Couple of Questions

[alreet]

I understand that in the early stages its best to play very tight, whens the time to loosen up? 8 Players? 7 Players? 6 Players?

Another thing, i really strugle with AK, it misses the flop everytime and i havent got a clue how to play it. Do u raise it up pre flop everytime?

is it advisable to play small -mid pairs in SnG's? or just in the final stages?

[daluchy]

I loosen up Level 4. I don't like blind stealing any earlier even if there aren't alot of players. Blinds are too small to make it profitable. I'll loosen up a bit if I start falling behind the blinds though so I'm not behind any further.

If you raise AK pre-flop, continue bet the flop if you miss. If your opponent didn't hit the flop either, they'll respect your pre-flop raise and flop bet and fold. I don't raise it alot early in the game. Basically everytime later on though.

Limp PP's early in SnG's and play "set it or forget it" on the flop. Later stages you use those to blind steal.

[STIdrivr]

You want to try to see the flop cheap with a small-mid pair and play for hitting the set on the flop earyly in a tourney. Also you may wanna try to see cheap flops with suited connectors 78 and up (some people like them some dont)
People like to play AK differently, personally i play it different to try to stay unpredictable. But all i can say is if you open for a raise with it pre flop, and get 1-2 callers, and you dont flop anything, you have to bet at the pot, if you dont that is just weak , they may have nothing either you need to see where you stand, dont bet enough to where you are comiting yourself to the pot though. If someone has raised the pot into you then you can play it multiple ways usually depending on position,chip sizes,and read on the player. You can re-raise to take control in the hand (and if you get re raised you will know you are behind and if it is a solid player then he may have KK AA so you should probably fold) You can call and try to hit a K or A on the flop and if not fold to any strength.

People play it differently depending their style. Just always remember that A K is still a drawing hand, but you can likely dominate people or if they have a wired pair it is most likely smaller than yours (which is about 50% 50%) so you usually have a chance. It is a good hand to go all in with if you are getting short stacked and try to get someone dominated or at least a heads up coin flip.

[Jeebus Kliest]

In general..level 4 or a tad later works well. Although it also is read based...sometimes you just get those tight tables that you have to take advantage of.

AK tends to win a lot by just pairing..there are other alternatives of course but I find the safest way to play it is raise a decent amount preflop to isolate a few players (typically those who will either display their strength if they have you beat so you know when to get rid of it, or those who have high cards and cant do much else than pair)

You hopefully get rid of draws...BB specials..and can typically outkick someone else...of course you are never invincible..so don't play stupid. Small and mid pp's...I will limp if i am pretty sure the pot wont get raised...otherwise folding...and doing that much I hate, seeing as if someone does raise...and you call...you should have raised in the first place. But sometimes raising small pairs puts you in a position of power when you are usually beat....so almost catch-22, so late position limp is lesser of the evils.

[alreet]

hmm im really sucking now, started with $100 playing $10 at PartyPoker, got up to $260 in a couple of days, and have lost 13 in a row, not even a 2nd or 3rd. Is party Poker Rubbish for SnGs, whats the best site? 800 chips isnt enough to start wiv, the blinds cripple you.

[vqc]

poker is about adjusting.
Learn to adjust to the 800 chips and you will do fine.

[alreet]

Think im playing too tight. early stages im folding everything but AA KK AK QQ and limping wiv small pairs. untill i real level 4 or 7 players, is that too tight?

[STIdrivr]

On poker stars you start with 1500 chips in all tourneys with blinds at 10/20, there are less fish on poker stars than most sites which can be bad(less easy money) or good (less bad beats and you will improve your game more)

[alreet]

4th nearly everytime lol, last 14, finished 4th 10 times!

[JeffreyGB]

IMHO, the time to loosen up depends less on the number of people at the table and the size of the blinds and more on how the people at the table are playing and the size of your M (your stack in comparison to the starting pot). If your M is down to 5 or less, you are pretty much pushing with any two, provided you get a decent situation. If it's down to 10, loosening up is warranted. If it's 10-20, playing tight is the right idea. If it's above 20, you might find it worthwhile to look for spots to play cheap pots with "high potential" hands, like 98s.

