Final Table Strategy

I've just started playing $10-$25 MTT's in the past two months, prior to that i was strictly a sng guy. I've been at about 6 or 7 final tables and seem to have a pretty good strategy up until were 3 handed. At three handed with relatively even chip stacks how long does it typically take finish the tourney? I know that you put up KK against AA then the tourney will typically be over in one hand, what I'm looking for is a generalization. As you may guess I think I'm being a little impatient/excited once i get to the final three. Of course at that point the third place prize money looks great...after the dust settles I can't help but think of what might have happened if....

My limited experience at a 3 handed final table has led me to believe that c-bets don't pay... small pf raises don't pay. Both seem to fall victim to a big raise/reraise. Of course with my limited experience I may have simply had a good hand against a great hand.

Well just an updated for all of you who expressed interet in my original post...finally took 1st place in a Full Tilt $22 for $1069! Feels Good! I guess I found the answer to my question. Timing is everything... patience and aggression properly used with a bit of luck did the job.

Congrats on the win.

There is no answer to your question because it all depends on chip stacks and blind levels. If all three are deep stacked compared to the blinds - it can take a long time. If the blinds are huge - the tourney will be over soon.

I had one heads-up battle with a guy in a $20 180 man SNG that lasted close to an hour.

I have had others over within 5 hands.

thanks for the input...the problem i was running into was with three or teo remaining pretty deepstacked. I think i was just so excited at being in the (big) money that I got carried away, however now that I been there a couple times, I feell a heck of a lot more confortable.