Sit-and-Go Strategy - The Power Of Position
Friday, April 30, 2010
I don't think many of us fully understand how important position is during a sitngo. It is "the" most important factor throughout the game , especially when the game reaches the late stages and everyone is fighting for the money.
Understanding the power of position and how to use it effectively is a very important part of sitngo strategy. There are a lot of players who say "I had position on you". And they dont even know what it means. You must understand position, to become a successful sitngo player. PERIOD.
There are 3 different points of position you will have.They are Early, Middle, and Late position. Understanding positition is crucial at the beginning stages of a sitngo. (see post on sitngo strategy). Using position wisely at the beginning will save you valuable chips, and also earn you chips that you need to make it thru to the final stages.
Early Position
Being in early position is a very dangerous part of the game for most sitngo players. If you are one of the first 3 of the nine players to act then you are in "EARLY POSITION". Because you are one of the first to act then that puts you in a spot where you have no idea what kind of hands everyone else at the table has or (what your betting into).Making bets at the beginning stages of a sitngo is a very dangerous and usually costly thing. Many players make bets from early position, only to be called and re-raised and since they have no clue where they are at in the hand then, they are forced to fold, and therefore valuable chips are wasted. An even worse situation occurs when they call the reraise and end up all in by the end of the hand with cards that should have been folded.
Middle Position
Players 4-6 to the left of the dealer in a 9 player sitngo are in "Middle Position". From the middle position you can pick up some information on how strong your hand is, compared to early position, but there are still a few players left after you to act. Being in middle position is better than early, but you definitely don't want to be limping in with sub-par hands here during the early stages.
Late Position
Once your one of the last 3 players left to act, now you are in "late position". This is the position you want to be in. Now it becomes much more easier to get away with bluffs and stealing some blinds. It also becomes way less risky to limp in, because the odds of seeing the flop are greater because there or only 1 or 2 people who can make a raise at this point.
Bottom Line
Understanding position is key in being a successful sitngo player. If your a new sitngo player who has made it to the final stages of a sitngo and you start to become a little confused by everyone taking turns going all in or making big raises. What your seeing is everyone using position to take the blinds for that hand to stay alive. More often than not the person going all in doesn't have the best hand , they just have POSITION! Unless you have a HUGE chip lead at the final stage, you cannot afford to wait for the right hand. If you do not use position to take down pots, YOU WILL BE BLINDED OUT. But remember position will only keep you alive for so long. At some point there will be a Showdown because somebody has to win.
For more underground tactics and strategies on mastering position, check out this post
Understanding the power of position and how to use it effectively is a very important part of sitngo strategy. There are a lot of players who say "I had position on you". And they dont even know what it means. You must understand position, to become a successful sitngo player. PERIOD.
There are 3 different points of position you will have.They are Early, Middle, and Late position. Understanding positition is crucial at the beginning stages of a sitngo. (see post on sitngo strategy). Using position wisely at the beginning will save you valuable chips, and also earn you chips that you need to make it thru to the final stages.
Early Position
Being in early position is a very dangerous part of the game for most sitngo players. If you are one of the first 3 of the nine players to act then you are in "EARLY POSITION". Because you are one of the first to act then that puts you in a spot where you have no idea what kind of hands everyone else at the table has or (what your betting into).Making bets at the beginning stages of a sitngo is a very dangerous and usually costly thing. Many players make bets from early position, only to be called and re-raised and since they have no clue where they are at in the hand then, they are forced to fold, and therefore valuable chips are wasted. An even worse situation occurs when they call the reraise and end up all in by the end of the hand with cards that should have been folded.
Middle Position
Players 4-6 to the left of the dealer in a 9 player sitngo are in "Middle Position". From the middle position you can pick up some information on how strong your hand is, compared to early position, but there are still a few players left after you to act. Being in middle position is better than early, but you definitely don't want to be limping in with sub-par hands here during the early stages.
Late Position
Once your one of the last 3 players left to act, now you are in "late position". This is the position you want to be in. Now it becomes much more easier to get away with bluffs and stealing some blinds. It also becomes way less risky to limp in, because the odds of seeing the flop are greater because there or only 1 or 2 people who can make a raise at this point.
Bottom Line
Understanding position is key in being a successful sitngo player. If your a new sitngo player who has made it to the final stages of a sitngo and you start to become a little confused by everyone taking turns going all in or making big raises. What your seeing is everyone using position to take the blinds for that hand to stay alive. More often than not the person going all in doesn't have the best hand , they just have POSITION! Unless you have a HUGE chip lead at the final stage, you cannot afford to wait for the right hand. If you do not use position to take down pots, YOU WILL BE BLINDED OUT. But remember position will only keep you alive for so long. At some point there will be a Showdown because somebody has to win.
For more underground tactics and strategies on mastering position, check out this post
6 Handed Sit and Go's VS. 9 Handed Sit and Go's
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Most of us who start out playing in sitngo's start out playing 9 handed tournaments . We notice that there is a six handed game as well. I found myself curious about it after my friend who also a big sit and go player called me and told me i need to try playing the 6 handed games. So I did . So here are the similarities and differences. It will be up to you to decide which suites you better. The buy in amount, and starting chips are the same. Here is how a six handed game differs in structures.
