Alternate SnG strategy

[LionsFan20]

I might get ripped for this on by the resident experts, but a buddy and i recently came up with a plan for playing SnG's on Party that kind of follows their Steps SnG's. I thought it might be helpful to anyone here who plays SnG's regularly in terms of getting the most out of a limited bankroll.

I start at the $6 SnG's because I went on a terrible run a couple of weeks ago during which I went 11 $10+$1 SnG's without being ITM, so I'm trying to squeeze the most out of what's left in my bankroll without having to reload.

I tend to play SnG's in the same manner that a lot of others posters here do... very tight at first, then i loosen up just a but when the blinds hit 50/100 and become pretty agressive once i get ITM.

I give myself a maximum of 5 attempts to place ITM. If I don't do it in 5 tries, then I need to stop because I'm going to get all pissed off and start playing stupid.

If I win the $6 SnG, I'll take what I won and play a $20+$2. If I get second in the $6 SnG, I'll take what I won and play a $10+$1. If I finish 3rd, I'll increase my number of SnG's (My limit is 5, I just played one and got 3rd, so I'll let myself play 5 more). If I don't finish ITM, then I've got 4 tries left.

If I win the $6 and go to the $22, I apply the same concept. First at a $20+$2 is $100 and gets me into a $50+$5, 2nd is $60 and gets me into a $30+$3, 3rd gets me $40 and another $20+$2. Don't finish ITM and i start over.

It's worked pretty well for me this week. I got up to $50+$5 a few times and even won one and played in a $100+$9 and took 3rd.

Sorry if it's confusing, but it makes sense to me

$5+$1 SnG
-------------------------
1st($25) - play a $20+$2
2nd($15) - play a $10+$1
3rd($10) - play another $5+$1
not ITM - subtract from the 5 games I permit myself to play and start over at $5+$1

$10+$1 SnG
-------------------------
1st($50) - play a $30+$3
2nd($30) - play a $20+$2
3rd ($20)- play a $10+$1
not ITM - subtract from the 5 games I permit myself to play and start over at $5+$1

$20+$2 SnG
-------------------------
1st($100) - play a $50+$5
2nd($60) - play a $30+$3
3rd ($40)- play a $20+$2
not ITM - subtract from the 5 games I permit myself to play and start over at $5+$1

$30+$3 SnG
-------------------------
1st($150) - play a $100+$9
2nd($90) - play a $50+$5
3rd ($60)- play a $30+$3
not ITM - subtract from the 5 games I permit myself to play and start over at $5+$1

$50+$5 SnG
-------------------------
1st($250) - play a $200+$15
2nd($150) - play a $100+$9
3rd ($100)- play a $50+$5
not ITM - subtract from the 5 games I permit myself to play and start over at $5+$1

$100+$9 SnG
-------------------------
1st($500) - play a $200+$15
2nd($300) - play a $200+$15
3rd ($200)- play a $100+$9
not ITM - subtract from the 5 games I permit myself to play and start over at $5+$1

$200+$15 SnG
-------------------------
1st($1000) - play a $1000+$65 Steps 5 SnG
2nd($600) - play a $1000+$65 Steps 5 SnG
3rd ($400)- play a $200+$15
not ITM - subtract from the 5 games I permit myself to play and start over at $5+$1

$1000+$65 SnG Steps 5
-------------------------
1st($4500) - play a $1000+$65 Steps 5 SnG (after I pass out of course )
2nd($2500) - play a $1000+$65 Steps 5 SnG
3rd ($1800)- play a $1000+$15 Steps 5 SnG
4th($1200) - play a $1000+65 SnG Steps 5
not ITM - subtract from the 5 games I permit myself to play and start over at $5+$1

Maybe I'll never get to the $1k+$65 game, maybe I will. But i feel that i have a plan in place that minimizes my investment and maximizes my potential for winnings.

If only I didn't suck at MTT's so badly compared to SnG's, maybe I could just rely on those - but 'Rilla, Soupie, Rippy or Radashack I most certainly am not.

Thoughts? Comments?

[Sed]

Sounds like a quick way to deplete your bankroll if you play that way every day... If it is a once in a while thing, it could be fun. I would not recommend this as a way to build your bankroll but if you want to have a run for some bigger money, go for it.

Your rewards on the first 2 levels are leaking rake buyins. If you can set up those levels so you make a small profit while taking a reward SnG once in a while (maybe only when you hit 1st you try the next level up) I think you can build a BR and have shots at the money.

The differences between the levels in quality of players would seem to me to make it almost impossile for this to work out over the long run unless you get very lucky or can adjust very well to styles/quality of play.

- sed

[Spook]

Good luck with that... I think your dreaming.... but realy I wish you the best.

[DavSimon]

If you are playing poker simply for entertainment purposes and not trying to generate a consistant income from it.....following this plan is just fine.
You have essentially set aside funds or an entertainment budget, and have a plan to try and prevent going broke. however with this plan you are falling into the classic "gamblers" illusion.....meaning you will only play with "free" money since you won it and you are not really out anything if you lose. (playing off your winnings) The problem is that you invested time and money to win the first SnG and the money you won IS yours....and it was not "free"

Essentially you are ignoring basic concepts of bankroll management and not developing the appropriate skill and experience before moving to the next level. In the end I cannot see how you would be a long term success following this strategy....you may catch a nice run of cards and string together several winning sessions, but eventually the luck will run out and you may find yourself in a tourney at a level where you are in way over your head (throwing your hard earned money away)

Very few people around here are going to rip you for presenting a well thought out idea....even if I don't personaly agree with it - this is how we all learn from each other, detailed disussion of thoughs, plans and ideas.

[a500lbgorilla]

Is this a step up program (only glanced at it) becuase it's reminiscent of Radashack's great heads-up challenge.

-'rilla

[LionsFan20]

But I guess I should clarify. I have no intention of playing this way on a consistent basis. Just kind of something new and different to try from time to time to see if i can get lucky.

I wholeheartedly agree that standard bankroll management principals and moving up only when your play dictates it are the only true ways to be a profitable player over the long haul.

Like I said, i went on a heck of a bad run then got lucky a few times doing what i laid out here, then cashed that out. Had another tough run Sun-Tues this week, and have been grinding out the $5+$1 SnG's to get my bankroll back up to a min of $150 so I can get back to playing $10+$1.

Sorry, I guess I should have been more clear in my original post. I'm not trying to suggest that this is a better way, just an alternate way, even if it isn't a good one.

But regardless, thank you for the honest feedback.

[LionsFan20]

ya i guess it's somewhat of a step up program, but i've only been coming here for a few months, and am not aware of Radashack's heads-up challenge.

[a500lbgorilla]

ya i guess it's somewhat of a step up program, but i've only been coming here for a few months, and am not aware of Radashack's heads-up challenge.

Win a 5 HU match, go to 10. Then 20, then 50, then 50 again (to cover rake) then 100, then 200, then 200 again (rake) then 500...

Go until you lose or puss-out.

-'rilla