"Tight" in SNGs and what to play mid game?

[JEEPNERD]

To start…I am the ‘new guy’ referred to in the ‘APPLY YOURSELF’ thread by Dwarfman and I am still attempting to learn the game. So far my poker experience has been pretty decent online…but I am reading and re-reading the “circle of death” to keep myself in check here on the low limit ring games. (Playing micro limits, trying to get some experience, etc. More hands I see the more I am getting used to seeing them play out.)

I decided to try a couple $3+.30 sngs over at SportingBet and so far placed out of the money, usually 5thish.

Ok, so here is my newbie SNG questions/observations that I was hoping I might either get confirmation on..or correction!

Question #1, what is “tight” for low limit SNGs?

I understand playing tight up front….and wanted to see if my definition of tight was ‘ok?’ Basically, I am trying to only play pocket pairs (throwing away low pairs on the flop assuming I didn’t get a set and getting raised)…and AK (suited or non), and KQs

I have to admit I am “tempted” at playing “any” suited connectors…but is that really tight for the early SNG game? (Or only if in LP and ‘cheap’ to get to flop?)

Last thought here…in low limit SNG, pretty much assume if A is on the flop, someone has just hit a pair? The reason I say this…52 cards, 10 players x 2, 20/52 cards out there, 4 of the 52 are aces and if someone has an Ax they are IN the pot…again, low limit sngs?! In fact if A or K flops, there is a good chance someone out of the 10 has that and was there to see the flop?

Question #2, I need help with what hands to start playing mid game?

Since I haven’t made it to the end game…I am obviously screwing up my middle game…down to say 5-6 players at this point by playing tight, not getting in many pots and letting them take each other out. At this point there always seems to be ‘one guy’ who is chip leader with a good lead…two or three middle stacks (I seem to be one)….and a couple lower stackers.

This is the point I am screwing up…I honestly think I might be getting too tight here…I guess my question is….what cards are you folks playing (and winning with) at the middle game?

(Here is my best guess of what I should be playing?)

Pocket Pairs, including low ones…maybe throwing in the low ones if no set at the flop against raises.

Suited connectors….only if you have hit 4 of the 5 needed at the flop (straight or flush draw)

I am NOT playing suited cards with gaps (68s for instance or 69s)…are you?

Final thought…if everyone is ‘checking’ and I am wanting to go on…I always raise a small amount at least, my theory is “no free cards?” Should I be doing that if I am still ‘drawing’?

Ok…that is enough for know and a THOUSAND thank yous in advance for helping me out here. I will be real honest, I “think” have absorbed the ‘tight’ concept pre-flop…but post flop is where my game needs improvements. Any thoughts on “good reads” for post flop play? (Online or a specific book I need to study?)

[Irisheyes]

1) Play:

AA - JJ raise any position. Reraise a raiser with AA- QQ.
TT - ~66 play for set any position.
<66 play for set Late Middle position, fold in EP or on a raisey table fold in MP.

AK, AQ, KQ, raise any position. Raise AJ, AT any position when ~7 players left. Dont call raises with less then AK.

I fold SCs because I dont want to be bleading off chips chasing draws. On RVP we start with shallowish stacks and I cant afford to blead chips. I might play high suited connectors on the button for a limp with good pot odds but I wont chase draws. Same applies to low pps, only play for cheap.

If I get involved in a pot its for a raise so I can continuation bet a safeish flop hit or miss.

I'm looking to fold, fold, fold till I get one good hand and double up. Read Rippys Sticky. Read all sticks while your at it.

Yes assume someone has the A, with more then 2 callers I check/fold KK in this situation. less then 2 callers I rep the A.

2)

I get weird with lowish pps with 5 left. I dont like playing them in EP so I usually just fold. If I want to blind steal with them I'm all in preflop cos I find them hard to play post flop. (Maybe this is just me being scared)

I'll play down to A8 but only if I'm the one opening the pot and I'm always raising preflop. Play KJ aswell.

