In the middle and late stages of the tournament, try to isolate your opponent with small or medium pairs.
The goal of the isolation move is to make a bet size that leaves you fighting for the pot against only one opponent. You can try to isolate a bluffer, a maniac, or someone who has a draw.
The attempt to isolate works best when you have a hand that plays better heads-up, such as a pocket pair. When you raise trying to isolate one player, the bet must be large enough to deter other players from calling.
Example:
You have 8♣-8♠ in middle position. The tournament is in the late stage, the blinds are 3000-6000, and you have 100,000. A player in early position shoves all in for 20,000. The next player, who has 120,000 chips, just calls. What should you do?
You don't want to just call, as you would then have to beat two players with your medium pair. Since the second player did not re-raise, we can assume he does not have a very strong hand. This is a great spot to isolate and go heads-up against the player who has already shoved all in. Go all in.
Example:
You have 3♣-3♠, it's the middle stage of the tournament. The blinds are 500-1000, you have 22,000 and are in the Big Blind. Everyone folds to the dealer position. The player on the button has only 2000 chips and shoves all in. The Small Blind, with a total of 18,000, just calls. What should you do?
Again, just calling is a poor option, as you would have to beat two opponents with only a small pair. You need to isolate the player who is all in so that you are left heads-up. Shove all in.
