Trouble staying focused during Sit-n-Go's

[RML604]

I have been playing online for a long time, but I never really knew what I was doing. I have recently started to take the game seriously and am trying to become a true student of the game.

My problem is that I only play 1 SnG at a time, and I find that it's impossible for me to pay attention until 6 or 5 players are left at the table. Obviously if I wake up with a big hand I pay attention, but other wise I usually fold and start reading threads here or browsing other websites. Having multiple monitors definitely doesn't help the situation.

My question is how focused are you during a SnG, especially in the early rounds? I know that a lot of people fill the void by playing multiple SnG's at once, but I don't want to do that until I really get my feet wet and am more comfortable at the table.

Any suggestions on what I can do?

[bjsaust]

To be honest, I was the same when I single tabled.

[RML604]

To be honest, I was the same when I single tabled.

So do I go ahead and play 2 at a time? Is there really that much of a difference between playing 1 and playing 2?

[ClemsonPoker]

I was doing the same thing, and I believed it to be a leak in my game. Which is why I recently began a month long experiment. Two SNGs a day (no more, no less) at my level (10+1 at Stars), single tabling. I focus on the action around the table, and take notes, even if the notes won't be particularly helpful, it helps me stay focused.

I was two-tabling and listening to music/watching TV, and surfing the net all at the same time before.

[Stacks]

I do the same. I've been out of poker for about 2 weeks so now that I'm back I'm playing 1-2 SNGs at a time only. And while doing that I'll use AIM, surf FTR, check facebook, myspace, etc. I stop doing those things around 4-5 players left and start focusing on my push/fold game. This is most likely a leak as I'm missing small little tells and betting patterns, but at my level (5.50 on stars) I feel my late game is better than most there, so I still have an edge.

And as I see it, not paying 100% absolute attention in the early game isn't a huge flaw. As we know "tight is right" in the early levels of a SNG, so there really isn't too many tough decisions to be made, because you come in with real value. Plus if you have a problem of playing too loose in the early stages, multitasking is probably somewhat as a benefit as you have something else to do rather than play that junk Ace/rag.

I'd say pay more attention as the field becomes smaller because then the plays become more read dependent and more player dependent.

[Deuce Blue]

I really do think that playing 2 at a time is the answer. I use to only play1 at a time and same thing would happen to me. Or I would just get impatient and play hands I knew I shouldn't because boredom set in. Playing 2 helps focus and doubles your $ per hour you can make. 2 tabling isn't any harder then 1. If you don't feel comfortable starting 2 at the same time wait a couple levels then fire up another one. This also prevents being on the bubble or something at the same time ( or at least cuts the chance down ). Try it man and you will never go back to a single table.

Your bankroll will thank you.

[fjuanl]

If you focus on picking up reads and making notes while 1-tabling it keeps you occupied and also will leave you better prepared for late-game play. But I agree with the others about trying more tables...as long as your somewhat experienced

[Monty3038]

If you want reads on people, don't go above two tables. I tend to play 2 or 3 at the same time, if I start two at the same time, I stick with two. If I stagger the starts by two levels or more, I will fire up three at one time. With the tight play early, you are folding a lot of hands, and can watch the players on multiple tables who are pushing the action, make quick notes on them (FTP colors work well for this, Green for go at them, Yellow for caution they might know what they are doing, Red for only play the nuts against this guy, etc...)

I rarely play one table at a time now as I too get bored.

Try it one level lower than you are currently playing to test it out though, don't start multi-tabling at the level you are comfortable with one table at.

[bluedevil907]

Two tabling definitely helps. Not only are you more efficiently using your time as your ROI will take a tiny, tiny dip if any, but you won't get bored as easily (though working on that is a separate issue). I'd definitely recommend staggering the levels so you can pay more attention to your bubble table while you're folding on the other one.

[SnoT_III]

I have this same problem so i started 6 tabling 2 dollar sngs. It's a lot easier to keep attention, but sometimes you get bombarded with a bunch of decisions to make at once and you fold a hand here or there you didn't really want to.

When you play at all those tables you get into a kind of zone where your mind just answers the questions before you even ask them.

[FlyingSaucy]

especially for low and mid stakes turbo sngs, the first 3-4 rounds could be auto-folded by a bot regardless of hole cards and you'd have +EV against most of the players. Plus then you can take advantage of your tight image when the blinds are higher. Standard sng play.

My theory is that we will find at higher stakes that it pays off to pay attention in the first few rounds. Typically those who are deep stack morons are also short stack morons.