Adjusting for the end game

Although there is a lot of discussion on bubble strategy and how important it is to your win rate, making the correct adjustments once you reach the end game and giving yourself maximum opportunity for additional profit is also key. If you make it to the money in a PKR ten-player Sit & Go there will be three players left and each of them will already be guaranteed 20% of the prizepool. Therefore it makes sense to ignore that money and treat the end game as if a new tournament has begun.

In this new tournament the first player out gets nothing, second place gets 10% extra and first gets 30% extra. Based on this approach we can see that in the end game it becomes correct to change your strategy and focus on winning. The Independent Chip Model also tells us the same. While being involved in coin-flip situations, or getting knocked out when a very short stack exists will still be detrimental to you, the effect is far less than on the bubble.

Playing in the money

With even stacks three-handed in a $10 Sit & Go there will still be $40 to play for, and each stack will have equity of $13.33. But doubling up means that increases to $23.33, reducing the edge you need to have when all-in without pot odds to around 57% or greater.

For this reason when three handed you want to play more aggressively and be happier taking marginal gambles than on the bubble. You can also play draws and re-raise your opponents more aggressively as getting called and losing is less important now than accumulating chips. And once in the money your opponents will often open lighter and fold if the blinds are still shallow.

Adjusting to high blinds

Of course a lot of the time the blinds will be very high at this point with players waiting each other out on the bubble, so again you need to adjust your all-in and calling ranges for this. On the bubble you could often move all-in with any two cards in the small blind, however playing three-handed like this would be a mistake.  The big blind should be more willing to call you and gamble in the hope of winning the event. Therefore, while you can still move all-in with lots of hands, folding the worst should definitely become part of your strategy.