Navigating a Huge Field

By Brandon Cantu

I have had a lot of success in my career in tournaments with enormous fields; from my first bracelet victory in 2006 which had over 2,000 entrants, to my second bracelet and my recent runner-up finish at this past years WSOP, and of course my deep run in the 2008 WSOP Main Event. While it’s important to approach these events just as you would any other tournament, you need to be able to dissect the various stages of the tournament, and how to optimize your play for each of them.

Shuffle up and Deal

In the early stages of a tournament with large field sizes I like to get involved in a ton of pots. I tend to play somewhere in the range of 80% of the hands dealt to me as I am trying to win every pot. In tournaments where there are relatively small stacks to begin, it is of the utmost importance for me to get my stack above average as quickly as I possibly can. I achieve this by manipulating my weaker opponents from the beginning and force them into making mistakes for their tournament lives. I’ll often find weak players are willing to commit their stacks with just over-cards or a weak top pair on the flop. You can certainly take advantage of these plays with your speculative hands. Sure there will be times when you get knocked out rather early using this strategy, but with UltimateBet running tournaments non-stop, you’ll be able to jump right into the next one.

Many players will throttle back after doubling up, but that’s not my style. I think it’s important to keep pounding the table, and playing the role of table captain, if all the conditions are ripe, that is (See previous article). Since many players, especially in WSOP events will be doing their best to sneak into the money, it is beneficial to exploit these players and continue to accumulate all the chips your opponents are leaving on the table.

The Bubble

Though it’s been said hundreds of times, I can’t express enough the need to capitalize on the players looking to min-cash. Online, players have become much more aware of this strategy and it has become harder than ever to utilize. You need to be careful before raising every hand, as you’ll often find yourself on the rail. If the table is playing particularly tight, or you have enough chips to take some hits, by all means keep firing away on the bubble. However, if you begin seeing some pressure coming back your way, it’s ok to slow down.

In live events, the money bubble is often much greater, so a min-cash becomes more appealing for inexperienced players. This allows you to continue to turn the aggression levels up, and steal as many blinds, and antes as possible.

When the bubble bursts, players typically begin their move towards the final table, trying to double up their smaller stacks now that they have at least a small cash locked up. It’s important to mentally take note of this, and maybe slide the aggression down a notch, as players will be looking to gamble more. Once the majority of the short stacks have busted, you can go back to taking the lead and putting the pressure back on.

Approaching the Final Table

When play gets down to two to three tables, the number of opponents at each table is often approaching. During the WSOP this past year, I had a significant amount of chips in this spot, and was more than happy to stay at two short-handed tables, as opposed to converging on to one final table. Many players are not as experienced in end-game play, and are looking to just get to that final table, again allowing for you to put pressure on them capitalize on their desire to just survive.

As with any poker situation, you need to gauge the players; if there are experienced players still in the field, you may be limited to the amount you can raise, but if it’s an inexperienced field, take full advantage of that by raising with any two cards. You’ll find you will often be left alone and able to accumulate chips little by little. If there is pressure put back on you, don’t be afraid to let it go, as there will be plenty more opportunities down the line.

The Final Table

When you get to the final table, you should have a good read on the players that you have been playing with the final two, or three tables. If you happen to find yourself sitting on a shorter stack, let the game come to you and wait for a hand if you can. If you have an above average chip stack, you may also want to utilize that same strategy and back off a little, letting the game come to you. Your opponents will be expecting you to continue your aggressive strategy you’ve been using, and it will definitely confuse them. Remember the real money is in the top three spots, so you definitely want to either win it outright, or at least end up in the top three.

Getting three handed, and heads-up play can be pretty exciting. You need to start opening up your game even more than you previously have been. Looking at the payouts can be detrimental, so do your best to avoid knowing, as it will help you focus on your game, and not the money. I have a pretty simple strategy in these spots, if you feel like you are the more experienced player then play small ball, keeping pots small, further enhancing your edge, and allowing your opponent to make mistakes that will cost them the tournament. If you feel as if you are the weaker of the group, then you should be in there trying to get all-in with small edges; don’t be scared to push your weak Ace heads-up or get involved in bigger pots with not as strong a hand. Let lady luck become more of a factor.

Poker tournaments are a marathon; it’s important that although playing solid poker is obviously the number one priority, you also need to be constantly aware of each stage the tournament is in, and how to properly optimize your play to enhance your shot at winning.