I dont like calling/reraising raises unless I'm really strong. Basically your looking for situations where you can play with lesser cards (steal blinds etc. ) rather then playing cards directly.

I fold all SCs except if I'm desperate for blinds and in LP with a stack big enough to give me some fold equity.

As to the last little question I'm not sure what your talking about.

[JeffreyGB]

Middle game (assuming an average stack, meaning you have roughly 15-20 times the BB), stop playing low pocket pairs unless you're in late position and there's only one person in the pot with you (in this situation, raise).

Don't draw in the middle game. Don't play drawing hands (unless you're in a good spot to raise a fairly uncontested pot).

Reading things on here, you'll start to pick up on patterns of what people have when they make various plays. HOH2 talks about a few of these as well. Beyond that, the best teacher is experience.

From your post, I'm thinking that your biggest hangup is a lack of aggression. Once the game gets to the point that the pots are meaningful, you have to start upping your aggression (both when you have hands and when you don't). You should ALWAYS be raising much more often than you're calling. I honestly believe that a player can have success if they eliminate calling from their book of plays unless it's a very specific situation.

[TLR]

I am not familiar with SportingBets and their blind structure and initial stack.

I play at pokerstars with 1500 initial stack so my answers relate to it.

Early stages:
AA, KK, QQ - raise preflop and try to get into HU.
JJ,TT - limp from early position, raise a bit from late position, call a raise of 2-3 BB if it will get you heads up
All other PP - Limp and fold if you dont hit the set.

AK - Raise, be careful of reraises
AQ - I usually raise those and it seems to be a profitable hand
AJ, AT, KQ, KJ - I will limp with those, if I am on the button and it is folded to me I will raise to try to get the blinds. Dont get too attached to those hands and be willing to throw them away to an aggression.

Suited connectors - I limp in early stages from middle/late position with SC 67 or higher. Those hands play very well on multiway pots if they hit.

Midgame is far more tricky to play because it highly depends on the players, stack sizes etc.., but a few general points.

1. You should have reads on players and adjust youe game accordingly
2. Notice how many hands do not get down to showdown - A lot of time is not about the cards you have - its about the cards they do not have.
3. Most of the hands seem to involve 2-3 players. SC are not a good hand at this stage, PP are - if you have 66 and you are HU with someone with 2 overs, 70% of the time he will miss the flop and you are ahead.
Blind stealing is important - With 5-6 players A9 and up are pretty good.

Regarding the A question - if there are multiple players in the pot then probably one of them has the A, if it is HU or you are playing vs the blinds then it is not neccesary.
If you have not shown aggression Preflop and the pot is small you can let it go, however if you have QQ, raised nicely preflop and got a caller, and a A hit you should bet, and be ready to fold to reraises.

As JefferyGB said it seems you are not agressive enough, and probably too tight.

Look at the amount of hands you play - A good rule of thumb is to play 1.5-2 hands per orbit, and as Jeffery wrote - raise most of the hands you play.
Post some hand histories from your bubble play, let people here analyze them

[Irisheyes]

A good rule of thumb is to play 1.5 hands per orbit

hmmm....

[TLR]

hmmm....

Which means ?

[a500lbgorilla]

When everyone's stack is between 10-20 blinds, use all the chips you have in excess of 10 to win up to 20 bets. Then Use excess bets of 20 to win all the blinds on the table. I say 20 becuase you hardly ever reach it on blind steals alone becuase the blinds keep popping up.

-'rilla

[Irisheyes]

hmmm....

Which means ?

It was dry sarcastic humour referring to playing 0.5 of a hand.

Anyways, carry on.

[a500lbgorilla]

hmmm....

Which means ?

It was dry sarcastic humour referring to playing 0.5 of a hand.

Anyways, carry on.

3 in 2 rounds sound better?

-'rilla

[Irisheyes]

hmmm....

Which means ?

It was dry sarcastic humour referring to playing 0.5 of a hand.

Anyways, carry on.

3 in 2 rounds sound better?

-'rilla

Much better thank you.