Hit or Miss: Sit-N-Go Strategy

I know you think  that I’m just a pretty face on the web-site but I must admit; I love to dabble in the online poker world.

I’ve played in my share of tournaments and, thanks to some tips from a Poker Pro friend, I’ve had some success after starting out as a novice.

These tips worked for me, so I’m sure they’ll work for you. I’ll be sharing these tips in the coming weeks so keep your eyes peeled as I pass on the poker strategies that helped to really improve my game.

This week, I’m sharing a six-step strategy to help you in Sit-N-Go tournaments. With so many tournaments online, you can sit down and play pretty much every hour but only the top few players in these tournaments get paid so it’s good to have a plan and stick to it. Don’t tip your hand early, be patient and get yourself into the flow of the tournament.

Strategy #1: Let the blinds determine your play

The majority of online poker tournaments use a steadily increasing blind. Early in the tournament, the blinds will be tiny in comparison to your starting bankroll. Take advantage of this by limping in with marginal hands and seeing more flops. By doing so, you have a chance to win some pots that you wouldn’t have played otherwise.

This is also a great time to try to play with suited connectors or unsuited bigger hands like 10h-Jd. On the contrary, at this time you should not get involved with big pre-flop raises as the pot odds are generally too small to warrant a call.

Blind stealing is a vital weapon in the player’s arsenal, but it’s not recommended in the early stages as the blinds you steal will be small. Why bet $200-$300 to steal $40? It’s not worth the risk. Save the blind stealing for when the big blind or ante is 10% of your total starting bankroll.

Some people state that the early stages of a tournament are about survival. Yes, you should avoid getting knocked out prematurely, but at the same time you don’t want to go on auto-fold waiting for others to pick each other off because while you sit there, someone else is accumulating chips.

Strategy #2: Have a plan and implement it

Have a purpose and a goal when you sit at the table. When you play in a multi-table tournament with more than 100 opponents, plan to double your chip count within the first hour and stay above the average of the chips everyone has left.

Doing this gives you flexibility in the hands you see later on and puts you in a better position for blind stealing. This isn't always possible, but when you find out who the suckers are you can force them into bad calls early. When you do reach your set goals, tighten up and play with patience.

Strategy #3: Always be aware of your position at the table

Knowing your position at a table cannot be overstated. Playing marginal hands in early positions is one of the most basic mistakes and is most important in Hold’Em and Omaha, where betting position is fixed.

In stud games, betting position will change with each card dealt. It’s important to apply the Golden Hold’Em Rule: tight at the front, loose at the back. When you are in the first four or five positions, lay down marginal starting hands as raises and re-raises after you act could force you to pay extra, or waste your first call.

In No Limit and Pot Limit games, position becomes even more important as any hand could be your last. By rule of thumb, save as many of your soldiers for the big battles as possible. When I was just starting out, I would foolishly blow several hundred in chips which prevented me from maximizing my stack when I had better starting hands. It’s better to double up $1000 than it is $500.

Strategy #4: Save the bluffing for later, but always bet your good cards

Bluffing is an important part of any poker player’s strategy, however when playing in small buy-in tournaments, there are always suckers that see your bets all the way to the end, with small pairs, draws and the like.

Bet all of your good hands, and do not slow play. Don't be afraid to win a pot without showing your hand. It’s better to win a small pot early than to lose a big pot later. Save your bluffing for the final few tables and everyone is playing tight to make it in the money.

Bluffing is much more effective against good players than against weaker ones. Pick on short stacks in survival mode and avoid players that have more chips than you as they aren’t as afraid of a bluff. Bluff much less in the beginning of the tournament when the money is smaller, it just doesn’t make sense to risk funds until the tournament is down to the final few tables.

I repeat, always bet your good hands unless you absolutely can’t be beaten.  As you’ve probably found out on your own, slow playing is risky and giving free cards allows your opponents to outdraw you. If you suspect that an opponent is drawing, make them pay to see that next card. This is one of the biggest mistakes poker players make. Unless you flop quads, or start with rolled up A's, you should bet early and often with your quality hands.

Strategy #5: Always be aware of the money

When you are close to the money, play tighter than normal. There is no worse feeling than playing in an online poker tournament for three or four hours and having nothing to show for your time.
Almost never play hands in early positions and don't blind steal. Just wait patiently until you’re guaranteed to be in the money and go from there.

Strategy #6: When you’re in the money, it is easy to get paid more

Many players are hanging on by a thread to make the final few tables. Once you’re in the money, don't loosen up and start playing poorly. I can't count the number of times someone has moved from 20th place to the final 10 simply by letting opponents 'battle it out'.

Many players who just made it to the money are happy with their result and will become very aggressive after reaching the money. Leave them alone and let other players knock them out. As each position pays more, every opponent knocked out is more money for you.

The only exception to this rule is when the blinds/ante's are so big that you’ll be all-in when you pay them. In this situation, if you are the short stack at the table, you need to attempt to stay in the game. Wait for a good position and when many of your opponents have folded and you have a medium-high starting hand, go all-in.

If you double up, you’ve guaranteed yourself a few extra spots in the money. If you lose, you did it on your terms, not by being 'blinded out'. Don’t be afraid of going all-in if your chips are dwindling. Other players see your shrinking stack and are waiting for you to depart before getting back in the game.

Go all-in and see what happens.

Take these tips with you to your next online tournament, watch your play improve and finish in the money.

Until next time, may the chips fall your way.

-Carrie