I stop playing low pocket pairs when my M gets under 15, and start pushing with them when it's close to 5.

How your table responds can change almost any part of the above.

[alreet]

omg im going on tilt soon cant take anymore of these 4th positions, played 5 2night and had another 4 4th positions in a row, to go with my 10 from last night.

[taipan168]

I feel your pain - of the last 10 SNGs I've played I've finished 4th 6 times (thankfully the other four have been 2 1sts and 2 3rds, which sort-of makes up for it). Just make sure that you don't start fearing the bubble and playing too conservatively as I have done.

[CCIE SOON]

omg im going on tilt soon cant take anymore of these 4th positions, played 5 2night and had another 4 4th positions in a row, to go with my 10 from last night.

Dont get discouraged. When learned SnG strategy I had a HORRIBLE streak of bubble finishes. When I finally got past the bubble, I got 1st, and ever since then I've been over 50% ITM with lots of 1sts and 2nds. Once i got over the hump, things got easier. Just relax, be patient, and pick your spots and you'll do fine

[alreet]

what do u mean by the bubble the last 4 ppl?

[PokerPatNEU]

"The bubble" is the point in a tournament where whoever goes out next is finishing just shy of being in the money. In standard 1 table SnGs, when 4 people are remaining, that is the bubble. Everyone is looking at everyone else and saying "whoever goes out next gets no money, i don't want that to be me."

Adjusting your play to the bubble is something that took me forever. The play style varies drastically based on your chip stack at this point. As a big stack you have the luxury of knowing you are probably not going to be getting eliminated on the bubble, and it's a good opportunity to steal a lot of blinds (especially from the 2nd adn 3rd stacks, who don't want to bubble out before the shortest stack at the table). As a short stack, you are basically the target of everyones aggression, they want you out so they can make the money and get on with the tournament. You are looking for a good spot to push all your chips in pre flop where you will hopefully get a call from a worse hand and take a chance at doubling up. Never try to limp hands that you aren't willing to push with as a short stack on the bubble. You will get set all in and just be forced to fold. Be careful raising into a bigger stack than yours on the bubble when you are 2nd or 3rd in chips. Picture this: You are second in chips, 4th in chips has about 5 times the big blind left...he is going to be going out very soon probably, the money is within your reach. You are dealt TT under the gun. This is a strong hand 4-handed. You decide to raise. The chip leader on the button sees your raise and pushes all in...Do you really want to call here and risk busting out before the short stack when you can easily limp into 3rd place and the money if you fold? That is some of the psycology you have to take into account during bubble time. Do not try and play the bubble the same as you were playing when there were still 7 people left.

There's a ton of information regarding the bubble on this forum, it's one of the most important times in an SnG. Read up on it and study and your 4th place finishes will turn into a lot more in the money finishes.

[alreet]

Ok, think ive been playing way too tight and way too passive, im going to chnage back to my old agressive style that saw me double my bankroll. im letting too many ppl catch up and limp in

[STIdrivr]

yea its all about power poker

[alreet]

2nd 3 times running since playing super agressive, much better

[STIdrivr]

not super agressive, Selective agressive. You want to play agressive at the right times, like if you sense weakness or if you have good position. Remember when it gets down to 5 players when only 4 get paid, most people are going to tighten up, that is when you need to steal more blinds. But dont get yourself pot comited on a steal. and try not to steal as much with hands that are likely dominated. basically anything with an A or K and low kicker. Try to do it more with suited conectors 76 and above or pairs

[kingnat]

If you want a real idea whether or not your are playing well.. post some Hand histories here. Simply stating that you lost 10 in a row.. and now have gotten 2nd 3 times in row means absolutely nothing.

From what I've learned on this forum there are only two effective ways of detemining how well you are playing:

1. Play 10,000 SnGs at the same buyin, on the same site and look at your ITM, and ROI numbers. (this may take awhile and cost you a LOT of money)

2. Post several of your hand histories (edited as the Sticky suggests), and get ripped apart by 'rilla, gabe, et al.

Simply posting that you've done well in your last two SnGs means diddly.