Late Stages Sit n Go Strategy

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The "Late Stages" of a tournament is when there are 5 or less players left.  This usually occurs about 40 minutes into the sit n go.  By now blinds will be placing huge pressure on everyone but the highest stacks.  The fact that it is shorthanded, and the blinds are huge dictate the new style of play you must use.

When you reach the final 4 or 5 players in the tournament there are many unique situations that you face.  The first, and ever present problem, is that someone has to get out before the players reach the money.  This changes everyone's play. 

Adjustments to Your Game

The first adjustment you need to make to your game is to become more aggressive.  Most players, aside from the big stacks, will  fold and play passive so they can make the money.  More often than not this results in the player not making the money, as they fold away their blinds and don't take any pots. 

When you are entering a pot, you need a stronger hand to call than you do to raise.  The reason is because if you call you are going to have to play the flop against someone, so you need a very strong hand.  If you are raising you need a lesser hand, as there is a good chance everyone will fold and you will win the blinds.

One example of this is if you hold a hand like 99 you may be apt to limp in and try to see a good flop.  However, if you hold a hand like KJ you should raise to try and take the pot, as you have to hit a flop to make anything.

Mixing Up Your Play

Many times you can get tricky with your play at this stage because people aren't playing their normal game.  One example of this is if you held AA in the big blind, and a mid size stack raised from early position.  If it is folded to you, you can just call.  This makes it seem like you hold either a mid pair, or big unpaired cards.

As long as the flop is not horrible you can check, and your opponent will almost always bet.  After his preflop raise he will have a much shorter stack, so he is going to try and take the pot even if he doesn't hit.  Once he goes all in you can make an easy call and knock him out. 

If you had re-raised preflop in this situation he may have been able to get away from the hand, unless he had a very strong hand.  By feigning weakness you can earn yourself a much larger pot while also knocking out another player.

When you reach the heads up stage the strategy changes again.  To read our heads up article: heads up poker strategy

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