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You're typical SNG Tourney

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  1. #1

    Default You're typical SNG Tourney

    I would be interested to hear how you're typical tourney plays out. I would assume that most of you play a very tight game early, go into the bubble short most of the time and you're ROI is a reflection of you're bubble play.

    Is that a pretty good assessment? I think that is a typical tourney for me, and I assume as my bubble play get better so will my Roi. I am still leaving alot of money on the table making mistakes at the bubble that dont seem to be mistakes until I review them. Then they stick out like a sore thumb.
  2. #2
    There really isn't a typical tourney for me in terms of stack size because I often get to double (or more!) up early in the tourney by some bozo who can't let go of bottom pair on the flop.

    That said, the usual "formula" if there is one is to be very tight/aggressive in the early levels, loosening up around 50/100 then becoming looser beyond that, with a particular focus on correct bubble play.
  3. #3
    It depends. Take into consideration their range, math, icm, etc and make good decisions.

    Couple generalizations are correct I suppose like
    playing tight, playing solid push fold, etc.

    But really just exploiting the other players by attacking their weaknesses whatever those might be.
  4. #4
    you're post is hard for me not to troll
  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by drmcboy View Post
    you're post is hard for me not to troll
    lol

    It's pretty crucial in SNGs to be playing each hand on it merits and making sure you don't go into passive mode while waiting for the bubble to burst. There is money to be made! As far as typical games go, you are talking about pretty small differences. Most people don't have a whole lot of difference between 1st/2nd/3rd (ITM is normally around 37 - 39%) which obviously suggests there isn't really a thing such as a typical tournament.
  6. #6
    There is no such thing as a 'tournament'. There are just hands. The fact that some hands seem to be combined into entities called 'tournaments' is merely an illusion caused by man's everlasting and irrational desire to bring structure to the universe. Questions such as 'what's a typical tournament?', 'how to play in a tournament?', etc. are traces of mythological thinking which, while completely natural, are better to let go of.
  7. #7
    I suppose I didn't ask the question very well, sometimes I dont type my thoughts very well. I go into the bubble short alot of the time due to the very tight style of play early. Doubling up is nice, but it doesn't happen all that often before I get near the bubble. As a beginner I just wondered if it is the same for you guys that know what you are doing.

    Thanks for all responses.

    Dr. McBoy, while I always appreciate your matter of fact, crude but very educational responses, I am unfamiliar with what happens when you "troll a post". Please enlighten me.
  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by RiverMonster View Post
    I suppose I didn't ask the question very well, sometimes I dont type my thoughts very well. I go into the bubble short alot of the time due to the very tight style of play early. Doubling up is nice, but it doesn't happen all that often before I get near the bubble. As a beginner I just wondered if it is the same for you guys that know what you are doing.

    Thanks for all responses.

    Dr. McBoy, while I always appreciate your matter of fact, crude but very educational responses, I am unfamiliar with what happens when you "troll a post". Please enlighten me.
    Maybe loosening up once the blinds reach 50/100 ?
    The problem I have sometimes that I have my mind set on reaching the bubble because then your almost at your goal (reaching the money) So sometimes I play to passive and end up reaching the bubble but with so little chips that I would be the next guy to bust. Maybe changing the goal is a solution , instead of aiming at the bubble/ITM aim at winning the whole damn thing. Just the first thing that came to my mind about your problem
  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by RiverMonster View Post
    I suppose I didn't ask the question very well, sometimes I dont type my thoughts very well
    Au contraire, mon frere - I think it's a very interesting question for a new player.

    Comparing notes (I'm playing micro-stakes 45-man SnGs on P.Stars), I have found that sticking to the "Tight is Right" mantra invariably means arriving at the bubble in 3 Tourneys out of 4, but with an average M of 5.

    Breaking thru' used to depend on either:
    • doubling up early in the tourney ("by some bozo who can't let go of bottom pair on the flop" LOL! )
    • getting let thru by people busting out before me, or
    • being gifted no-brainer situations where I could make steals relentlessly

    So...look like we're in the same boat there?

    If so, something you might want to check out is Harrington on Hold 'Em Vol II, if you haven't already.

    He outlines a very plausible approach of dividing each Tourney into Phases or Zones based on your M, and basically turning up the heat as your M diminishes - so controlled rather than reckless aggression, whilst you still have a stack with some clout.

    It's definitely not a formula, but it does give some clear guidelines on things to watch for (e.g. monitoring the M of the rest of the table, and seeing if/how other players react) and how to exploit them.

    Anyone else have a view on this? My assumption is that Harrington's work is generic enough to be applicable to SnGs, but would appreciate any feedback.

    Cheers!

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