What is the optimal SNG for practice for MTT's

[convictkeeper]

Starting to get into SNG's should I play 9, 18, 27 or 45 man SNG's. I am using the SNG to help me get better at MTT. Is this a good approach? I am coming over from cash games and have a roll of $1,500.00 so it will be low limit.

[TwoKicker]

The best practice you can get for an MTT is playing an MTT.

PLaying the SnGs have given me a better understanding of ICM and the latter stages of MTTs but it's no substitute for the real thing, the 45s play like a mini MTT.

I'd say take a shot at a few freerolls until you feel comfortable.

[Reidak]

Sngs are totally different from MTT's. To get better, you need to play alot of them. develop a strategy and move up. Everyones strategy is different, there are no 'right' or 'wrong' ways to play a MTT.

Freerolls arent like anything you will encounter in real MTT's. I would avoid them as you will develop bad habits such as early loose all ins that wont be acceptable once you reach the $5+ buy in mark. $1,2,3 maybe, but your roll is way too big to play in those. Id stick to $5 tourneys, preferably GTD money tourneys. This are a good place to start off cheap. Move up quickly as the $10's are as easy as the 5's. Once you reach the $20 mark then you start to encounter people who know what they are doing. $50 the players are 'good', however cash game players are considerably better postflop players than tournament players, so use that to your advantage.

$50 buy ins the sharks start to come out, so be cautious.

[Jimmy Mac]

I'd think about playing the 45's and the 180's. I wouldn't bother so much about the scheduled tourneys on stars - the fields are so huge final tables will be few and far between. If you play smaller tourneys, you'll get a bunch more experience of playing the later stages.

[Sprayed]

I would go with the $4.40 180's for awhile until you get your feet wet and then move up to the $11. These, IMO, are better for learning MTTs since they have a smaller field and the blind levels are the same as most major tourneys on Stars. The 45 man SNGs have 10 min blind levels.

Playing single tables are good for understanding proper bubble play. This is a great skill to have so that you can amass chips when on the bubble in MTTs.

[Big-EZ]

The 90 man's on Full Tilt are pretty much a smaller multi table. There good because you get the early play, middle play, bubble play, final table bubble play, and then a full final table play because it pays 18 places rather then 6 places like the 45 man.

[chardrian]

Yup - the 180 man tourneys on Stars are a great way to start. They're big enough that you play for a while to get to the FT, but not too big either so you aren't playing forever and fting/winning is actually attainable.