Description:
Very tight but take a chance to steal if you have one. This is the average place you’ll be in when you get to late stage. Many times you
will actually have a little less. This stage is actually very similar to the middle M:6-9 stage. Much of it will seem similar. You are trying to keep yourself afloat. You will go all-in from early position with mediocre hands if it means keeping your stack above 1000.
Raising 3BB or All-in?:
You are going all-in or not playing. No raising is allowed!
Pre-flop Starting Hands:
Limping Hands – late position
No limping(instead of limping, you will either go all-in or raise to steal the blinds)..
All-in Hands (we don’t want anyone to call)
From early position (right after the blinds): Push all-in with AK or 88+. If the blinds are about to take you under the 1000 level, go all-in with Any Ace, any pair and any KQ,KJ, QJ, or suited connector(IP: This is only true if after the BB and SB pass you, you will have less than 1000 chips – starting 1500 chips) . You should have a tight table image so you should be able to pull it off without someone calling. You are doing this for a couple reasons. First off, you can’t let your stack get below 1000 without putting up a fight. If you do, it will be much easier for someone to call you when you do go all-in (before the next blind pushes you into the 700 range). A general rule is to not let your stack get below 1000 by having blinds take you out. By pushing all-in, you have a decent chance at taking the blinds down without a fight. Even though you are in early position (there are lots of people to act still). This move becomes much more possible in the next section (M:4-5) but you must be aware of it here as well – just in case you are in an odds situation where you’re about to go under 1000. When you do go all-in, and people call – hopefully you have a coin flip at least. This is ok. At some point you need to take a risk. If you do win the blinds without a fight, you will be able to keep afloat (above 1000 chips). Hopefully you’ll get a real hand soon that you can call with and actually double up. NOTE: This is normally not the case. Usually if you are in early position, M:4-5 in the middle stage of the tourney, you won’t be knocked under 1000 chips after the blinds go by you. If this is the case, you only play the AK and 88+ from early – still pushing all-in. You only play the weak hands (Any A, any pair,
KJ,etc) if it means you will NOT go under 1000 chips on the next turn.
From middle position :
Push all-in with AK or 88+. You can also push all in with AQ. Otherwise, don’t play.
From late/button position :
Push all-in with AT+ or 88+. You are really trying to steal the blinds. Many times, this will end in a coin flip if someone calls. No more 1.5xBB blind steal attempts. You are either going all-in or doing nothing.
From small blind position :
If you have A7+ or any pair, push all-in to steal the blinds. Only do this if there are no limpers!
Facing a raise (you haven’t acted yet)
AQ+ or JJ+: (we added the AQ) You may use the Standard Reraise: ALL-IN play. Since there are less people in, you have decent odds of catching someone with AJ or less. Some cases they will have AK, but most of the time they will fold, it will be a draw, or you will be a slight favorite (AQ vs KJ).
Blind Stealing (button or one off button)
See comments from above.
Blind Defense (from big blind – small blind is stealing)
You are allowed to use the Blind Defense: Reraise ALL-in This play is more risky, however you need to make a move and preserve your stack. This is a good way to do this…Using a high probability play. Since your table image should be tight, he should fold.
Blind Defense: Allin Reraise (Big Blind vs. a calling Small Blind only). If the small blind calls your big blind, push all-in with any 2 decent cards (face cards, suited, any pair). This is another high probability play. They will Fold almost every time.
Other Pre-Flop Plays/Comments
You are allowed to make the Small Blind Play: Call any half bet from small blind if one or more limpers exist. You are hoping to trap someone and get a lucky double up. Again, check down/fold if your hand doesn’t improve after the flop.
Post-flop Play (flop,turn,river):
Most of the time at this stage post-flop, you will have pushed all- in. Because of this there are no rules for post-flop play. Refer to the previous section for details if you find yourself having to make a descision post flop. It is relatively straight forward however. All-in if you have top pair or a good drawing hand. Otherwise – check it down or play passive.
