There is nothing quite like the excitement of being on the final table in a free poker tournament, but getting there is only the start of it, winning is what needs to be done.
There are 2 very different styles of play, and both depend on stack size, and position.
First, big stack bullies get the name for a reason, and when players are playing under pressure, the more pressure put on smaller stack players tend to lead to folds or bad calls. Pressure from a big stack player can also lead to players folding with marginal hands, and the fewer players in a pot, the better your odds for winning a hand.
As for any case scenario, this doesn't mean play every hand, and push away all your chips. Just because you have the chips, and position, still won't make a 2-7 off suit a good hand. It does however mean that unless a player hits a flop, he will more then likely fold, even if that players is ahead after the flop, but doesn't know it.
Another form of play is passive, aggressive. Players waiting for a big hand, letting other players weed down the table, and just waiting for a large hand to double up with.
It is best to hold out for a high pocket pair here, you have a better chance of winning if you are holding and A with another big card.
Suited, connected cards also give you more of an advantage in a hand, the chance to hit a flush, or straight, increase your odds of winning.
When playing connected cards, hands with a 5, or 10, increase your advantage, many players don't realize this, but you must have 1 of these cards to hit a straight.
I know playing, you have seen countless times when your short stacked, and make an all-in move, a big stack player knocks you out with a marginal hand, given the pot odds that large stack players gets with all your chips in, and with the large stack player calling with a small percentage of there chips, you will begin to understand its in there best interest to call. Given in most these cases they are getting 3-1 odds or better on there bet.
Final table strategy is one of the few ways poker on TV actually help a player. When much of the telecast is edited, and you don't see the hours of play not seen, these last few hands can help anyone. Just don't take their play into the beginning and middle part of a free poker tournament.
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