SNG to Ring

[AlexAllen02]

This may be way to broad of a question (actually I know it is), but I will ask it anyway.
I have made myself into a pretty profitable SNG player at the $20 buy-in level. I like playing them quite a bit, but I have a few frustrations including: time commitment needed, gambling when the blinds get big, the idea that ring may be more profitable, and the much-dreaded 4th place finish.
I would like to try some ring games but haven't had much luck in my few attempts. How do I need to change my style?
I'm thinking:
1. No real need to steal the blinds
2. No need to call any all in preflop with anything but AA or KK.
3. Can't think of a 3

If this is a too big of a question, feel free to ignore it. A few tips, strategies, or links to info may save me from looking like a total donk though.

Also, I will start small to see if I can win, but what is an appropriate limit to play at with around a $600 BR?

[ensign_lee]

With a 600 BR, you'd have 600x the BB or 6 buy-in's for $.50-$1.00, so I'd go with $.25-$.50 blinds, which is $50 NL, I believe?

Otherwise, if you wanna go the really safe route, $25 NL offers a BB of $.25.

[jmontis]

play 25 NL

learn how to value bet into weak players so they feel pot commited, THEN drop the hammer on them.

If a maniac raises preflop and you're looking at AA, you can sometimes smooth call, but usually you want to reraise it.

the play is pretty basic, very rarely bluff, and play very tight preflop.

[r8ed]

Table image in SNG's accounts for something (usually) and can be used to bluff some pots. Throw that out the window in ring - especially at 25NL. Remember that, because I did the same transition and got killed in ring at first. I thought since I had only played tight and showed premium hands, that I could bluff a couple hands. They don't notice or care when they are on a draw or have 3nd highest pair despite the odds.

Another thing is patience. I know if you were profitable at SNG's you are probably patient. But, in ring you can be even more patient. The blinds don't go up, so folding AK preflop to an ALL-IN even when they are loose should easy. You'll be in a better spot later.

[The_Bankroll]

Another thing is patience. I know if you were profitable at SNG's you are probably patient. But, in ring you can be even more patient. The blinds don't go up, so folding AK preflop to an ALL-IN even when they are loose should easy. You'll be in a better spot later.

yes, this is the most important part of Ring games, especially at $25NL. play really really tight pre-flop, but don't be afraid to raise with your big hands. it's a game of value betting above all else.

[UG]

Patience is key.

Start with the following set of "rules" and build your game up from here to where you play more starting hands, like suited connectors, Axs, etc:

AA-QQ: Raise any position, reraise all-in with AA and KK only...if reraised and you have QQ then reraise/call depending on read of player

JJ-22: Limp for sets, call raises up to 10% of your stack and opponents stack, "set it or forget it"

AK/AQ: Stealing hands, raise MP and LP, continuation bet to take down after flop


This is how I played when I started. I definitely play a wider range of hands now, but this is how I made money in the beginning...

[AlexAllen02]

Thanks for the great tips sp far.....keep them coming, this is exactly what I needed.

It sounds like a few of you have made the transition from SNG to ring....what do you think? Is it more profitable? Is it as much fun? It seems to me that you wouldn't have as many up and down swings, although I could be wrong.

[r8ed]

You will have swings, but earning bonuses was what made me switch. Even if you break even, you can make money if you earn bonuses. Another reason I switched was the time reason. I usually can only play after my son goes to sleep at night or if he takes a nap on the weekend. I remember being heads-up in a SNG while he's crying. I ran and grabbed him and ran back in but I felt like such a degenrate and couldn't concentrate.

[thirteen]

Thanks for the great tips sp far.....keep them coming, this is exactly what I needed.

It sounds like a few of you have made the transition from SNG to ring....what do you think? Is it more profitable? Is it as much fun? It seems to me that you wouldn't have as many up and down swings, although I could be wrong.

Ring can be very profitable, It does take a measure of patience to adapt your game though. I recently went back to SnG's after a couple months playing ring to clear a bonus. I missed the dynamics of the tourney game so i went back to SnG's.

[STIdrivr]

i enjoy playing tourney style more also which is why i mostly play SnG's, only when i dont have much time will i play ring

[AlexAllen02]

I remember being heads-up in a SNG while he's crying. I ran and grabbed him and ran back in but I felt like such a degenrate and couldn't concentrate.

Nice. That sounds all too familiar. I hit an all time low a few days ago when I had to finish up a SNG on my laptop at our family dinner table. If your wife doesn't share your poker playing passion, a situation like that can get a bit uncomfortable. Even after an explanation of the difference in payout from 1st to 2nd, she was not impressed. I don't know which one of us was the better player, but I am reasonably sure he didn't have two kids asking why he was using a computer while eating dinner while his wife coldly stared him down. I finished 2nd.

[Aces]

If you're clearing bonuses, most sites make you play ring. Once you are even a profitable ring player it's free money. You would probably need to learn how to multitable to make in worth your time.

I think which is more profitable depends on which you are better at and how hard you work at it. For me it's more profitable to play both. I prefer and spend more time on SNGs, but I play ring for the bonus/rakeback and also as a change of pace from SNGs to prevent burnout.

[r8ed]

I remember being heads-up in a SNG while he's crying. I ran and grabbed him and ran back in but I felt like such a degenrate and couldn't concentrate.

Nice. That sounds all too familiar. I hit an all time low a few days ago when I had to finish up a SNG on my laptop at our family dinner table. If your wife doesn't share your poker playing passion, a situation like that can get a bit uncomfortable. Even after an explanation of the difference in payout from 1st to 2nd, she was not impressed. I don't know which one of us was the better player, but I am reasonably sure he didn't have two kids asking why he was using a computer while eating dinner while his wife coldly stared him down. I finished 2nd.

You don't want your wife to "share your passion". Mine does and she's passionate about leaching from my bankroll.