Play Online Poker  

Poker Discussion Post

 
Sign in | Join
in
PlayersOnly
Easy credit card deposits
and soft games!
Sign Up Now!
Rakeback
Get cash back after
playing poker!
Sign up now!
PokerStars 
100% Deposit Bonus!
Largest Poker Site!
FullTilt Poker
Non-stop tournament
action all day long!
Sign Up Now!

Poker Discussion


Please help support pocketfives by using our links when choosing to download a new site!
Full Tilt · PokerStars · Ultimate Bet · Players Only · Bodog

   

I am AWFUL at final tables...
By Goodburger on 05-14-2008 12:50 AM

I am so bad at final tables.  Most of the tournanments I play are small (300 max ppl), so when I cash, I generally am able to make the final table.

I've made the final table as big stack, short stack, avg stack, but am just awful at these things...

 Any advice on how to be better at final tables?  Maybe just like general advice on how to play given short stack, CL, avg stack...

 

sadokjfkl;dsajfdsajf;asjhflosadjfldsjfl;
 

Also, about half the tournies I play are on UB so their small and the others are the 4.40 180's...

 
 
 

Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By doubledave22 on 05-14-2008 12:54 AM

u just gotta keep at it. Its hard to get FT practice cause well depending on ur FT % you really arent getting there enough to just work at it consistently. You can practice final tables by playing smaller tourns such as 45 mans 18 mans even 9 man sngs are good practice. Just get into your oponents heads and decide when to sit back and when to get crazy raising. Pay alot of attention and decide who you want to go after and who you want to play (example dont cbet a station, cbet a nit). Just focus, practice, win.

Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By durk86 on 05-14-2008 12:57 AM

here's a big hint

 

 

 

STACK SIZES


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By AFink93 on 05-14-2008 2:06 AM

When you get the answer PM me the secret.. I think Ive won 8 out of 130 Final Tables ive been at..  (180's I mean)


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By rivverkiller on 05-14-2008 2:25 AM

step 1: stop playing at UB


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By andressoprano on 05-14-2008 2:35 AM

I have what I believe is a good advice for you: Practice 9 man SnG's. Play a lot of them for a couple of months. I don't have hundreds of MTT's FT, but when I do make it there, I show a big % of top 3 finish positions, and I blame my SnG training for that.


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By Drawing Dead on 05-14-2008 2:48 AM

 

What doubledave and andressoprano said, although I would lean more toward the 45's since the stack sizes from the bubble forward will more closely resemble the chip distribution of a 300 player mtt..but agree with both that SNG practice will help. And run better, obviously.

On the bright side, you have to make final tables before you can stink at them. Good luck.


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By epicatc on 05-14-2008 3:33 AM

the best advice I can give is similar to SNG bubble strategy - if youre a big stack, dont mess with other big stacks without a hand unless theyre very tight and you can push them off hands; if you cant, then slow down fast. Concentrate on picking on middle stacks, not shorties. The middle stacks are often just hanging around looking for a double up or waiting for the shorties to bust so they can move up. Steal their blinds mercilessly. Those free chips go a long way.

Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By bk3686 on 05-14-2008 7:41 AM

 Play more 9 man SNG's to help yourself adapt and adjust to being short stacked and big stacked in different situations. This is one thing that has helped me tremendously. When I first started playing I only played 9 mans for the longest time. Then decided to take my shot at 4.40's and eventually MTT's on Stars and FTP. Usually everytime I hit a ft, I am able to get within the top 3. It really does help your game.


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By Popperhead on 05-14-2008 7:50 AM

i suggest the 45 man sngs they will give a good idea of diff stack sizes and how to play in each situation ( short stack-big-medium)


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By lordxixor101 on 05-14-2008 8:03 AM

I really like this advice.  SNG's (the 9's) aren't a perfect representation, but many times you'll get to a FT without the pressure to have to make a move right away, and pretty quickly the stack sizes can be varied.  It also shows you how to play differently as the blinds go up.  Plus, the benefit is everyone is like a FT, if you play the 45's, you won't make it everytime.