- Only last 2 players left make the money
- 6 starting players instead of 9
As you can see the games are similar in structure. In each game you have to beat 66% of the field to make the money. Some people look at it this way. (not me). You have to beat 6 players to make the money 9 handed, but you only have to beat 4 people playing 6 handed. Here are the 2 main game play differences.
- Each player in a 6 handed game will see more hands and see them faster than
playing 9 handed
- More experienced players play in the 6 handed games, so competition is a little
stronger
Dont get me wrong , there are maniacs who play 6 handed, but you will see way less of these guys than in a 9 handed game. This can be good or bad. There may not be that idiot there who's going to double you up with a stupid play. But on the flipside, the idiot who is going to crack your Aces with some garbage hand may also not be there.
Another thing you need to realize is that your starting hands are a lot stronger starting out in a 6 handed game opposed to 9 handed. For example : A, 10 is not a huge starting hand with 9 players, but with only 6 people , the odds of you having the biggest ace is more probable. If you are familiar with basic sit and go strategy then you know that your range of starting hands widens once there are 3 players knocked out. Since there are only 6 people from the beginning , then basically you are starting the game at STAGE 2. Please see my previous post on basic sit and go strategy if you are not familiar wtih the 3 stages of a sit and go.
Because there are less people starting out, you will see many more hands, than playing 9 handed. Because of this you are able to afford to see more flops because you are playing more hands at at the low blind levels than playing 9 handed. You will also have much more time to be patient to wait for premium hands because you will see more hands while the blinds are relatively low.
You must learn to keep your raises consistent to the blinds in a 6 handed tournament. Some new players to playing in 6 handed games have trouble with this. Dont make raises based on how many people are left. Raise according to the blinds. A raise of 3 times the big blind will get your point across just fine. Be patient. Dont go into panic mode because you are the shortstack and there are 4 players left, as you would in a 9 handed game. Because the blinds are lower with 4 people left playing in a six handed game. You can afford to be patient. Remember that you arent on the bubble until there are 3 players left.
Patience is the key playing in 6 handed games, while Agressiveness is king while playing 9 handed sit and go's.
Soooooo . Which is better? 9 handed or 6 handed sitngo's ?
As much as id like to tell you that one is better than the other, the truth is that it is a personal preference determined on your playing style. I encourage you to at least try out a few 6 handed games and you may find that they suit your style of play for one reason or another. I play in both depending on how im feeling at the time.
If your want a system that has been proven to get your more cashes at any sit and go level please READ THIS
good luck at the tables !
- Only last 2 players left make the money
- 6 starting players instead of 9
As you can see the games are similar in structure. In each game you have to beat 66% of the field to make the money. Some people look at it this way. (not me). You have to beat 6 players to make the money 9 handed, but you only have to beat 4 people playing 6 handed. Here are the 2 main game play differences.
- Each player in a 6 handed game will see more hands and see them faster than
playing 9 handed
- More experienced players play in the 6 handed games, so competition is a little
stronger
Dont get me wrong , there are maniacs who play 6 handed, but you will see way less of these guys than in a 9 handed game. This can be good or bad. There may not be that idiot there who's going to double you up with a stupid play. But on the flipside, the idiot who is going to crack your Aces with some garbage hand may also not be there.
Another thing you need to realize is that your starting hands are a lot stronger starting out in a 6 handed game opposed to 9 handed. For example : A, 10 is not a huge starting hand with 9 players, but with only 6 people , the odds of you having the biggest ace is more probable. If you are familiar with basic sit and go strategy then you know that your range of starting hands widens once there are 3 players knocked out. Since there are only 6 people from the beginning , then basically you are starting the game at STAGE 2. Please see my previous post on basic sit and go strategy if you are not familiar wtih the 3 stages of a sit and go.
Because there are less people starting out, you will see many more hands, than playing 9 handed. Because of this you are able to afford to see more flops because you are playing more hands at at the low blind levels than playing 9 handed. You will also have much more time to be patient to wait for premium hands because you will see more hands while the blinds are relatively low.
You must learn to keep your raises consistent to the blinds in a 6 handed tournament. Some new players to playing in 6 handed games have trouble with this. Dont make raises based on how many people are left. Raise according to the blinds. A raise of 3 times the big blind will get your point across just fine. Be patient. Dont go into panic mode because you are the shortstack and there are 4 players left, as you would in a 9 handed game. Because the blinds are lower with 4 people left playing in a six handed game. You can afford to be patient. Remember that you arent on the bubble until there are 3 players left.
Patience is the key playing in 6 handed games, while Agressiveness is king while playing 9 handed sit and go's.
Soooooo . Which is better? 9 handed or 6 handed sitngo's ?
As much as id like to tell you that one is better than the other, the truth is that it is a personal preference determined on your playing style. I encourage you to at least try out a few 6 handed games and you may find that they suit your style of play for one reason or another. I play in both depending on how im feeling at the time.
