Okay, first just to say I don't play for money (and have followed the PM v RM thread and the complaints/discussions there)

One of the things I believe is causing me big problems is that I don't know how to play band hands.

I'm playing playmoney sngs and "bragging rights" home games (sng structure).

Now if I get a nice hand, especially early and manage to get a fair number of chips I seem to do okay. When I can hang around a while people have said they found it hard to see what I'm doing because I change playing styles a little.

But too often, especially online, I'm not getting many hands I think playable.
Sometimes I get down to the last 2-3 just by sitting there and waiting; but usually with about a third of the chips of the other players.

When it's down to maybe 2-3 players I usually do okay. I'm more willing to make big bets with semi-weak hands because often the opponent has got a smilar hand. But early on the Q3o is surely going to get beaten by one of the players at the table, if there's always someone who will call with A2o?

It seems to me that good players can play the hands they're dealt and don't have to wait for good cards. But I don't see how.