Final Table Strategy – Play for the Win

In a lot of ways the final table of a tournament should be carefree and relaxed, you have already won lots of money and have a chance at winning even more, in reality that actually makes them very stressful. At the final table your poker decisions will all of a sudden have a new dimension to them, as you will be constantly facing a decision between playing for the win and hanging on to progress up the money ladder.

Usually every additional pay jump at the final table will be significantly more than the previous one, often doubling, so it’s understandable why there is a temptation to ladder. Often players will have decided a figure in their head that they want to win, a figure which they will hang onto dear life for until they get it.

But the reality is that the most money at the final table is in the top three pay spots, usually almost 50% of the prize pool is awarded to the last trio of players. It’s for this reason that playing for the win, or at least top three, is going to yield you the biggest return over time, even if it does mean an early exit now and then.

Thankfully most of the people you are playing against will have the hanging on for dear life mentality, which theoretically should mean final tables will be easier to play. The key skill at the final table is to put the players who are playing too cautiously under extreme pressure by bullying them relentlessly. Just like on the bubble you can pick up a lot of pots uncontested.

Conversely you will find yourself being put under a lot of pressure at the final table too. You need to distinguish between the times you are being bullied by a savvy experienced player and the times you are up against a real hand. When you are facing aggression from one of the wilder players you just need to be prepared to go with your gut when you think you are holding the best hand, as well as playing to trap with your big hands.

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