If your want a system that has been proven to get your more cashes at any sit and go level please READ THIS
good luck at the tables !
New Software Allows You To Create Poker Blogs In Minutes!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
A new software was just launched that takes the "hard work" out of maintaining and adding fresh content to your blog. This software is will work wonders for a new poker affiliate trying to penetrate their niche, or the experienced poker blogger who wants to get their blog running on autopilot.
As a poker affiliate it is very hard work getting content to your blog finding the right images to increase the overall look of your blog.(especially if you have no blogging experience).Trust me , i know! With Bloghatter you will have the ability to literally take 4 different niche's and create 4 separate blogs for each niche, taking only minutes for each one. You can then use Bloghatter to contol the posting for each blog. Now your on your way to starting your poker blog empire!
Here is a list of features -
Once you start using Bloghatter, you will be hoping that the other poker affiliates out there dont catch wind of it. CLICK HERE to check out more about blog hatter ..... or click here to see a video.
Here is a list of features -
- Eliminates the hard work of writing content for your blog
- Import enough articles to fill your blog with content with the push of a button
- It finds and imports images and videos to put on your blog to increase the quality perception of your blog
- Rewrites content in seconds with its synonym and replacement tool so content is "original"
- "Plug and Play" simplicity allows you to start using it right now
- Translating feature allows your visitors to see your content in different languages
- Legally steals traffic from blogger and wordpress and sends the traffic to you
- Schedule your blog to post automatically so your blog can be on autopilot
Once you start using Bloghatter, you will be hoping that the other poker affiliates out there dont catch wind of it. CLICK HERE to check out more about blog hatter ..... or click here to see a video.
Sit And Go Strategy : Exploit Your Opponents by Taking Notes On Them
Taking notes on your opponents is a very easy but not often used tactic by Sit and go players. All you have to do is right click on some player you have noticed doing something worth remembering , and make a note of it. Anyone who puts in enough hours playing in sitngo's at a certain buy in level will frequently encounter the same players. You can give yourself and instant edge over these players by making note of their tendencies. The G.I JOE theme comes to mind - "knowing is half the battle" . LOL
Here are a list of "habits" worth taking note of and using to exploit your opponent , or to avoid them and give yourself an advantage over that player when you meet them at the next sit and go.
#1- How They play Big Hands - Pay attention to what players do when they have a monster hand like AA, KK, AK.etc.... How did they bet it before the flop ? And how did they play it after the flop? Take note of anything that stood out to you about how that player played the hand so when you get into a confrontation with them you know what to look for to determine whether or not you are up against a monster.
#2 - Bluffers - Make a note on someone you notice bluffing a lot. Also make a note of how much they are betting on their bluffs. If you can put someone on a bluff, a re-raise will take down the pot almost every time.
# 3 - Chasers - If you notice a player constantly calling bets all the way to the river on a draw, Take note. If you later find yourself in a situation where you thought you had the best hand until the 3rd diamond came on the river, and your against a player that you have noted will call you down on the flush draw may make it a little easier to answer your own question "did he hit his flush?" Being able to make a good decision here will often times save your tournament life!
# 4 - Dangerous Players - If you find yourself in a confrontation with a player who totally outplays you or traps you on a number of occasions. Take note . You will want to simply avoid that player if at all possible. If they've gotten you twice, why let them get you a third time. Eventually by watching and taking notes on this player it will make it easier for you to deal with them in the future, when a confrontation is inevitable.
# 5 - Anything You Think is Valuable Information - There are so many sit and go strategies out there right now , its hard to keep track of all the odd things some players are doing. Make a note of anything that stands out to you about the play of any certain player. When this player tries to use these tactics on you. You will already have a good idea what your up against.
# 6 - Tight / Aggressive Players - If you notice that a player is tight, and is folding unless they have a monster or hit top pair . Take advantage of that player when you fell that they didn't hit. But, be very cautious if this player raises or re-raises you. On the other side of this , if you notice that a player is super aggressive, take note, and use this info to trap that player when you have a BIG hand , by using their aggressiveness against them.
Start profiling your opponents as a way to become a more profitable sitngo player. If you want info on how to have your opponents profiled automatically CLICK HERE. Good luck at the tables.
Here are a list of "habits" worth taking note of and using to exploit your opponent , or to avoid them and give yourself an advantage over that player when you meet them at the next sit and go.
#1- How They play Big Hands - Pay attention to what players do when they have a monster hand like AA, KK, AK.etc.... How did they bet it before the flop ? And how did they play it after the flop? Take note of anything that stood out to you about how that player played the hand so when you get into a confrontation with them you know what to look for to determine whether or not you are up against a monster.
#2 - Bluffers - Make a note on someone you notice bluffing a lot. Also make a note of how much they are betting on their bluffs. If you can put someone on a bluff, a re-raise will take down the pot almost every time.
# 3 - Chasers - If you notice a player constantly calling bets all the way to the river on a draw, Take note. If you later find yourself in a situation where you thought you had the best hand until the 3rd diamond came on the river, and your against a player that you have noted will call you down on the flush draw may make it a little easier to answer your own question "did he hit his flush?" Being able to make a good decision here will often times save your tournament life!
