Texas Holdem Sit n Go Help

[TonyBOLONYsmalltownpro]

This is for a decent SitnGo like the $120 buy in 6 players turbo Sit n Go.

I figured at these buy-ins everybody plays tight and only a few times do you see somebody raising and betting and calling every hand.

So what happens is this:

You start with 1500, and unless you get AA and somebody gets KK or QQ this number doesnt quite change until the blinds are at 75/150.

At which point everybody "panics" and every hand you have an all-in and its AQ v/s 66 AK v/s JT AK v/s AQ AJ vs QJ.

and then blings become 100/200 and then ppl all in on anything because they become all short stacked.

Now I don't know why ppl do it, but apperantly they follow the strategy of I will hold my hand and play the best hands only, if that doesnt work, i will wait for the blinds to go up and I hope to get lucky.

With players like that on the table u really hope to get lucky and get the A7 not the A6 in the standoff when your short stacked.

How do you break this entire vicious cycle? Or is it meant to be this way?

If u don't like this structure u shouldn't play the turbos. The fast rising blinds is what dictates this type of play. Once the blinds get big it's correct to push with weak hands in good position given that u think their stack size or playing style doesn't allow them to gamble with a wide range of holdings.

The turbos are best for players who specialize in pre flop play. If you like playing more flops with time to wait for the goods play the non turbos or cash games.

[scrawnybob]

hi

Im not a big fan of turbos - because it can become a lottery when you or another player "have" to a make a move

I would suggest that when you see players playing tight and only playing premium hands - you should be stealing and using late postion as much as possible to build up an above average stack steadily and from the get go

that way when it comes to bingo play - you are able to pick YOUR spots to call with stonger hands - when they are having to play weaker ones

playing tight when they are playing tight when they are tight - leaves it to the luck of your run of cards v's there run of cards

hope thats a help
cheers scrawnybob

[19RK64]

Nice read!!, by the way what won this hand J10?

[hojediade]

My view.
No matter which level SnG you enter, the rules are the sames, you have to care about your opponents relationship to the money involved in the game.
One thing to remember is that some of the online players aren't playing for winnings, but to spend time, even though it's a $120 BI. Think about thoses desperate housewives alone facing the screen while her rich husband is grabbing good money at work.

[elvvviiisss]

Well i always play tight and waight at monster is i have suited connectors or som i just limp everyone plays like this or ur oponent is a milionair and has a huge bankrol and doesnt care about it, think always a few steps forward just like chess.

gl

[mobey17]

i only play sng for tokens that way u dont have to worry about gettin donkeyed or anything. the other reason is that i dont have a bankroll yet so that is also a pretty big factor.

[Poker Orifice]

I think what you're referring to is the push/fold game in later stages of a sng. When they're shoving, it's most often in an effort to take down the blinds cuz at this level if they don't steal the blinds once per orbit they won't have any fold equity and will then need to rely on being dealt a monster hand, and then to have that hand actually hold up.
Later stage SNG play is alot about push/fold and I.C.M. (Independent Chip Model) and tourney equity. Look up I.C.M. and then I believe you will get a much better answer to your question.
Actually, from your description it sounds as if they are playing optimally. There's no such thing as 'high blind limping' or putting in a raise when it's going to be 1/3 to 1/2 your stack (generally speaking that is).
ie. say guy in MP has A9o, and is sitting on 7bb's. He raise to 2.5x and then BB or SB shoves overtop.. now what?.. he can't fold. Why not just shove it in to begin with (it also gives him another way to win.. BB or SB has to put MP on a range and then calculate whether or not his call of the shove will be a +EV play for him or not,.. quite often opting to fold in hopes of being able to get his money in first in another hand.. but also very often with blinds that high (100/200) that oppurtunity is not going to happen, so calling with say KT might be the thing to do (calculating MP's shoving range... often in late levels 'shoving on any 2 cards' is the right thing to do... and if he figures he's even 40/60 then calling will often be the correct play considering all the dead money in the pot). THis is just a very basic example but hope it helps explain it to you.
Early levels it is not worth donking yourself out of the tourney as you lose 100% of your equity and distribute to our opponents. Later on you need to widen your ranges and get active. In late levels you need to get REALLY active.. or the blinds will eat you alive.
Does that help with your question??

[PokerJonny]

Great answer Poker Orifice!

To add to it: - if you dont know/understand ICM Disturbed, then maybe you should not be playing $120 turbo SnG, because in my experience most players that play this level do have an understanding of ICM.

[Poker Orifice]

Great answer Poker Orifice!

To add to it: - if you dont know/understand ICM Disturbed, then maybe you should not be playing $120 turbo SnG, because in my experience most players that play this level do have an understanding of ICM.

Thank-you... I just read it over again myself. It is kind of a good answer explaining it in very basic form... isn't it, lol.

I'd like to add to your's here as well. Orig. poster... these are actually pretty basic SNG concepts and are actually crucial to know if you're playing SNGs. Never mind needing a basic understanding of this in the $120buyin level ($120?.. I've never heard of $120's.. $109's, $75's I've heard of... but not 120's),... you would want to be super experienced with stuff like this... in other words you'd want to have a mind that works & acts like SNG Wiz software. Even in the $6-$11's you'll be sitting on tables with players who are very familiar with these SNG concepts (alot of them anyways) and as you move up to the $33's the play becomes much more difficult where a really solid player from the $16's could be getting just crushed (by solid I mean one who has 1,000 games under their belt and stuff like ICM is 2nd nature, along with many more advanced moves beyond that basic stuff).

[cool2k9]

yes indeed Poker orifice...its more than just a basic answer. you have given an accurate description about SNG playing. I play SNG turbo often as I don't have too much patience. I am working on building my concentration so that I can do well in MTT. however,for people who like playing the strong category I hands and play only big hands preflop will struggle at the turbo.they have to adjust their speed of play so that even if they are conservative first few hands they have to start playing more loosely as the table shortens.best way is to wait and observe the various players during first few hands. watch their style,approach and sooner or later when one or two players are knocked out you can open up and play the loose aggressive chip leader.