Laddering

Deliberately folding your way up the payout ladder at a final table, waiting for shorter stacks to bust so that your finishing position — and prize — improves without risking chips.

Frequently asked questions

What is laddering in poker?

Surviving long enough to climb past pay jumps as other players are eliminated, rather than playing to accumulate chips.

Is laddering a good strategy?

It is correct with a very short stack near large pay jumps, where survival is worth more than chips. It is a mistake as a default: the prize pool is concentrated at the top, and folding your way to ninth gives up the places that pay.