PLAYER STRATEGY by
PHIL HELLMUTH JR.
POKER: Final Table Strategy When playing tournament poker, knowing what style of play to use at different stages of the tournament could be the deciding factor between finishing first, or not. Here is some insight from World Champion, Phil Hellmuth, Jr. from his bestselling book, Phil Hellmuth’s Texas Hold ‘em. The Dynamics of the Final 18
Phil Hellmuth Jr. is a 13-time World Series of Poker Champion, leading all other poker players in the world. He is the author of two New York Times best sellers, and his latest book, “Deal Me In” is also widely popular. Visit PhilHellmuth.com to check out his latest blog, clothing line and exclusive poker tips and stories. This tip column is an excerpt from his Best Selling book “Phil Hellmuth’s Texas Hold’em” found on Amazon and in bookstores around the world.
“MOST TIME I WILL SIT BACK PATIENTLY AND “PICK-OFF” THE GO-FOR-IT TYPES OF PLAYERS.”
In a poker tournament, things change as players smell the money. Disintegration, fatigue and loss of effective play all hit about now. It’s like watching the final holes of a golf major where the pressure is on and the choking begins. If it is a multi-day tournament, many times, the goal is simply to make day two. Sometimes players are so desperate to make that second day, they will fold an absurd number of hands and you can really make a good number of blind steals to fortify your stack for the final table battle. So you do have to pay attention to making the final table, but be sure to watch for opportunities to steal some blinds along the way as the table goes from 18 players down to 10. If you do go out, make sure that you have a “Bad Beat” story to tell. Don’t just disintegrate. Your Choices at the Final Table At the final table, it is time to decide to go one way or the other. You can either take what the universe provides while playing patiently, or go for it and try to accumulate a ton of chips by stealing blinds while others are trying to move up a few spots. Most time I will sit back patiently and “pick-off” the go-for-it types of players. I am usually able to do this because usually everyone else seems to go crazy or disintegrate. But if everyone else is sitting back, then I’ll go for it, and pick up a lot of chips risk free. It is a fine line to walk and if I decide to go for it, then reading other players perfectly becomes essential. One bad read and I’m crippled or gone! Generally, when you reach the final three, a deal
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is made that involves some sort of re-distribution of money. For example, with the prizes set at $400,000 for first, $200,000 for second and $100,000 for third, I once turned down a deal when I had the chip lead. The deal would have locked up $250,000 for me at the Harrah’s Championship event in 1999. Whoops! I finished third after two bad beats (my Ad-Qd all-in vs. his Ah-6s for a $400,000 pot, followed closely by his K-J vs. my A-10 for over $400,000), and I left the table steaming and pissed off with “merely” $100,000. Recently, most major tours have outlawed future deals, perhaps because they want to see us players under extreme pressure! Of course, in other situations I have chosen not to make the deal and it worked out well. On one occasion, I ended up leaving with a all of the first place money and the coveted WSOP bracelet, my ninth! The Final Three, A Different Game: Reads Baby! The only way to get better at playing at a final table is through practice. Hold’em becomes a totally different game three-handed, and much more read dependent. If you expect or hope to win a no-limit tournament, then you better work on your short-handed game. It’s important to understand the changing dynamics and get accustomed to playing this way. These days you can improve your final table play proficiency and short-handed play by playing one-table satellites or sit-and-go’s, with ten players. Another useful tool are phone apps, including mine Phil Hellmuth’s Texas Hold’em. Phil Hellmuth’s Top 10 Hands in Hold ‘em
1. A-A 2. K-K 3 Q-Q 4. A-K 5. J-J 6. 10-10 7. 9-9 8. 8-8 9. A-Q 10. 7-7 G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |
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