From Single to Double

[Shady]

I rapped up 100 SNGs yesterday and although not tremendous in number I felt it was a good time to reflect on my stats since I've logged all of them. It broke down like this:

ITM: 44.325%
Win when ITM: 31.993%
ROI: 32.443%

1sts: 14
2nd: 16
3rd: 14

I'm pretty happy with those stats the only one erking me a bit is the ROI. I've noticed when playing single table SNG's the only way your ROI will really increase is by winning the damn thing. When I look at the 2-tables at stars the payouts are practically doubled and the addition of 4th being ITM. So I thought since I'm doing failry well at single I should try double and push my ROI up.

I play my same style, but it doesn't seem to work out to well. I tend to hit the final table short stacked and not much room to work. I play pretty tight in the beginning of the singles and when the table gets thinned I find it very easy to be aggressive. In the 2-table ones its more difficult because the table doesn't thin for longer.

Just curious if anyone could give me some advice from going from single tables to 2-tables. I currently play $10+$1 single and am going to drop to $5 + $.50 2-tables and see what I can do. Should I approach these with more aggression or less? What are some of the strategies you use in these large SNG's?

[UncleBuddy]

I rapped up 100 SNGs yesterday and although not tremendous in number I felt it was a good time to reflect on my stats since I've logged all of them. It broke down like this:

ITM: 44.325%
Win when ITM: 39.993%
ROI: 32.443%

1sts: 14
2nd: 16
3rd: 14

I'm pretty happy with those stats the only one erking me a bit is the ROI. I've noticed when playing single table SNG's the only way your ROI will really increase is by winning the damn thing. When I look at the 2-tables at stars the payouts are practically doubled and the addition of 4th being ITM. So I thought since I'm doing failry well at single I should try double and push my ROI up.

I play my same style, but it doesn't seem to work out to well. I tend to hit the final table short stacked and not much room to work. I play pretty tight in the beginning of the singles and when the table gets thinned I find it very easy to be aggressive. In the 2-table ones its more difficult because the table doesn't thin for longer.

Just curious if anyone could give me some advice from going from single tables to 2-tables. I currently play $10+$1 single and am going to drop to $5 + $.50 2-tables and see what I can do. Should I approach these with more aggression or less? What are some of the strategies you use in these large SNG's?

Don't have any advice...but good job on the 100 games. Hopin i can keep up my pace, though I doubt it.

[Humphrind]

I have made the switch to 2 table SnGs. I found tey are not too much more difficult that 1 table and the payoffs are greater. Though I don't really do spreadsheets and keep numbers, I know that my ROI is greater in 2 tables than 1 tables.

[Shady]

I have made the switch to 2 table SnGs. I found tey are not too much more difficult that 1 table and the payoffs are greater. Though I don't really do spreadsheets and keep numbers, I know that my ROI is greater in 2 tables than 1 tables.

Yea thats what I'm looking for, I figured if I held my own with the stats I'm putting out in single tables, considering the payouts are a little less then double my ROI would double and profits would increase.

Was hoping for some insight before I took the plunge and ended up seeing my bankroll disappear.

[Iconoclastic]

Seems like earlier aggression might be advisable.

[DBL0SVN]

I tend to play mostly 2 table SnGs. The payouts are doubled but they they don't take twice as long as a single table SnG. In that sense, ROI is higher since I look at my investment as my time as well as the buy-in.

One comment I'd make is that the full final table plays very differently from a full table initially. Since the blinds are fairly high, you have a full table with a lot of players that are relatively shortstacked. There's a lot of a action and people drop out quickly at this stage. If you have an average stack, it's worth waiting for a good hand or good position. you will reach the bubble fairly quickly as the shortstacks get eliminated and then you probably need one decent hand or steal the blinds a couple of times on the bubble to make it ITM.

[DBL0SVN]

I play my same style, but it doesn't seem to work out to well. I tend to hit the final table short stacked and not much room to work. I play pretty tight in the beginning of the singles and when the table gets thinned I find it very easy to be aggressive. In the 2-table ones its more difficult because the table doesn't thin for longer.

Reread it and just saw this. If you're always getting to the final table shortstacked, then you need to be more aggressive earlier. It's important to get to the final table with enough money so you are not desperate and can play choice hands OR choice positions. Stealing blinds at the final table is VERY lucrative since they are so high and everyone is tight on the bubble. If you have a decent stack and get reraised when you try and steal, you can back off. If you were the shortstack, you have to go allin to steal and then if someone calls, your tournament is on the line.

[iwa]

Agreed, pulling in some chips early to pad your stack in a 2 table situation seems like the correct thing to do. Since the tables do not just get thinned down, it is harder to play a short hand game like one is able to in a 1 table SnG.

[Shady]

Well as predicted I'm having some trouble with them. I've won 1 and thats the only ITM I've seen out of 8. I've tried being aggressive early but usually end up picking the wrong time and running into a hand. Then I tried to sit back for the beginning rounds and when I do get something I end up being 2nd best.

I'm finding it very difficult to steal pots. I get at least one caller or someone shows strength to my bet. I'm having a hard time finding the niche I had in single tables that gave me a shot to hit ITM. I'm finding that getting cards is more important in the 2-tables then it was at the singles, either that or I haven't found the strategy that works just yet.

[DBL0SVN]

Well as predicted I'm having some trouble with them. I've won 1 and thats the only ITM I've seen out of 8.

So what was the payout for a 20 person Sng? - should be approx 10 times the buyin. So you should be at least breaking even on those 8 games even though your ITM % is only 12%. I busted early (14th-19th position) out of 4 straight tournies yesterday then took 1st in the fifth - that's only 20% ITM but almost 90% ROI.

Not saying that's typical but you get the idea - if you want to up your ROI, you have to get more firsts and to do that you need to be aggressive in the early-mid game.