OTM Finishes

In the last week I've played 50 $5.5 Stars STT's with the following results:

32% ITM

Finish %
1st 2%
2nd 10%
3rd 20%
4th 24%
5th 18%
6th 10%
7th 12%
8th 4%
9th 0%

I've had 14 straight OTM's, with 7 being 4th place.

For comparison before this I played 33 $1.2 STT's with virtually the same results (36% ITM) I play a very tight game, I don't l pay weak aces early on etc. Also I don't use any tracking software etc. I've read Harrington, Moshman, Sklansky and Nelson's books on tourney play.

Are there any specific suggestions on how to improve my ITM%? Or should I just go down in levels? Or go back to cash games?

I think I can master this game but I'm obviously I'm very disappointed and discouraged about the results.

isnt 14 ootm standard for sng's?

Yeah around 14 OOTM is pretty standard. Hard to tell from your stats if your playing well or not, but 36% ITM isnt very good at the $1's. Problem is you don't have much of a sample size so your true ITM could be much higher

A few points I forgot to make:

1. I don't mind too much losing the money because I'd spend it at a bar anyway Losing a few hundred bucks to gain experience to eventually win thousands in the future seems to be a good investment, and playing poker at home is much more desirable than a 9-5 grind.

2. I want to become an STT semi-pro to supplement my teaching income, and I'd rather work in my room rather than run around to earn money.

3. I already have Wilson Tournament and Poker Academy so I can practice more before heading online.

4. I'm willing to invest in lessons from Jennifear et al. and poker software if it would help my long-term success.

5. One tactic that seems to work for me is when I have either trips or 2 pair is to make either a pot bet or move all-in. I can't recall losing a hand doing this.

6. I don't see a significant difference in the skill level between $1.2 and $5.5, except at $5.5 they are a little tighter early on and less all-ins than $1.2.

7. I think I have down pat what NOT to do I just need to do some things better to get more ITM's and improve my ROI.

First, download the free demo of SNGWiz and go through all your recent games, make sure to adjust the opponent ranges based on your reads in every hand. Post any difficult hands or a whole tournament here for review.

While your sample size is way too small to make any conclusions (1000 would be a good amount), assuming those were close to your real stats, it looks like you bubble out too much and get slaughtered in heads up. You probably aren't opening up your game enough when the blinds get high, and you're not stealing enough from position.

14 straight OOM happens, I think my record is 22. The important thing is to not let those streaks affect your game. If you play well, the results will come, don't start adjusting your game because of losses.

A couple comments on your points.

4. No opinion about lessons really, never used them. As for software, PokerTracker is a must, but I'm not sure what would be a good purchase right now with all the new tools and versions, maybe ask in the tools of poker section.

5. That's way too simplified. If you have a hand, generally you want to get the pot as big as possible to extract the most value. The best way to do this, however, depends on the situation.

6. Probably true, feel free to move up when you have the bankroll and otherwise feel comfortable moving up. Surely you've read the stickies on bankroll management?

7. Post hands/tournaments here and we'll see.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by BKKPLAYER

4th 24%
5th 18%

Those are the bad ones. Don't get discourage though, you're quite close. Just a few small improvements and those will become 2nds/3rds, and your RoI will rocket.

What situations are you finding yourself in when there are 4/5 left? (blinding out and having to take a flip, trying to steal and getting caught postflop, etc etc)

Mostly blinding out and I get to the point were I have no choice but to push all-in. I usually don't have much success blind stealing either.

re#5 I know the tactic is oversimplistic but I can't count how many times I've had my trips or 2 pair busted so that's why I pot bet or jam if I see potential straight or flush draws.

I've just won my first $3.4 turbo so maybe things are looking up...

Originally Posted by arfster

Originally Posted by BKKPLAYER

4th 24%
5th 18%

Those are the bad ones. Don't get discourage though, you're quite close. Just a few small improvements and those will become 2nds/3rds, and your RoI will rocket.

Actually over this small sample size it isn't too bad to have lots of 4ths and 5ths, but it's too hard to draw any definitive conclusion without seeing specific HHs. Far worse to have lots of 8th/9th place finishes than lots of 4ths/5ths.

Otherwise, I think the others in this thread gave good advice. 50 games is way too small a sample size to be worried about results; just keep on playing your A game and you'll be fine. Do post some hands/tourneys however!

Originally Posted by taipan168

Actually over this small sample size it isn't too bad to have lots of 4ths and 5ths, but it's too hard to draw any definitive conclusion without seeing specific HHs.

Sure sure, I meant in terms of motivation - he sounded a bit down on himself Just trying to say it's a very narrow gap from 4ths/5ths to ITM.

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I'll drop down to $1.2 to try to build back my BR.

I would actually expect to see a fair few 4ths and 5ths. As a general rule we're playing tight so going out earlier than 5th is usually a cooler or a bad beat, but we often end up in push/fold mode around the bubble.

I've played 83 games at $5.50 and my ITM is 28%. (according to Startracker) I now play $1.75 2-table turbos and I really like them. So far after 15 games I'm placing ITM more often. I guess my game is better suited for turbos or the competition isn't as tough or both.

Tiny sample size. If you've got a leak, its almost certainly not playing tight enough.

Admittedly a small sample size. Also if anything I too tight I play about 20% of my hands and I have trouble during bubble time and when the blinds and antes kick in. For some reason I don't feel as bad losing a turbo than a regular SNG-perhaps it's because there's less time invested in turbos.

20% would only be too tight if this refers to shorthanded play. Through the first 4 levels my VPIP is 10% through a sample of 600. I think a VPIP early on of 10-15% is a pretty good number to shoot for (for early levels)

Post a couple of tournies for us to look at. A lot of people who think they're playing tight, still arent playing tight enough.