# 4 - Dangerous Players - If you find yourself in a confrontation with a player who totally outplays you or traps you on a number of occasions. Take note . You will want to simply avoid that player if at all possible. If they've gotten you twice, why let them get you a third time. Eventually by watching and taking notes on this player it will make it easier for you to deal with them in the future, when a confrontation is inevitable.
# 5 - Anything You Think is Valuable Information - There are so many sit and go strategies out there right now , its hard to keep track of all the odd things some players are doing. Make a note of anything that stands out to you about the play of any certain player. When this player tries to use these tactics on you. You will already have a good idea what your up against.
# 6 - Tight / Aggressive Players - If you notice that a player is tight, and is folding unless they have a monster or hit top pair . Take advantage of that player when you fell that they didn't hit. But, be very cautious if this player raises or re-raises you. On the other side of this , if you notice that a player is super aggressive, take note, and use this info to trap that player when you have a BIG hand , by using their aggressiveness against them.
Start profiling your opponents as a way to become a more profitable sitngo player. If you want info on how to have your opponents profiled automatically CLICK HERE. Good luck at the tables.
Are You A New Online Poker player and Need Help? - I GOT YOU !
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Hey guys its SitngoJoe here. If any of you reading this are new to online poker and find yourself with a question you need answered then just reply to this post and i will give you the best answer possible. Ive put in thousands of hours playing online, and iv'e tried every strategy there is to try out there. Are you continually getting bad beated? Ive been there. Are you having deposit problems? Ive had those too.
I started out playing online about a year ago, and i've been hooked ever since. I just wish i had someone to ask questions to along the way. Waiting for an answer from a poker room's support team may take more time than we would like to wait, as you will notice, if you already haven't. Trial and error is a good teacher, BUT when your making errors with real money , it can become expensive. I have been dedicating my time to researching strategy's, and software and anything else that can make the time i put in playing poker online more profitable. Along the way I've come into contact with some cool guys who run some of best poker sites online.
Any question you have at all concerning online poker , please ask. I will quickly respond to you with an answer, and if i need help getting it , i have no problem using the resources i have to get you an answer. GOOD LUCK at the tables and hope to be talking to you soon! (Dont forget to save this site as a favorite so you can find me again :))
I started out playing online about a year ago, and i've been hooked ever since. I just wish i had someone to ask questions to along the way. Waiting for an answer from a poker room's support team may take more time than we would like to wait, as you will notice, if you already haven't. Trial and error is a good teacher, BUT when your making errors with real money , it can become expensive. I have been dedicating my time to researching strategy's, and software and anything else that can make the time i put in playing poker online more profitable. Along the way I've come into contact with some cool guys who run some of best poker sites online.
Any question you have at all concerning online poker , please ask. I will quickly respond to you with an answer, and if i need help getting it , i have no problem using the resources i have to get you an answer. GOOD LUCK at the tables and hope to be talking to you soon! (Dont forget to save this site as a favorite so you can find me again :))
Sit And Go Strategy - 3 Things To Do Before Starting Your Sitngo Career
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Hopefully you have been let in on the little secret that the Sit-And-Go format is the Cash Cow of online poker. There are thousands of people right now playing in six sitngo's simultaneously, and making double the hourly wage (or more) that you are making at your 9-5 job that you got up early this morning to get to. We all dream of this being our own reality. It is a realistic goal, BUT it is not easy.
Do not start out like me and make deposit after deposit, thinking that I'm a good poker player, and I'm just going to play online and make some money. It doesn't take long to realize that playing online is a different world from what your used to. You will try to tell yourself that you are not winning because of bad luck. Its not that you are unlucky, or even that you are not a good poker player.The problem is you haven't taken the necessary steps to start out as a good ONLINE poker player. You can learn to be a good online player over time by putting in the hours. Unfortunately that option, will cost you a lot of money.
DO NOT be the normal newbie online player who is going to donate your money for months before realizing that you need to enhance your game to compete with these guys who have been paying their mortgage with your hard earned money. Before you make another deposit (or your first one), you need to follow these steps before you can expect to be a profitable online player.
STEP # 1 - UNDERSTAND BANKROLL MANAGEMENT
As a rule of thumb , you want to have a bankroll around 20 times the amount of the sitngo buy-in level you want to play in. You don't want to be playing in games at a level so low, that you don't care if you lose or not. You also don't want to be playing in a buy in level so high, that you are too concerned with losing that amount of money, and unable to play your game effectively. Move up and down in level according to your bankroll, if you have gotten your bankroll high enough to move up in buy in level do that. But don't forget to move down in buy in level if your bankroll starts to diminish. If you do not pay attention to bankroll management, then you will find yourself making deposit after deposit and never making a profit.
