4th place

I have recently been playing online quite frequently and I am enjoying it. I enjoy tournaments but I always seem to lose out at 4th place just out of the money.

Is there any way around this as I am nearly always level with the other final 3. Should I be more aggressive or just take it easy and let everyone else fight it out?

This is from my point of view only and how I do it. I've been in many final tables with 4 or less players. If you have enough chips, let the others duke it out in your hand is just marginal. Sooner or later one will go all-in and you'll be in 3rd. Only play a big hand and get out if you feel you will not win. Save your chips for another big hand. Once there's only three of you, it seems someone always calls all-in. Let the other person do the playing. You then win 2nd by default and are now heads up.

I'm not a very aggressive player (sometimes but not consistenly) like many people but I lie in wait for the right hand and right opponent.

Hope I don't get flack for my views (I have before), but that's what they are - my views and they work for me.

theres an old saying playing not to lose is the the same as playing not to win.
in your situation you probably all start with the same chips but one will usually start to pull away because they have lossened up their raising hand requirements while the others play to conservatively.

Thing is - when you are down to 4 players and you want in the money say at 3, 2, or 1 - you should play to get to that position, not win big pots. Its too easy to lose at that point. Once you get there, then you can play more aggressively. UKPoker wanted to know how to get to 3rd instead of always fourth - so laying back a bit till he gets there works for me. I know not everyone.

BTW - old sayings aren't necessarily true or correct, just old sayings - especially when playing NLHoldem.

I wasn't saying to be overly aggressive I was saying to loosen up your starting hand
since the table has narrowed to 4. You can lay back and hope the others make the play for the big pots but if they don't you will be the one chewed up by the blinds
and forced to play for the big pot. Play the same way that got you there controlled aggression keep your stack steady it gives them more time to butt heads and put you in the money

pdkash said:

I wasn't saying to be overly aggressive I was saying to loosen up your starting hand
since the table has narrowed to 4. You can lay back and hope the others make the play for the big pots but if they don't you will be the one chewed up by the blinds
and forced to play for the big pot. Play the same way that got you there controlled aggression keep your stack steady it gives them more time to butt heads and put you in the money

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When you are short handed controlled aggression is key IMHO. If they are playing like idiots by all means allow someone esle to gamble, in my experience sitting on your hands late will not accomplish your goal. SNG's, with only 3 places being paid I think it is safe to say that is what you are talking about, are all about wins! All about WINS! The key here is controlled aggression.... Tight Passive is not likely to get you wins... Although you will most likely break even playing a more passive style in the low buyins.

I have only been playing small buyins and the players don't seem very experienced. They tend to stay in and bluff a hell of a lot.

Out of the tournaments I have played I can get a chip lead but never keep hold of it whent the blinds get bigger. I have been noted for my passive play once I have a chip lead as players want a chance to get them back and they generally do when there are less players.

When I was a total neophyte and made it to 4th place in a SnG, I played EXTREMELY tight. What I've found now is that the other players are also playing extremely tight, and a well placed raise that's thought out with decent cards can allow an aggressive player to win a lot of blinds.

Howard Lederer made a comment a while back about Sit and Goes. And I consider him one of the top players.

He said with sit and goes the objective is to shoot for 3rd place until you have it locked. Then when it is down to 3 switch over to go for the win.

I found this little bit of info very insiteful.

http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/prosLessons.php?lesson=14 have a look might help might not? I think every one goes thru the on the buble slump from time to time ! just play your best & learn from your mistakes! I have made some adjustments in my game over the years ie I play SnG more agressive now than a yeear ago especialy low $ ones where you have to run out the dumb luck player on a low str8 draw!

:joyman:

I'm going to agree with Michele on this one. If 3rd is where the cash starts, play up until that point to make it to the money (if that is in fact the OP's objective) after which time you can chnage gears and give em he'll.

Like HoldemChamp said, there isn't going to be much advice out there more sound than that of Howard Lederer, he is the man. Why risk busting out before the money? Secure your position in the cash, protecting your bankroll, then switch it up and let some of that agression out on the other two finishers.

Would I play like this every time? Probably not. I like to be on the big stack too much, and dictate the action.