 The only other advice I would have is to play some HU SNG's as well.  Even if you do horrible in these, it'll give you a feel for how to play HU.  When you finally make it HU in a MTT, this can be valuable experience.  I played 20 some of these at one point, losing $50.  I thought it was a worthwhile investment when I took down my first MTT, and really felt much more comfortable HU than the other guy was.  I made an extra $250 for taking it down, so that alone made it worthwhile.

 


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By MALS6 on 05-14-2008 9:05 AM

 No matter how good you are, there is a LOT of luck at FT's and HUGE swings. I have 0 wins at the FT's listed at P5's (although I have many smaller wins) and also have a 4th and 2nd in 4/180's. You HAVE to run good. Try to avoid the marginal calls\weak pushes that will haunt you. I got busted in 4th of 10k WITH J9o shove on button as shorty and got called by big stack in BBw\ AJo-I had ~6BB left and pot was not opened yet. I thought it was likely to work, but later regretted it. He was calling almost anything there. I also spewed 100K in 2 hands vs. a nit who raised from EP. I had him covered 2.5x and I shoved JJ into his KK; I should have known better.The VERY NEXT HAND I shoved my last 20K with TT into his AA. GG me, but I should have folded the JJ. You have to be careful late and know your opponents. Think about what they will put you on, and what they might have. Obv, but easy to forget in the heat of battle.


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By Mephisto on 05-14-2008 9:37 AM

Variance is a huge bitch, but there are things to curtail it.  Maybe you should study how others do it.  If you are at a final table look up the peoples stats and study how the winning players are playing.  Look up the better players in the type of tourny you are playing and look them up when they are playing (for 4.40 180 SnGs I used to watch Xmachine888 to see what he would do in certain situations)  Also watch the final table of the 100r, most everyone is a good player so you can get an idea of what to do (though obv the stakes/level of players create a different environment) 


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By fratzner on 05-14-2008 9:42 AM

 Step 2: put your junk in the box!


Re:I am AWFUL at final tables... In reply to
By haleike on 05-14-2008 10:32 AM

I would begin mixing in some 9 man, 6 man and HU Turbos.  This will be the closest way to simulate reaching a MTT FT.  Finding a coach/mentor would be advisable.  Having someone who can accurately analyze your stats and your FT HHs should pay great dividends for you!

Best of Luck at the tables!

 
Return to Top
Page 1 of 2 (18 items) 1 2 Next >


P5's Member Blogs
Got Dealt Pocket Aces Six...
By ChuckNorr!s - added Nov 25 2008, 12:50 PM
0 for 6 Today
By lukaluka05 - added Nov 26 2008, 05:03 PM
Heart of a Gambler, Mind ...
By LloydTheGambler - added Nov 26 2008, 07:57 AM
 
This week's podcast features interviews with ESPN's World Series of Poker co-host Norman Chad and Top 10 Online Player Steve 'gboro780' Gross.

P5s Podcast, Nov 20, 2008
Thur, 20 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST
This week's podcast focuses on new UIGEA regulations that are scheduled to be enacted in January 2009.  John Pappas of the PPA and Jeff Sandman of the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative join us.

P5s Podcast, Nov 13, 2008
Thur, 13 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST
 
Little Wins!
2008-11-12 04:36:16
Both Jonathan's Double, Not Much Changes
2008-11-12 03:42:55
PocketFives.com Rankings
Rank PLB PRO
1. AJKHoosier1 1 1
2. moorman1 4 2
3. djk123 5 3
4. gboro780 3 4
5. shaundeeb 7 5
6. TheRealPokerccini 8 8
7. ender555 15 10
8. P0KERPR033 19 6
9. Stamdogg 10 13
10. breeth 6 21
P5s Sortable Rankings
Rank PLB
 1. ryanbluf 6129.44
 2. Mr_BigQueso 3618.82
 3. MAFinest22 1809.36
 4. Hazmat2001 1690.63
 5. cactusjak9 1356.22
 6. Fajzher 1275.64
 7. hustler2727 1067.22
 8. Raf1318 873.73
 9. spudd69 743.03
 10. dirtdogjd 540.52