STEP # 2 - HAVE A STRATEGY
If you are considering playing poker online or are already an online player, then I'm sure you believe that you are good enough to make a profit. There is a 10% chance that this is true. Why do i say that? I say this because 90 percent of online players do not turn a profit on a month to month basis. They lose! I suggest you find an online training course or get a sitngo strategy guide so that you are ready for the many challenging situations and fierce players that are waiting for you at the tables. You may want to do this now, or you can wait until after you have made a small fortune in deposits, and have no choice but to start looking for help. You can either search the internet for tips and strategys for free or you can buy one such as projectsng, which will have everything you need to show you how to make a profit playing in sitngo's.
STEP # 3 - GET AN ODDS CALCULATOR
Most new online players don't even know that odds calculators even exist. I didn't know until after about 5 months of losing money online. An odds calculator will attach to your game and profile your opponents for you. This will make is easy for you to identify people who or likely bluffing or people who are tight, and you should stay away from. They will also give you the instant odds that you have the winning hand from preflop all the way to the river, as well as give you pot odds, so you know if you are getting your moneys worth if you are trying to decide whether to call or not. Odds calculators do not play the game for you or guarantee that you will win or lose a hand. But they are a valuable online poker tool. Veteran poker players do not need them because they can quickly calculate these odds in their head. After using an odds calculator for a while these odds will start to come natural to you too, which will also make you a more deadly LIVE poker player. The best one i have found is tournamentindicator. They also have a free 48 hour trial.
If you do these 3 steps, i have no doubt that you will be on your way to being a profitable sitngo player. If you ignore these steps you may find yourself stuck in the 90% of online players who play month after month and never turn a profit, and only have countless bad beat stories to show for their efforts. Good luck.
Do not start out like me and make deposit after deposit, thinking that I'm a good poker player, and I'm just going to play online and make some money. It doesn't take long to realize that playing online is a different world from what your used to. You will try to tell yourself that you are not winning because of bad luck. Its not that you are unlucky, or even that you are not a good poker player.The problem is you haven't taken the necessary steps to start out as a good ONLINE poker player. You can learn to be a good online player over time by putting in the hours. Unfortunately that option, will cost you a lot of money.
DO NOT be the normal newbie online player who is going to donate your money for months before realizing that you need to enhance your game to compete with these guys who have been paying their mortgage with your hard earned money. Before you make another deposit (or your first one), you need to follow these steps before you can expect to be a profitable online player.
STEP # 1 - UNDERSTAND BANKROLL MANAGEMENT
As a rule of thumb , you want to have a bankroll around 20 times the amount of the sitngo buy-in level you want to play in. You don't want to be playing in games at a level so low, that you don't care if you lose or not. You also don't want to be playing in a buy in level so high, that you are too concerned with losing that amount of money, and unable to play your game effectively. Move up and down in level according to your bankroll, if you have gotten your bankroll high enough to move up in buy in level do that. But don't forget to move down in buy in level if your bankroll starts to diminish. If you do not pay attention to bankroll management, then you will find yourself making deposit after deposit and never making a profit.
STEP # 2 - HAVE A STRATEGY
If you are considering playing poker online or are already an online player, then I'm sure you believe that you are good enough to make a profit. There is a 10% chance that this is true. Why do i say that? I say this because 90 percent of online players do not turn a profit on a month to month basis. They lose! I suggest you find an online training course or get a sitngo strategy guide so that you are ready for the many challenging situations and fierce players that are waiting for you at the tables. You may want to do this now, or you can wait until after you have made a small fortune in deposits, and have no choice but to start looking for help. You can either search the internet for tips and strategys for free or you can buy one such as projectsng, which will have everything you need to show you how to make a profit playing in sitngo's.
STEP # 3 - GET AN ODDS CALCULATOR
Most new online players don't even know that odds calculators even exist. I didn't know until after about 5 months of losing money online. An odds calculator will attach to your game and profile your opponents for you. This will make is easy for you to identify people who or likely bluffing or people who are tight, and you should stay away from. They will also give you the instant odds that you have the winning hand from preflop all the way to the river, as well as give you pot odds, so you know if you are getting your moneys worth if you are trying to decide whether to call or not. Odds calculators do not play the game for you or guarantee that you will win or lose a hand. But they are a valuable online poker tool. Veteran poker players do not need them because they can quickly calculate these odds in their head. After using an odds calculator for a while these odds will start to come natural to you too, which will also make you a more deadly LIVE poker player. The best one i have found is tournamentindicator. They also have a free 48 hour trial.
If you do these 3 steps, i have no doubt that you will be on your way to being a profitable sitngo player. If you ignore these steps you may find yourself stuck in the 90% of online players who play month after month and never turn a profit, and only have countless bad beat stories to show for their efforts. Good luck.
Sit and Go Strategy - Why Not To Fold Your Small Pocket Pair So Quickly
If you look at any sitngo strategy guide or read some advice from the pros they are going to tell you to fold your small pocket pairs in the beginning stages of the game, and tell you to only play premium hands, such as AA, KK, QQ, and AK. This may be a proven strategy, but they may be overlooking the reward of making the call with a pocket pair and flopping "trips", opposed to losing the amount of chips it cost me to make the call. Doubling your chip stack in the beginning stages of a sitngo, will almost double your odds of making it into the money.
