Any advice on Bodog 5.5 SnGs?

[chill_ax]

I have a BR of 100 and want to start only playing Bodogs 5.5 sngs until I can get to 500. I am new to poker but have been reading a lot and improving (many thanks to this site).
I have only ever played on Bodog, and I may switch, but not atm.
I would love some general advice, or even specific.
Common problems I have been working on include not playing under time constraints. It ruins me.
Noticing signs of tilt, and just trying to relax after a bad beat.
I used to get bored playing one table, but I am going to be playing only one table. I have started taking a lot more notes about people and myself.
Not getting too tricky. Often I overthink and try to get fancy, but so many people going fishing it doesnt really matter.
Not continually betting into people with TP after I have been called and folding to reraises (especially with TPGK).
Hopefully this makes sense. Thanks in advance for any help provided.

[Da GOAT]

When you hit 200 try a few $11. next to no difference in players.
Just think it will take to long to reach 500. The time you would put in wouldnt be worth it.

Good luck.

[Scuba Chuck]

I actually think that Bodog is a great place to start playing. The structure there is great, and the rake is reasonable. I think it's wise to single table, or 2 table while you're learning. Anything more is just a mistake.

Important things for you to consider before you embark on your venture. Are you trying to learn how to be a winner at poker, or are you trying to learn how to be a winner at SNGs? This decision is mutually exclusive, assuming you're just learning.

If you are trying to learn how to be a winner or get good at playing poker, my advice is to start out at the micro limits (like .05/.10) and read SSHE somewhere between 2 and 5 times. If you study, and you have the capability to learn, then you can become a decent limit player (2/4 or better) in under 6 months by playing about 10,000 hands a month (that's about 20 hours a week if you 2 table). I must emphasize that you must read SSHE many many times.

If you think playing limit is like watching paint dry, especially at the micro levels (think I'm biased?), then SNGs are a good place to begin playing poker. The primary benefits to playing sngs are it's a set time frame of play, if you are a slightly winning play at the lower limits, variance is likely to be less painful, and they are more fun. I want to emphasize tho, that if you want to be a good sng player, it's not the same as understanding poker theory. SNG encompasses only a small subset of poker, and in specifics, a subset of tournament poker. When you learn to identify where the most EV comes from in the game (hint, it's not in the early levels), then you can really spend the time to focus on the proper areas of study. Becoming a very good sng player does not mean you are a good poker player. But, becoming a very good sng player can build a nice bankroll, so that when you decide to play cash games (true poker), you'll have enough of a cushion to fall back on.

BTW, in theory, you do not have a big enough bankroll to play the $5.50's. It would be smarter to commit ~ $150-200 to this. Then follow bankroll guidelines for the rest of your learning curve.

Good luck at the tables.

PS - here's a big clue on how to get to the highest limits fast. Rather than learning how to multi-table (like 8 tabling the $22s), just stick to 2 tabling. Get really good, and follow bankroll guidelines. You'll move up the ranks faster, learn faster, and be a happier camper with regards to your skill level (but you won't make as much money in the short term, but you will make way more in the medium term, as multi-tabling severely slows the learning curve). After you're a winning player at say the $109s or $215s, then drop back down to the $22s (I think one of the biggest jumps in skill level are between the 22s and 33s, just like one of the biggest jumps in skill level at online limit is between 2/4 and 3/6) and then learn how to 8 table.

SSHE = Small Stakes Hold'em by Ed Miller

[Da GOAT]

nice job scuba

[chill_ax]

Thanks so much for the input scuba, just wanna let you know i appreciate it. I have kind of been stuck in that area where I dont really know what I want to do and SNGs seem like a thing I am okay at and have clear cut goals.
Currently I think the biggest thing I need to work on are getting a grasp on my emotions. Sometimes I will lose a couple of sng's and just start playing like shit with out even realizing it. Good news is that it is getting better. I am trying record a lot of my progress and errors so that they are more recognizeable.
Often I will error on not folding soon enough or not believing that some LAG has a good hand.
I have not yet got that book, but I will look into at amazon. I pretty much want to be good at everything, but I feel like, as you suggested, starting with SNGs is a nice solid start.
I have a lot to learn, but I believe I am quite teachable and a fast learner. The main thing is just to get these emotions under control. Why would I ever want to call someone just to see that I know what they had? I dont know, but I have done this almost subconsciously and have it written down in my poker log.
Anyway, I love any and all advice as I am just trying to get better and better, obviously...

An update on my play: I got up to 210, then dropped down again because of the emotions thing, and started playing bodog's 4+.40 Beginner tournament which have a payout of 30-25-20-15-10. Blowing some money playing bad poker made me feel like a noob, so I thought Id join them because apparently I am one if I cant play poker how I think it should be played all the time.
Anyway, rant over, thanks again
-Mike

[fjuanl]

bodog sng's play fast. if you have good preflop skills you'll be a winner. HOH2 would be a good read if you need some preflop work. i wont go into too much more detail bc scuba already wrote an essay

[chill_ax]

well you could offer some tips that mr scuba did not ; )
i think i have been developing a preflop game because of how fast it is at bodog. It is considered fast because of only starting with 1000 chips right ? and fast blind increases? which sites are significantly slower? and why?
I dont really mind playing on bodog for now, but if I have get some crazy multitabling skills it wont work because too few people. Thanks!

[Scuba Chuck]

Beginner tournament which have a payout of 30-25-20-15-10.

Chill, if you are ever posting hands and you are playing in a payout strucutre that is different than the norm (normal SNG payout structure is 50/30/20), it is important that you post what the different payout structure is, as it actually makes a difference in the advice. Specifically, everytime you post in the beginner tournament games, you NEED to post that payout structure above so posters who respond know.

Also, most of the calculators used for sngs are designed for top 3 (I think SNGPT has availability for top 4) payout structures, so it will be difficult for you to do any math using calculations. That being said, you shouldn't be discouraged as you should develop a strategy for playing these games first, and then move into the non-beginner games.

In terms of the pace of the game, they are relatively fast, in that they are not long like the non-turbos on PokerStars. I think they last about 45-60 mins, IIRC.