Why the tournament is won at the 2nd to last table

Last 12 months I wrote an article a couple of large false impression about laddering in tournaments the place I offered the idea of Bubble Factor. In it I made the statement that the remaining table bubble has way more excessive ICM stress than any spot at the remaining table itself.

This means that you’ve to play lots tighter on remaining table bubbles than you’ll at the remaining table itself and sometimes even the first cash bubble. However, the 2nd to last table in a poker tournament is typically the place the recreation is won. Because everybody has to play tighter and since everybody actually desires to get to the remaining table, this is a spot the place you may decide up a variety of chips.

In truth, whereas it nonetheless holds true that you must tighten up on the whole, taking excessive variance strains close to the begin of your 2nd to last table is usually a good technique. 

I do know folks suppose I’m an enormous outdated nit who folds his manner to remaining tables, then tries to ladder up from ninth place. Actually, I have a tendency to play 2nd last tables aggressively as a result of getting to the remaining table with a stack is enormous. It’s large in future fairness phrases. It’s the last spot I see as a golden alternative to set myself up for a prime three end.

Future fairness

The ICM of the small ladder jumps between locations 18-10 are nothing anyway. Plus if you’re a great participant you get the alternative to play 5 and 6 handed on the manner to the remaining table, which ought to offer you a further edge the place you may exert large ICM stress.

If you play strictly by ICM you’ll find yourself folding a bit an excessive amount of. There is an inflection level, the time comes the place it is price playing for an enormous stack. One of my college students chopped a SCOOP Main Event this 12 months and at the 2nd last table he elevate/referred to as off KQ in opposition to an enormous stack. His rationale was he knew it wasn’t a terrific spot but when he won this spot, he can be the chip chief and he may hound the remaining table bubble, which he did and he was in an incredible spot.

The excessive variance line ought to nonetheless be a worthwhile one, we’re not speaking about punting off a stack calling all-in with 67s with 14 gamers left. It is additionally higher to take the excessive variance line early at the begin of the 2nd to last table so you may get pleasure from the chip lead for longer. Gambling when 11 gamers stay is a pricey ICM punt since you are so shut to the large payouts. But taking a excessive variance line with 18 gamers remaining is not that pricey from an ICM perspective and places you able to construct a stack whereas most of the table will tighten up.

Future fairness is a factor in tournaments in addition to ICM. The begin of the remaining two tables is a novel time the place you’ve an opportunity to construct a really large stack so you may cruise on the remaining table itself.

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