Freeroll Tournament Strategy - The Final Table
by Bodog Poker | Mar 16 2011
If you've been reading our series on playing in freeroll tournament online, this is the final part, where we talk about the final table and how you can approach it. First of all, if you've made it to the final table, you may well have made some money already! Congratulations! However, let's face it - you want the top spot and how do you get to it? By playing well.
Smaller Stacks Are Your Friends
Sure, you're probably among them, but smaller-stacked players that make it to the final table in any kind of tournament are going to know that they need to start winning pots or they're kicked to the side either by ever-growing blinds or another player just betting them out entirely. If you see a small-stacker that's been typically less aggressive go all-in, you're going to need to look at the situation with a bit more care than normal. It's likely they have a middling to high pair with a kicker and they may feel weak enough that you can force them to shed some chips. Just make sure you know who you're playing against!
The Chip Leader Is Not Your Friend
They're chip leader. They have more chips than the rest. Unless you're really, really confident in your hand, you want to be very careful about calling them out. If they get a chunk of their stack knocked out, it hurts them a lot less than it will hurt you. Focus on your peers and those below you in the running and try to build your stack up to be a legitimate threat against the leader.
Steal Blinds When You Can
If you're on the button or near it and you're you get the chance to be the first to call the big blind, make sure you raise most of the time if you're going in. Those next to you may have weak hands and pushing them out can allow you to add chips to your stack without much of a risk. Of course, if you get called out, try to represent on the flop if possible. Just don't lose too many chips to the others.
Be Aggressive and Keep Your Game Face On
The only way you'll be able to get other players' money is to take it and the best way to do that is to capitalize on their weaknesses whenever possible. Consolidate other people's chips into your own stack and make sure you work very deliberately towards your goal.
Also, remember that other players are going to be changing their game up as well. While you don't want to fret too much about over thinking things, it's still a good idea to keep that in mind when you're seeing someone being aggressive or timid when it's out of character.
