MTT (the later stage) & up to the Final Table

August 04 2008, Robert Jan Hoogendoorn

By now we have passed the bubble and are focusing on the Final Table. Please notice how I say Final Table and not the next step in the payout so we win a couple of extra $$. In bigger MTT's the bubble usually bursts with about 225 players left, so we still have quite a way ahead of us before we reach the final table. The later stage of an MTT can be divided up into 3 sub-phases. This is phase 1: the moment after the bubble until we pass another two payout levels (usually until about 118 players are left). Phase 2: The moment after the second payout level up until the shortstacked tables (36 players left). And Phase 3: the moment until we reach the final table. All these phases require a different tactic.

Phase 1

This phase is all about stack-conservation. If you are still a shortstack at this time, then stick to the tactics described in MTT (middle stage). The only difference is that I will now open-shove a lot quicker. With an M between 11 and 15, hands like suited connectors (67+), pocket pairs (66+), KJ+ and AT+ are all good enough to push with in an unopened pot. The blinds are getting bigger and you can easily steal yourself out of the dangerzone if no one behind you ends wakes up with a hand (this is obviously where the luck factor comes in to play a little). Note: I'm talking about the big MTT's here where the differences in stack sizes are large. In smaller MTTs stacks will be very close together, so I would wait with shoving until my M has reached about 8. This is because everybody is in the same situation and everybody has to make a move. Resteals won't work here either, as a raise from an average stack will usually imply that the player has a hand.

But with an average stack, focus on stack-conservation. In this phase you go from loose back to LDP (Lock Down Poker, as Esfandiari once nicely put it). This is for the simple reason that all the category 2 players now see this tournament as a freeroll as they are now in the money and will go all-in with every crap the get. This isn't really that bad, but you do always run the risk that after you raise, a shorty pushes it all in and for the sake of odds you have to call, only to see that your is dominated by his .

In this phase I open-raise with QQ+ and AK in early position and JJ just goes into the muck (I might play them every now and then but most of the time I just come to the conclusion that I should've just folded those dirty Jacks). I will raise 99+ and AQ+ from middle position and 99+, KQ and AK from late position. Suited Connectors are very â€"EV here and are automatically mucked. Just don't do any crazy things until all those category 2 players with a small stack are gone and we can play normal poker again. Calling all-in for tourney life is done with QQ+ and AK, against shorties with 88+ and AQ+. You can build up a nice stack by busting shorties without getting yourself into trouble.

Defending your blinds also becomes a NO GO during this phase. Use this time to build up a tight image again. It might come in hand in a later stage when you're card dead and the blinds are getting high.

Phase 2

The moment after the first two moneybubbles until you reach the final 36. In this phase you will usually see many average stacks and very little big stacks or shorties at your table. Depending on your M and the aggression factor at your table you might have the chance to make a couple of plays here. I will usually still just sit patiently and wait for good hands during this phase. Many players become very aggressive during this phase which is absolutely not necessary. During this phase you can go to the tourney lobby for the first time to check what average stack is needed to reach the final table (it really makes no sense to check this any time before this phase, as that would definitely make you a category 2 player). If you're already sitting on the average stack needed for the final table, then good for you. Just don't do anything anymore except pushing with your premium hands against a couple of shortstacks. And watch out for the average stacks in this phase. They might not be able to bust you, but they can still hurt you. A good player will make use of this without you really being able to do anything about it. And why would you? You can basically take a nap and wake up at the final table.

Once you've calculated the average stack needed fort he final table, take a look at your own stack. If it's less than half the average you need, then it's time to get active. When you're sitting on half the stack, all you need is one double up. You can, therefore, comfortably keep on playing small pots until you get a monster. And don't be scared that your premium hands won't get paid off because of your tight image. There will always be a NIT around somewhere trying a re-steal or defending his blinds.

