How to Choose a Final Table Seat on GG Poker

On GGPoker, the Final Table (FT) isn’t just about the cards—it’s about the geometry. Unlike most phases of a tournament where your seat is assigned by fate, the GG seat-picking mechanic introduces a layer of meta-strategy that can significantly impact your win rate and ICM (Independent Chip Model) pressure.

Recent discussions within the BBZ Poker community highlighted a common point of confusion: how do we mathematically and intuitively “attack” the seat selection process?

The Stack Geometry: Who Sits Where?

BBZ Coach Ryan ‘newguy89’ McEathron emphasizes that seat selection is about managing pressure. While many players reflexively try to sit to the left of the chip leader, the reality of the “seat swap” often makes that difficult. Instead, focus on the “midstack sandwich.”

• Midstacks to your Left: You want players who are handcuffed by ICM directly on your left. When a short stack (further left) folds, those midstacks are forced into a “fold-or-die” mentality against your opens.
• Short Stacks to your Right: Having short stacks to your right allows you to defend your big blind more effectively and realize equity without facing massive post-flop pressure.
• The Big Stack Placement: Ideally, the massive chip leader should be across the table. This minimizes the frequency of your direct confrontations, allowing you both to bully the rest of the table independently.

The “Rollback” Myth: Blinds vs. $EV

A common question raised by Jabochi involves GGPoker’s unique “blind rollback” at the final table (where the average stack is reset to a specific number of Big Blinds). Does this change the math?

BBZ Coach Jargo ‘bungakat’ Alaväli clarifies a vital point: ICM is calculated based on stack sizes, not blind levels. > “Your stack size gives you the $EV of your stack, and that does not change. Rollback only affects the blind level… you are essentially being forced to put less dead money in the pot.” — Jargo

While the $EV remains static, the strategy shifts slightly:

1. Lower Pressure: Because you have more Big Blinds, the “forced” investment of the blinds is a smaller percentage of your stack.
2. Looser Ranges: You have more room to maneuver, but the underlying ICM pressure (the cost of busting) remains just as high.

ICM at BBZ Poker

BBZ Poker has over 500 hours of high level ICM in the Daily Seminars Video Library. Whether it’s postflop ICM, asymmetric stacks, final table reviews, bubble strategy, or anything between we almost certainly have some content about it.

Key Takeaways

• Avoid Aggressive Regs on your Right: Don’t sit where an aggressive player can constantly pressure your Big Blind.
• Identify the “Passive Rec”: If the chip leader is a recreational player, they are less likely to utilize their position to swap seats or punish your opens.
• Focus on the Right Side: Your win rate is most heavily influenced by the players to your immediate right.