WPT GTO Trainer Hands of the Week: Final Table Play in Big Blind Vs The Chip Leader
This week we��re playing a common final table tournament spot where we are defending the Big Blind as a medium stack against the chip leader at the table. Due to the presence of final table pay jumps and 2 shorter stacks, there is significant ICM pressure on us in this spot. We are highly incentivized to avoid getting stacked while the 2 shorter stacks are still alive at this final table.
The chip leader on the Button can open raise preflop with a much wider range than normal because of this pressure we are facing. Our defense range in the Big Blind is narrower than it would be if there were no pay jump considerations. This final table spot changes not just our preflop ranges, but our post flop play as well.
Like most Big Blind defense scenarios, we typically start by checking to the raiser. Our play will often continue to be passive against the chip leader in many spots in an attempt to play smaller pots.
With weaker draws such as gutshots, we can often call a small c-bet on the flop. Even though we are typically playing passively against the chip leader, we can still bluff some of the time when our draws miss and our opponent��s range isn��t strong. This is especially true if we hold blockers to a big hand.
With big made hands, we should often still take a bluff-catching passive line against our opponent. This provides cover to our weaker hands, but also allows our opponent to bluff into our strong hands. When facing very aggressive opponents attempting to exert maximum ICM pressure, taking passive lines with your strong hands is often the most profitable strategy.
When facing large c-bets from your opponent, don��t be afraid to fold some hands you would continue with against a smaller bet, such as gutshots with overcards. You will occasionally check-raise bluff against the bigger sizing when you hold blockers to strong hands.
To see more examples and test your skills, you can play through five free solved hands from this scenario.
To access the free five hands, visit this page.
Regular play on the WPT GTO Trainer will help you adjust your decisions closer and closer to GTO strategy.
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The full selection of scenarios for the WPT GTO Trainer are only available to members of LearnWPT, however we��re giving PokerNews Readers free access to the Trainer on a regular basis with the WPT GTO Hands of The Week.
Use this series of articles to practice the strategies you learn on LearnWPT (or at the table) and test your progress by playing a five-hand sample each week.
