WHEN TO GO ALL IN?

[BILLABONG]

I have a question which has kinda been answered in the past for when its best to go all in a multi-table tournament. The answer was to go all in with about 8xbb. But when your playin a sit n go and you get down to four players left and next place pays. Should you still go all in with that much of your stack remaining or should you start to slow down hoping to outlast your opponent? Because even though you might not make first place you'll atleast make your money back. Whats more important

[Hubris1]

Some players prefer to hang on for the money... But you'll never hit first if you have 8xbb (Likely much less since you're playing tight.) This goes unsaid.

However, what you have to realize is that right at bubble time/money time people shift super tight in MTTs and the big stacks tend to shift tight in SNGs, most people will play this period the tightest they will play the whole tourney. Which means... you can actually stand a better chance by shifting loose, sure someone might land something behind you, but the bilnds you pick up will let you coast for a bit or you may be able to win a coin toss and insure a money victory or give your self a chance at real money. This is relative to the table of course, just plaeyd an 18 man sng and a stack slightly larger than mine had gone all in 4x in nine hands, two of which were utg, in that situation it was just a few orbits before I hit the money, wasn't wise to pick up blinds there.

[BILLABONG]

So,im still confused,lets say for example blinds are 400-800, 3 places get paid and there 4 four players left including myself. two players have 6000 in chips and the other player had 3000 in chips. I have around 6500. Normally if the one player before me folded I would be goin all in on button tell I have atleast 9xbb in chips,and then take a rest until I fall 8 or below xbb. but is this really wise? Since the one player is so short stacked hes about to go out?

[Sed]

If you have the cards do it..
Are you playing for first or third?

- sed

[a500lbgorilla]

You should be using your stack to abuse the blinds in that case. Not just silently waiting to secure some cash and then play poker again.

-'rilla

[elanto]

play to win, simple as that


-anto

[Scotch Rock]

I agree with Hubris, that most players will be playing too tight in this situation, and as the big stack (slightly) you can push the other players around a bit. I wouldn't go AI, because you don't need to in order to win in this situation.

I find that a 2x to 3x BB raise PF in this situation causes most to fold unless they have truly stellar starting hands. If you get any callers, play the flop cautiously (but agressively) because you are really looking to make your money on blind stealing rather than showdowns and coin-flips.

If you are one of the better players at the table, then you should avoid all-in coin-flip situations. You have enough poker skill over the others to profit considerably from blind stealing.