Small pocket pairs are one of the toughest hands to put your opponent on, so when you limp in or call a raise, they will normally think that you have big cards. What your hoping to do is catch a set on the flop. When you do flop "trips", it is almost hard not to smile because now you know that you are not only about to take this pot down, but many times take ALL of someones chips and double your stack. You are hoping that your opponent hit their ace or king, and they believe they have you beat. You may have risked a small portion of your stack to make the call , but the reward was worth it.
If you don't flop a set, dont give up on the pot . Your hand still may be best. If the flop comes and there aren't any scary cards out there and my opponent checks . I make a bet the size of the pot. A very high percentage of the time , that bet will take down the pot. If someone does call here , it may be because they are drawing, and hoping to hit on the turn. If you get reraised , fold! Do not waste any more chips at this point because are probably beat. But it is also possible , that the rest of the hand will be checked down, and your small pair is still best.
Anytime you are dealt a pocket pair, make sure you evaluate your chipstack and how much it will cost you to see a flop. If you can afford the risk , then you may want to make the call in hopes of getting the reward of doubling your chip stack . Doubling up early in a sitngo will definately increase your odds of making it into the money. Although it isnt necessary, it sure beats fighting for your life on the bubble.
Small pocket pairs are one of the toughest hands to put your opponent on, so when you limp in or call a raise, they will normally think that you have big cards. What your hoping to do is catch a set on the flop. When you do flop "trips", it is almost hard not to smile because now you know that you are not only about to take this pot down, but many times take ALL of someones chips and double your stack. You are hoping that your opponent hit their ace or king, and they believe they have you beat. You may have risked a small portion of your stack to make the call , but the reward was worth it.
If you don't flop a set, dont give up on the pot . Your hand still may be best. If the flop comes and there aren't any scary cards out there and my opponent checks . I make a bet the size of the pot. A very high percentage of the time , that bet will take down the pot. If someone does call here , it may be because they are drawing, and hoping to hit on the turn. If you get reraised , fold! Do not waste any more chips at this point because are probably beat. But it is also possible , that the rest of the hand will be checked down, and your small pair is still best.
Anytime you are dealt a pocket pair, make sure you evaluate your chipstack and how much it will cost you to see a flop. If you can afford the risk , then you may want to make the call in hopes of getting the reward of doubling your chip stack . Doubling up early in a sitngo will definately increase your odds of making it into the money. Although it isnt necessary, it sure beats fighting for your life on the bubble.
The Best Way To Play Ace King
Monday, March 29, 2010
Here you are ,the average SitngoJoe in the middle of a sitngo , and u wake up to Ace King. What do you do?. Not knowing the answer to that question can cost you a boatload of chips. Many of us look at that hand, and fall in love with it. What we dont realize is that Big Slick is a drawing hand. Dont get me wrong, it is a very strong hand PREFLOP. The problem that most of us have is that we cant let it go after the flop, even when we are just DRAWING. When the flop doesnt bring an ace or a king, its like we refuse to believe that our opponent has us beat, and too many times we will call big bets, or even worse, call someones all in, and just like that Big Slick has cost you all your chips.Hopefully you find the following post by Stuart Raffeld as helpful as i did. Please read on.
What Is Big Slick?
The name 'Big Slick' is a nickname for Ace King. Hopefully you knew that. Also Ace king is the 9th best starting hand but is the 7th best starting hand if you get A,K suited!
How To Play Preflop
I know that its a very nice thing to look down at A,K and get pretty happy, but just remember that it is a drawing hand. Because it is as drawing hand, it isn't as strong yet as having a pair.You definately want to make a raise pre-flop with Ace King. Your going to want to use your position to determine the size of the raise. If you are first act then you want to make a raise or around 3 times the big blind. If you find yourself last to act or even next to last to act with Ace King , you want to raise about 5 times the big blind to get all the limpers out. You want to show you have a big hand , but not set yourself up to bust out after the flop if you dont hit.
What To Do After The Flop
After you make your pre flop raise there should technically only be players left with big cards or pocket pairs. The flop will determine your next move. If you dont hit anything on the flop, then dont bet, unless it is checked to you or there is only a small raise made ahead of you. If you are in position and all players have either checked or just limped, then make a big raise. You have the 2 highest cards in the deck, and your most likely up against a weaker hand or a small pocket pair. Do not forget that you still only have a drawing hand. At this point you want to figure out where your at and react accordingly. If the flop is all low cards, you have nothing but high card. If you end up with a flop that gives you a straight possiblity, than your looking at having about 4 outs at best. If you find yourself needing 1 card for the nut flush after the flop, your looking at about 9 outs.
The Bottom Line
Dont fall in love with ACE KING . Its a great starting hand, but if you dont hit on the flip, then you are beat by any pair.(even a stinky pair of 2's). Alot of players just cant let it go. I know you see it happening out there. Remember that if you dont hit on the flop, you are just drawing, and at best only have high card. So analyze the situation and your outs, and adjust accordingly.(its ok to fold A,K somtimes)..lol.... I hope this was helpful. Good luck at the table.
for more information on how to instantly get your odds of winning a hand please read this post.
