the pay jump between third and primary is bigger than ninth to third.
That means after having reached the overall nine, your goal should now be to become a part of the conversation for those top three spots and play for real money. The chance of busting out in ninth to fourth need to be greater than compensated for by the days you end first to third.
I recently helped cover the large One for One Drop final table for PokerNews. Eventual winner Elton Tsang, who came to the overall table in second place, had an excessively clear means of going for the win from the very outset of the overall table.
Tsang chose to head toe-to-toe with the one bigger stack than him and it paid off handsomely. He took a large chip lead and not lost it inside the final table as ICM factors meant he was within the perfect spot to take chips from his opponents with little or no risk. He had taken an enormous risk when taking over the chip leader, and he could've left empty-handed if he had failed, however the reward was the win.
Be it a €1,000,000 buy-in or a $10 tournament, the similar principles apply. But you are not always going to seek out yourself within the enviable position of getting the chip lead on the final table, so let us take a look at the poker strategy you will be employing from a couple of different perspectives.
Final table strategy — as a large stack
What a beautiful position to be in. You are the chip leader (or as regards to it) and as such can put pressure on those less fortunate. If there is a clear short stack (or two), then this strengthens your position.
By now you've hopefully got some information on which players are playing to ladder or are "scared money" and which players are playing without fear. If not, then be observant. If playing live, hearken to the players. In case you are playing online, then once you've reached the general two tables it might pay to look at the opposite table and in addition use online tracking sites akin to Sharkscope (if allowed) to see if anyone is playing at a better buy-in level than and so they do.
As the large stack you'll be able to put pressure on everyone, however the players you would like to particularly target are those in the course of the pack because the risk/reward equation for them is skewed towards risk at this stage, and as such they are able to find themselves "handcuffed."
That's because busting out while there are three or four shorter stacks left costs them significantly, while doubling up doesn't double their equity within the tournament. Therefore, to risk busting they should be a large favorite. Getting it in for his or her tournament life as a "coin flip" at this stage is just about ICM suicide.
As always, have a plan and adapt as circumstances on the table change. For instance, the above example is sort of an excellent"" situation and it's unlikely that'll always be the case. Often the quick stacks may not even have an excessive amount of chips and be capable to do damage on your stack. Additionally, it's unlikely the opposite big stacks are only going to allow you to run over the table, nor that you will keep the chip lead throughout.
As play start to gets short-handed and the pay jumps get bigger, you should utilize your chip stack as a weapon to leverage opponents' stacks and cause them to play for all their chips while only risking a smaller section of yours.
When it involves deal-making then as a general rule, know that while an ICM chip chop is seen as "fair" it does favor the shorter stack, while a chip-chop deal will usually favor the larger stacks. See "Let's Make a Deal: 'Chip Chop' and 'ICM' Deals" for more.
Final table strategy — as a medium stack
As a medium stack who's playing for the win your goal is — obviously — to become a large stack! Now that we've stated the obvious, the important thing question is the way to go about it.
We're not picking on medium stacks the following article we promise, but you need to be. Attack those within the same "area code" as you because, as discussed above, they're also in a sticky spot.
The distance between a medium stack and a large stack will differ from final table to final table. Take note of the distance it's important to make up and what kind of you'll hurt those just above you — for example, players who're second or third out of nine when you are in fourth or fifth place.
Get in wrong and you will find yourself in short-stacked territory quicker than you'll be able to say check-raise bluff. But get it right and you may give yourself a super platform to succeed in the rostrum. Additionally it is important to maintain an eye fixed at the short stacks and which of them seem to be laddering and which can be shove-happy.
Final table strategy — as a brief stack
When short to start out a last table, it's a must to take risks to come again within the game. With little to lose you'll be able to feel comfortable about taking those risks, but you continue to must be smart about it.
Shoving light with 12 big blinds right into a stack of 100 big blinds is way from ideal, but pull the similar move on a stack of 15-30 big blinds and you will have way more fold equity as you'll be able to dent those stacks severely. Double through any of them and suddenly they'll be the fast stack not you.
But what about taking over your fellow short stacks? It's important to know the player — if they're timid and looking to ladder, then opt for it; but when they're such as you and looking to turn their short stacks into something more playable, then practice caution.
Final table strategy — Heads-up
If no deal has made, then heads-up is where the largest pay jump and most pressure can be. By now you will have a great read in your opponent and be capable to determine how best to approach the heads-up battle.
Getting heads-up in a tournament doesn't happen too often, so an effective way to practice for this scenario is to play some heads-up sit-and-gos. Having heads-up experience under your belt when reaching this stage of the MTT is a smart technique to increase your edge as you opt for the win.
Ready to sit on the table? Put these multi-table tournament tips into practice at 888poker room.
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