Your skill and patience paid off! You have reached the final table! Just like before you must now adjust your play to reach one of the top places.

Since the number of players are now reduced you must open up and play even more starting hands. The fewer players around the more starting hands you should play. High cards go up in value (should be played more often) while small pairs and connectors go down in value. (However if you are in the red or orange zone these hands are playable, see previous chapter Zone play.). Since everyone is playing more aggressively slowplaying also works better at the final table. In other words you shouldn´t raise so much with your big hands (AA, KK, QQ) preflop. Instead your hoping for someone to push you out of the pot.

If you are one of the two remaining players you must play even more hands. In other words you’re almost playing all of your starting hands. All pairs are now great starting hands while position becomes an even greater advantage. To raise the pot preflop should almost be considered “normal” play and should be done with almost any kind of hand. (Even so you don´t have to raise that much, 2 -3 times the big blind is enough.) If your opponent has raised and you have a descent hand then make a larger than usual raise thus hopefully ending the hand as quickly as possible. If you’re playing in the small blind you will be in position the whole hand after the flop. In general you should be calling with all hands and raise with any hand in the top 40%. If your hand is great consider slowplaying. If your opponent raises you, then consider your chances of continuing (with any random hand fold). Remember a reraise often means a very good hand. If you’re playing in the big blind you won´t be in position after the flop. In other words you want to end the hand quickly. If your opponent raises you must distinguish if he/she does this a lot. If so you should call with many mediocre hands. If he/she only calls you should raise with many hands (top 40%) and try to end the hand as quickly as possible.

Play at the final table means playing many hands aggressively!

Now that you have finished our tournament school we suggest you read some books on the subject. See our reading strategy here. Since you have studied our poker school it is our opinion that you should be able to play tournaments. Even so remember that becoming a good tournament player requires a lot of practice. If you don´t know where to play we suggest you try one of the top five poker rooms we recommend. They all offer a lot of tournaments. For more info see tab poker rooms.

Good luck!

Pokerbeginner your pokerguide.

ENGLISH

SWEDISH