What Is Big Slick?
The name 'Big Slick' is a nickname for Ace King. Hopefully you knew that. Also Ace king is the 9th best starting hand but is the 7th best starting hand if you get A,K suited!
How To Play Preflop
I know that its a very nice thing to look down at A,K and get pretty happy, but just remember that it is a drawing hand. Because it is as drawing hand, it isn't as strong yet as having a pair.You definately want to make a raise pre-flop with Ace King. Your going to want to use your position to determine the size of the raise. If you are first act then you want to make a raise or around 3 times the big blind. If you find yourself last to act or even next to last to act with Ace King , you want to raise about 5 times the big blind to get all the limpers out. You want to show you have a big hand , but not set yourself up to bust out after the flop if you dont hit.
What To Do After The Flop
After you make your pre flop raise there should technically only be players left with big cards or pocket pairs. The flop will determine your next move. If you dont hit anything on the flop, then dont bet, unless it is checked to you or there is only a small raise made ahead of you. If you are in position and all players have either checked or just limped, then make a big raise. You have the 2 highest cards in the deck, and your most likely up against a weaker hand or a small pocket pair. Do not forget that you still only have a drawing hand. At this point you want to figure out where your at and react accordingly. If the flop is all low cards, you have nothing but high card. If you end up with a flop that gives you a straight possiblity, than your looking at having about 4 outs at best. If you find yourself needing 1 card for the nut flush after the flop, your looking at about 9 outs.
The Bottom Line
Dont fall in love with ACE KING . Its a great starting hand, but if you dont hit on the flip, then you are beat by any pair.(even a stinky pair of 2's). Alot of players just cant let it go. I know you see it happening out there. Remember that if you dont hit on the flop, you are just drawing, and at best only have high card. So analyze the situation and your outs, and adjust accordingly.(its ok to fold A,K somtimes)..lol.... I hope this was helpful. Good luck at the table.
for more information on how to instantly get your odds of winning a hand please read this post.
10 Common Opponent Errors to Start Exploiting Today
Saturday, March 27, 2010
We All can improve our poker game. The best thing we can do to improve is to evaluate our own play and figure out what our weaknesses are and become more disciplined. There are many common mistakes that most of us make and we dont even realize it. For example ,how many times have you lost a big pot and said to yourself "i never should have been in this hand". The funny part is we will make the same mistake the very next game. Please check out the following article by Mark Holland, and hopefully it sheds a little bit of light on what im talking about.
Single table online poker tournaments, popularly known as 'Sit N Go' tournaments are an increasingly popular form of online poker. Usually lasting around 1 hour and playing 3 places these tournaments are available at buy-in levels ranging from just $1 up to $1000! This article focuses on the lower buy-in Sit N Go poker tournaments and examines common errors made by the players you will find there.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #1 - Playing Too Loose Early
Many opponents will play far to many hands at the start of a Sit N Go - when the blinds are low. The most common error is to play 'easily dominated' hands such as an Ace with a small kicker. Playing only the best starting hands early conserves chips for the more important later stages. If your opponents are playing too loose early make sure you raise strongly when dealt a premium hand - they will be a great source of chips.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #2 - Multi-Way Pots and Position
Many opponents will enter a multi-way pot by calling a raise pre-flop with a medium strength hand during the early blind levels. This is a dangerous play with a medium pair (for example), these players will have no idea where they stand after the flop and may be out of position relative to the original raiser. Playing for set-value for a small pre-flop investment is one thing - but calling raises in multi-way pots is usually asking to lose a lot of chips.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #3 - Adjusting to Increasing Blinds
As the blinds increase and the number of players go down then adjustments to your starting hands are required. In the middle stages of a Sit N Go Poker Tournament your raising requirements need to go down the hands with which you can call a raise need to tighten up considerably. A common error would be calling a raise with a small pair - when the blinds reach 10% of your stack implied odds for this play disappear!
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #4 - Bad Play From The Blinds
If you never defend your big blind your will quickly become short stacked in Sit N Go Poker. Conversely always defending will lead to being 'trapped' for a large pot sooner or later. Watch for opponents making errors at the extremes and balance your own play from the blinds - you need to put enough doubt in opponents minds as to whether they can steal from you without going over the top.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #5 - Understanding the Bubble
Many opponents will not understand the dynamic of bubble play in Sit N Go poker strategy. Errors come in various forms and include not being aware of stack size adjustments and calling all-in bets without premium holdings. Most of the profit in Sit N Go tournaments comes from correct bubble strategy. Make sure you check out resources such as the comprehensive strategy articles at 'Sit and Go Planet' to get a profitable edge in this area.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #6 - Understanding Chip Equity Models
The Independent Chip Model (ICM) is a key component of good Sit N Go poker strategy. This converts your chip stack into a dollar 'prize pool equity' figure. This figure is then used to compare your risk against reward for all-in confrontations at the bubble. Understanding ICM and adjusting correctly will give you a huge advantage in Sit N Go poker tournaments.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #7 - Playing 'In The Money'
Once the bubble is burst in a Sit N Go poker tournament your opponents raising and calling ranges will also change dramatically. This in turn will affect how many hands you raise yourself. Correctly understanding the 'In the Money' strategy change will allow you to exploit your opponents weaknesses and move up the payout ladder.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #8 - Heads Up Battles
Once the blinds are more than 10% of your stack it is possible to play in such a way as to become 'mathematically unexploitable'. Of course it is still possible to adjust to your opponents play, but using 'Nash Equilibrium' models will ensure you can not lose more than your share over time. Readers interested in this can search for the freely available Sit N Go strategy eBook 'A Comedy of Errors'.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #9 - Playing Trap Hands
There are many adjustments in Sit N Go poker strategy that do not seem obvious to inexperienced players. One such area is 'trap hands'. As the blinds increase and the number of players shrinks some hands become more or less playable. Examples include AK, Suited Connectors and Small Pairs. Make sure you understand the correct strategy adjustments for various levels and see those results improve.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #1 - Never Stop Learning!