Something you can start thinking about in this phase is blind defense. You have build up a tight image again and can therefore get away with a re-steal every now and then. But don't do this more than once every 5 times. The players at your table will be paying attention to you and start adjusting their play accordingly.

You should also be careful with blind attacks during this phase. Don't try and make the standard button steal. The blinds are becoming more important for everyone and players will defend harder against steal attempts from the button than they will from the cut-off or hijack. Just forget about the fact you're on the button and just fold your marginal hand. Then again, you can raise AA a little more on the button as they will see it as a steal attempt anyway. Once you've found a NIT on the BB who 3-bets your raise with AA but doesn't commit himself, then go for the call rather than pushing it all-in before the flop. If the BB is re-stealing he will fold his hand straight away and if he actually has a hand all the chips will probably end up in the middle anyway. But with a call you might get another bet out of the restealer on the flop. If the flop shows a dry board and he checks towards you, there is nothing wrong with letting him see a free card for once and giving him the chance to bet on the turn. During this phase it's all about picking up one big pot every now and then, and not just the blinds. If the flop shows at least 1 facecard, always bet out. If there is a chance that your opponent actually managed to pair the crap hand he was playing, then don't give him the chance to hit a free two pair on the turn. The good thing about these situations is that the NIT will often think his top pair is the nuts, which might often lead to a check-raise all-in following your bet on the flop. With anything other than AA you should just shove after a 3-bet from the BB. I couldn't care less about all the "weak is strong and strong is weak" stories. "There it is! Fold or Call!!" If he folds you can just fire out another button raise in the next round and he won't even think twice about trying to re-steal again. And if he does, just fold your hand, you're beat.

Phase 3

Certainly not the least important phase. This is the phase "on the road to the final table". This is also the phase in which, for the first time, you won't be playing full ring anymore but against 6-7 other players. This is the phase in which you really start paying attention to your opponent. These are some of the players you might end up at the final table with, so you start making notes about everything they do. If it's possible you also open up the other tables of the MTT and start watching the other players.

What hands do they raise? Which players are loose and aren't afraid to push with marginal hands? Another thing that is fun to watch: a player with 157.431 raises to 17.431, to end up on exactly 140k. Try to find out what hand this player has or if he folds to a 3-bet. This are all tells that can help you at the final table. Also pay attention to the standard raises of players. If they always raise to 3BB, the a steal with Any2 might be possible if he suddenly only raises to 2,5BB. How often to people steal from the button? Who defends their BB? Who is complaining in the Chat for getting a bad beat (Tiltfactor)?

It's all these little things, of which there are too many to list them all here, that are important at a final table. And since you will always come across new players in the last 36, it's worth noting these things down.

But OK, the hands. I myself play them very tight, but then again also very aggressive. I'm the kind of player who might push all-in 10 times during this phase. Yes, you might bust out before the final table, but this is the phase in which you determine your position at the final table. And I'd rather go to the final table with a big stack than as a shorty. If I et busted so be it, but if not I have increased my chances of winning. I will often push here with an Open ended straight draw or a flush draw. On a draw you say? Yes, on a draw. And especially on a combi-draw. So why now? Purely because you have so much fold equity here as everybody wants to reach the final table and are willing to lay down hands.

This is also the time where you tend to play aggressive, unless you already have the average stack needed fort he final table. Going all-in from the big blind with 66 after a raise from the button is something you see all the time. You don't have to do it, after all it's your decision. I consciously make the decision that I want to sit at the final table with a healthy stack, and since I don't get the best hands all the time I'm forced to do it with less. Marginal raises, shoving top pair, shoving draws…all with the goal to play for the win. In my eyes far too many hands get folded here and it would be a waste not to make use of this. And if you do get called, at least make sure you have outs. Don't start calling draws on paired boards for example.

With this I end my trilogy about MTTs. I hope you guys could learn something and as requested I will be discussing the Final Table in a separate article next week. But we've made it to where we wanted to be, the Final Table, where anything can happen.

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