I Made the Final Table of the Salute to Warriors!

Hey Poker Fam! I just made the final table of the $500 Salute to Warriors at the WSOP. 7th place out of 4,478 players. A charity tournament where profits go to support our veterans.

The WSOP continues to deliver the unexpected. We're also answering a reader request asking for tips on 3-betting and 4-bet shoving in the late stages of tournaments. Let's dive in.

This Week in Poker

Strategy Corner

3-Betting and 4-Bet Shoving in Late Tournament Play: Answering a Reader Request

One of our readers asked for tips on 3-betting and 4-bet shoving in the later stages of tournaments. Great question, and it's one of the most important late-stage skills.

When to 3-Bet:

You need to consider five main factors: your opponent's tendencies, your hand and position, stack sizes, how many players are in the hand, and what stage of the tournament you're in.

Early tournament? Play small ball. Don't go crazy with polarizing 3-bets. Wait until the middle and late stages when antes are in play and the blinds matter more. At the bubble and on the bubble, 3-betting becomes your primary weapon because people tighten up. Your opponent needs to fold more often because the incentive to reach the money is strong.

Your hand matters. A balanced 3-betting range includes your premium hands (A-A, K-K, A-Q) for value, plus some suited connectors and weaker hands with good blockers for balance. You need to mix in bluffs so your opponent can't exploit you. If you only 3-bet with premiums, they'll 4-bet you constantly.

When to 4-Bet Shove:

Most recreational players only 4-bet with A-A or K-K. Against tighter opponents, your value 4-bets should be A-A, K-K, and sometimes Q-Q or A-K. For 4-bet bluffs, use hands like K-9, K-10, or A-10 (hands with good removal and potential equity against their range).

The sizing matters. A standard 4-bet should be around 2.5x their 3-bet. If you're deep-stacked, you might make it slightly larger. If you're short-stacked and committing 30-50% of your stack, going all-in is often correct.

What Separates Solid Players:

Solid players adjust their 3-betting range based on position and opponent weakness. In late position, you can 3-bet wider. Out of position, you're tighter. Solid players also keep the number of players in the hand in mind. 3-betting from the small blind versus the button is different because position post-flop matters.

Most importantly, solid players understand ICM (Independent Chip Model). At specific moments—money bubble, final table bubble—the game changes completely. ICM calculations show that survival is more valuable than chip accumulation. That's when passive lines become more profitable than aggression.

Recreational players make the mistake of 4-betting bluff ranges that are too wide or too obvious. They also mistime their aggression. 3-betting when ICM suggests folding costs them tournaments.

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Clip of the Week

▶ WATCH NOW Trying to become a Millionaire at the WSOP New this week · Watch on YouTube →

I 3-bet A8❤❤ from the small blind against multiple callers, then c-bet the flop of K♦-8♠-Q♣—and when the turn brings another K❤ pairing the board, you're going to want to see how I navigate this critical moment!

YouTube Channel → https://www.youtube.com/@LexyGavinPoker

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In the Know

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Norman Chad and Lon McEachern sat down to discuss their partnership covering the 2026 WSOP. After more than 20 years together, they're still the iconic commentary team. The Main Event is back on ESPN. Some partnerships just work.

Source: Poker.org

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Source: Card Player

Cayuga Nation Tribe Sues Caesars Over Sportsbook Availability on Tribal Land

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Source: Card Player