Three way play? Can you make it that far?

[FinalTable]

How good is your tournament play Gobbers. I'm looking for some help in playing down to the final three people in a tournament game. So if anyone can add some strategy, I would like to hear about it.

As for me. I tend to keep playing tight when I make it to a final table. Still playing only good cards and trying to use my position to steal pots. If you can steal pots, this will help out tremendous. So even in a 3 way, I'm looking to steal what I can from my opponents, just to take that bit off of them.

At the same time I'm not afraid to fold away junk. No sense in calling with nothing and letting that add up to another 4 blinds you could of seen right?

As long as your Big stacked, this is ok. But what if your on the low end of a 3-way. Are you waiting for the two best cards before the blinds eat you up.

The thing is that I have seen people play this different ways. I have seen people pushing all-in with good cards when they get them, as well I have seen people almost blind out only to hit a run of cards and come back.

What makes the difference on a 3-way play. Should you loosen up your cards plays more. is it better to play :ah::9c: then or :ts::jd: when blinds are at 1,000 or if someone raises it 2,000.

How many people would prefer to let the other two people battle it out, so you can go heads up.

[l_b_rex]

How good is your tournament play Gobbers. I'm looking for some help in playing down to the final three people in a tournament game. So if anyone can add some strategy, I would like to hear about it.

As for me. I tend to keep playing tight when I make it to a final table. Still playing only good cards and trying to use my position to steal pots. If you can steal pots, this will help out tremendous. So even in a 3 way, I'm looking to steal what I can from my opponents, just to take that bit off of them.

At the same time I'm not afraid to fold away junk. No sense in calling with nothing and letting that add up to another 4 blinds you could of seen right?

As long as your Big stacked, this is ok. But what if your on the low end of a 3-way. Are you waiting for the two best cards before the blinds eat you up.

The thing is that I have seen people play this different ways. I have seen people pushing all-in with good cards when they get them, as well I have seen people almost blind out only to hit a run of cards and come back.

What makes the difference on a 3-way play. Should you loosen up your cards plays more. is it better to play :ah::9c: then or :ts::jd: when blinds are at 1,000 or if someone raises it 2,000.

How many people would prefer to let the other two people battle it out, so you can go heads up.



I say that if you are at the final 3 than alll 3 of you got there by stealing blinds. You must control that table. Some how you need them to respect your raises. I would fold the 10,J but I would see the flop with A,9. After the flop you need to make a steal attempt (not a small bet, but a 3/4 size pot bet no matter what the flop has. If he is weak it will be yours. If he is first to act and he min bets than I am calling and if he checks post turn than I am betting 3/4 pot to take it away. THe idea here is to not focus on a preflop steal. This deep you want more post flop steals. It will be easier to make em fold after the flop most of tthe time, just make em pay for another card!

10,J offsuit is not a hand you should call a raise to try to hit the flop. If you play your cards than you will lose. You need to play the situation.

I am not a pro but that is what I do.

[mannyfest]

I think it is the duty of the larger stacks to put pressure on the small stack. There are so many times, I've been playing where the medium stack keeps getting in the way or not raising the short stack they fold to the short stack or just limp on their blind. The worst offense I see is when they limp and the short stack dumps and they fold, that's madenes.

I say well time big button raises and less limping is key.

[Akorps]

Yeah, Manny is right, as usual :-)

There is a whole theory in that "Kill Everyone" book (that I like), about how at final table the big stacks should try to eliminate the small stacks, and avoid getting into collisions with other big stacks.

The main problem with that theory is often you get to final table with some big stacks who don't know the theory and get into collisions with you anyway :-)

[mannyfest]

Thanks Akorps. Haha, ever raise? and think "uh oh that guy was supposed to fold. Yikes..."

You're sitting there with like 10-8 off facing a call from a player who never raises and keeps folding to the shorter stacks and has two times as many chips as you...

[FinalTable]

Yeah, Manny is right, as usual :-)

There is a whole theory in that "Kill Everyone" book (that I like), about how at final table the big stacks should try to eliminate the small stacks, and avoid getting into collisions with other big stacks.

I like this theory, however when I'm coming in a final table and I'm the short stack. I tend to twist this theory around. I let the big stacks fight each other. As long as I can keep making ground each time the blinds go around. I will avoid the larger stacks and let them duke it out. By doing so this is a great way to pick up chips from the loser of the two, as this usually puts them on tilt.



The main problem with that theory is often you get to final table with some big stacks who don't know the theory and get into collisions with you anyway :-)

I have tired this and for the most part it doesn't work for me. I seem to always get caught. Is that because the villain has me figured out?

[PokerGob]

I have tired this and for the most part it doesn't work for me. I seem to always get caught. Is that because the villain has me figured out?

The reason why you get aggressive when you're at this point in the tournament is because your goal is no longer survival it's double up or triple up.

If a small stack was folding to me and the other larger stacks, I doubt I would tilt. I would use it as an opportunity to play my cards well and stronger against a small stack that had the tendency to fold. If the small stack raised, I would determine whether or not it would cripple my stack to play them for all of their chips. I'm not going to fear a small stack or allow a small stack to manipulate my play.

If you're the shortest stack at the table and the BB represent 10X to 15X of your stack, you have generally three options all in, fold, or check (when on BB). Now your best play is a raise against the SB and the BB only, for example you're better off going all in with pocket sevens on the button then coming over the top of a raise when on the Button with pocket sevens.

There is a statement that whoever gets chips into the pot first wins.

[FinalTable]

Thanks Gob, This is good information to use next time. This will really help and change my style of play.