Aggressive play in low SnGs

[Franchised1]

Alright, so I usually play good, top ten, hands. Normally, you are supposed to play very tightly in the first 2-3 rounds of a normal non turbo SnG. Although, I am trying to manage my bankroll correctly, not using more than 5% of my bankroll in any tourney and so that leaves me with 1 and 2 dollar SnGs.

It seems like since thats where beginners are that they usually seem to play schwappy hands and catch like donks. So what I have found is that when you play aggressive, not overly/stupid but smart/aggressive, that I seem to place/win much more.

For example: I was in a big slump, I put 30 dollars on full tilt and lost it in like two days.

I decided to change the way I play in a 5 dollar SnG and it seemed to work. So obviously, I tried it again and I placed again. Currently, I have placed in the last 4 out of 5 tourneys and got first twice.

It seems like I have found a pretty good strategy, just figured that I would share it.

[taipan168]

Hi and welcome to FTR, it's good to have you here.

Whilst it's great to experiment with different ways of playing, one thing about poker is that sample size is very important. The "long term" in poker is many thousands of SNGs and hundreds of thousands of hands, so you need to be very careful about taking the results from one or a few games and drawing conclusions from that. For example, if you get it all in preflop with AA against opp's 22, about 20% of the time you will lose. It's quite possible to lose three times in a row in this situation, but that doesn't mean the correct answer is to fold your AA preflop the fourth time!

If you want the most valuable feedback on your play, the best thing you can do is post hands/tourneys for review here. That way, those of us who have played hundreds of thousands or even millions of hands can comment and point out whether the decisions you made were right or wrong.

As a really big generalisation, however, playing aggressively is generally better than playing passively. If you are going to call a bet, it is usually better to make that bet yourself rather than check and let somebody else bet for you because betting first and giving opp a chance to fold gives you another way to win (rather than having to show down the best hand).

[Franchised1]

thanks for the reply. i have been playing for years, just started full tilt a few months ago, but it seems like this is really the only way that has been working for me. I mean im not playing completely loose and playing hands like 10 2. but Q8 and J7 seem to be about as low as ill go.

also if i can see a flop for a nice limp with ace - (6-9) i will always do so.

[FlowJoe]

Tight, aggressive is my rule in SNG's. However it's amazing how tight and proper micro and small level sng tables can be. Some mid-large sng's are more loose. Hope your system continues to benefit your BR.
Peace,
Flow

[taipan168]

thanks for the reply. i have been playing for years, just started full tilt a few months ago, but it seems like this is really the only way that has been working for me. I mean im not playing completely loose and playing hands like 10 2. but Q8 and J7 seem to be about as low as ill go.

also if i can see a flop for a nice limp with ace - (6-9) i will always do so.

There are a whole lot of other factors beyond what your cards are that feed into whether a hand is playable preflop (and if so, how it is best played). You cannot in isolation say "I think Q8 is playable" without taking these other considerations into account:

- Your position (how many players left to act, what position you will be in postflop, whether players who have acted before you will act before or after you on the flop)
- What action has occurred before you
- Your stack size
- How many players left in the tourney
- The payout structure of the tourney
- Your opponents' stack sizes
- How big the blinds and antes are
- Reads on your opponents (loose? tight? passive? aggressive? calltard?)
- (I tend to discount this one at low buyins) Your past actions and therefore your table image

There is a really good section at the beginning of Harrington on Hold'em vol 1 that is a discussion between a new player and a pro about a hand which lists (I think) 13 considerations to take into account of which only one is the cards you hold. If you don't have it let me know and I will type it out once I get home.

That said, without knowing any of the above, I'd probably only play Q8 or J7 from the Button or SB for a raise when the blinds are very tight or limp a suited ace with multiple limpers in front from the CO or Button when the blinds are very small (levels 1 and 2 only).

[Franchised1]

@taipan: I always take those things into consideration, its just that you have to play nice and loose in low level sngs. I have played in 10 dollar ones and its completely different, but there usually is some donk in there, you just have to find them, if not you play your game, tight until you gain a lead then loosen up a bit.

i always take into consideration all of those things subcontiously. considering that i have won 7 of my last 8, i think my method is working pretty well ha

[taipan168]

@taipan: I always take those things into consideration, its just that you have to play nice and loose in low level sngs. I have played in 10 dollar ones and its completely different, but there usually is some donk in there, you just have to find them, if not you play your game, tight until you gain a lead then loosen up a bit.

i always take into consideration all of those things subcontiously. considering that i have won 7 of my last 8, i think my method is working pretty well ha

Sample size is way small here! I'm not saying you're not playing well, but 87.5% first places is simply unsustainable. I'd expect no more than 40% ITM over the long run (ie. thousands of games). Sounds like you're running hot, which is fantastic while it lasts.

I actually think that "nice and loose" is not the right strategy in low buyin SNGs. Quite the opposite - I think you need to play squeaky tight except for specific situations. There's no need to get fancy with marginal hands at low buyin SNGs because when you pick up a big hand, the donks will pay you anyway. At very high buyins against lots of regs you do need to mix things up a bit from ABC TAGG poker to gain an edge.

If you haven't done so already, I suggest reading the Dos and Don'ts of Low Buyin SNGs and the Common Beginner Mistakes in the SNG Tactics Guide stickied at the top of this forum.

Oh, and post some hands/tourneys so we can give you some specific feedback!

[Franchised1]

its simply a matter of patience

I am patient and try to get good hands as many chips possible

[drmcboy]

i only skimmed but make sure you read the bankroll management article

[flomo]

i only skimmed but make sure you read the bankroll management article

this sounds right to me

[Nakamura]

Listen to Taipan and drmcboy. These guys know what they're talking about.

[Franchised1]

my bankroll management is no more than 5% per sng

[taipan168]

my bankroll management is no more than 5% per sng

Probably not quite enough. At low buyins like $5-6 I'd aim for 30-40 buyins, at higher buyins I'm more comfortable with 80-100.

[GatorJH]

at higher buyins I'm more comfortable with 80-100.

Man you are a bankroll nit!!! I am playing the 33's with a meager 55 buy in bankroll.

[Nakamura]

at higher buyins I'm more comfortable with 80-100.

Man you are a bankroll nit!!! I am playing the 33's with a meager 55 buy in bankroll.

Beat 200 buy-ins! I multi-table though, and I don't like to risk more than 10% of my roll at a time.

[Sam62]

On Full Tilt ... My Experience is that $1 SnG are either really loose or Super tight. I have played some $5 SnG and found everytime thet seem more beatable. Anyone else agree after a large sample, or have I been lucky?

[taipan168]

at higher buyins I'm more comfortable with 80-100.

Man you are a bankroll nit!!! I am playing the 33's with a meager 55 buy in bankroll.

Beat 200 buy-ins! I multi-table though, and I don't like to risk more than 10% of my roll at a time.

I'm actually playing with about 200 buyins for the $27s (and about 450 for the $12/180s) but that's only because I'm on the point of cashing out.