Live MTT Final Table Exit: How to Play This A7 Suited Hand?

NewsSource: Reddit r/poker34 views
Live MTT Final Table Exit: How to Play This A7 Suited Hand?

Reddit poker player shares live MTT final table hand analysis: 8bb on the button shoves with Ac7c, gets called by opponent's bottom pair and busts. Community discusses whether a preflop shove is better and how to improve TAG strategy.

A Reddit user posted in r/poker for advice, stating that they started playing live MTT in February this year, participating in 30 tournaments (field sizes from 70 to 2250), cashing 10 times, and reaching the final table 6 times. They believe their strengths are patience, discipline, trapping, and blind defense, while their weaknesses include not raising enough on the button, having too tight a range, difficulty bluff-catching, and insufficient 4-betting.

In a recent 74-player tournament, they finished 4th. The final hand: 4 players remaining, hero has 8bb, others have 10bb, 13bb, and 20bb. Hero is on the button with Ac7c, opens to 2bb, small blind folds, big blind (~10bb) thinks for a moment and calls. Flop Jc4hTc (flush draw). Big blind checks, hero shoves, big blind snap-calls and shows 4d7d (bottom pair). Hero fails to hit a flush or an Ace and is eliminated.

The player believes the opponent is a "calling station", finding it unbelievable to call a shove with bottom pair no draw. Reviewing their flop shove logic: opponent might fold, hero could hit a flush or an Ace. But they wonder if shoving preflop would have been better.

Community Opinions

Most replies suggest shoving preflop is the better play:

  • With 8bb on the button, A7s is a strong hand; a direct shove avoids being called by any pair on the flop.
  • Shoving postflop gives the opponent a reason to call with bottom pair (since they already invested 2bb).
  • Against a calling station, you should avoid giving them a cheap look at the flop.

Some also point out that with ICM pressure at a short-stacked final table, playing more conservatively is advisable, but A7s shoving from the button is still reasonable.

Strategy Advice

Regarding the player's reported issues of too tight a button range and insufficient 4-betting, suggestions include:

  • Use a HUD or notes to track opponent tendencies, adjusting button open and 3-bet frequencies.
  • Study ICM strategies for choosing shove or call ranges based on stack depths.
  • Practice hand range charts to shorten decision time.