Many of your opponents will get into routine of playing Sit N Go poker using the same old ideas and strategies. The real winners in these games are people who take the time to study, find the weakest sites and opponents and look for their own 'leaks' in addition to those of opponents.
Single table online poker tournaments, popularly known as 'Sit N Go' tournaments are an increasingly popular form of online poker. Usually lasting around 1 hour and playing 3 places these tournaments are available at buy-in levels ranging from just $1 up to $1000! This article focuses on the lower buy-in Sit N Go poker tournaments and examines common errors made by the players you will find there.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #1 - Playing Too Loose Early
Many opponents will play far to many hands at the start of a Sit N Go - when the blinds are low. The most common error is to play 'easily dominated' hands such as an Ace with a small kicker. Playing only the best starting hands early conserves chips for the more important later stages. If your opponents are playing too loose early make sure you raise strongly when dealt a premium hand - they will be a great source of chips.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #2 - Multi-Way Pots and Position
Many opponents will enter a multi-way pot by calling a raise pre-flop with a medium strength hand during the early blind levels. This is a dangerous play with a medium pair (for example), these players will have no idea where they stand after the flop and may be out of position relative to the original raiser. Playing for set-value for a small pre-flop investment is one thing - but calling raises in multi-way pots is usually asking to lose a lot of chips.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #3 - Adjusting to Increasing Blinds
As the blinds increase and the number of players go down then adjustments to your starting hands are required. In the middle stages of a Sit N Go Poker Tournament your raising requirements need to go down the hands with which you can call a raise need to tighten up considerably. A common error would be calling a raise with a small pair - when the blinds reach 10% of your stack implied odds for this play disappear!
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #4 - Bad Play From The Blinds
If you never defend your big blind your will quickly become short stacked in Sit N Go Poker. Conversely always defending will lead to being 'trapped' for a large pot sooner or later. Watch for opponents making errors at the extremes and balance your own play from the blinds - you need to put enough doubt in opponents minds as to whether they can steal from you without going over the top.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #5 - Understanding the Bubble
Many opponents will not understand the dynamic of bubble play in Sit N Go poker strategy. Errors come in various forms and include not being aware of stack size adjustments and calling all-in bets without premium holdings. Most of the profit in Sit N Go tournaments comes from correct bubble strategy. Make sure you check out resources such as the comprehensive strategy articles at 'Sit and Go Planet' to get a profitable edge in this area.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #6 - Understanding Chip Equity Models
The Independent Chip Model (ICM) is a key component of good Sit N Go poker strategy. This converts your chip stack into a dollar 'prize pool equity' figure. This figure is then used to compare your risk against reward for all-in confrontations at the bubble. Understanding ICM and adjusting correctly will give you a huge advantage in Sit N Go poker tournaments.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #7 - Playing 'In The Money'
Once the bubble is burst in a Sit N Go poker tournament your opponents raising and calling ranges will also change dramatically. This in turn will affect how many hands you raise yourself. Correctly understanding the 'In the Money' strategy change will allow you to exploit your opponents weaknesses and move up the payout ladder.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #8 - Heads Up Battles
Once the blinds are more than 10% of your stack it is possible to play in such a way as to become 'mathematically unexploitable'. Of course it is still possible to adjust to your opponents play, but using 'Nash Equilibrium' models will ensure you can not lose more than your share over time. Readers interested in this can search for the freely available Sit N Go strategy eBook 'A Comedy of Errors'.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #9 - Playing Trap Hands
There are many adjustments in Sit N Go poker strategy that do not seem obvious to inexperienced players. One such area is 'trap hands'. As the blinds increase and the number of players shrinks some hands become more or less playable. Examples include AK, Suited Connectors and Small Pairs. Make sure you understand the correct strategy adjustments for various levels and see those results improve.
Sit N Go Poker Strategy - Opponent Error #1 - Never Stop Learning!
Many of your opponents will get into routine of playing Sit N Go poker using the same old ideas and strategies. The real winners in these games are people who take the time to study, find the weakest sites and opponents and look for their own 'leaks' in addition to those of opponents.
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