DON Strategy Part III - End Game

[kevster]

Disclaimer: This guide is based on my experiences of $10 & $20 DON SNGs.

Introduction

This post follows on from Part II, Mid-Tournament & Post Flop Play and looks at end game strategy based around bubble play and collusion.

Bubble Play

The sole objective in a DON is to finish in the top 5. Therefore, throughout the course of the SNG we are trying to preserve our existing stack and build on it where possible. Once the bubble is reached your play will typically tighten even further. For example, if you’re the big stack, there’s little point in taking risks and you should be folding everything unless you’re getting involved in order to knock someone out.

However, the other stacks at the table are often just as relevant to your decision making as your own stack size. Almost every decision you make on the bubble should be based on the size of the remaining stacks at the table. Any potential raise/shove you make depends on the size of your stack, who and where the small stacks are and, importantly, the size of the stacks you are raising in to.

If we have an average stack we should be in a good position to make the money but we still need to be aware of the other stacks at the table and the requirement to build our own stack. This doesn’t mean that risks should be taken but premium hands (6 handed and positionally adjusted) will often be played strongly as normal.

If you’re on the small stack, there are no comparably sized stacks and your M is less than 3 you should be looking to get your money in at every opportunity.

If, however, your stack is small but there are one or more significantly smaller stacks at the table you should revert to folding most holdings. You cannot rely on them bubbling out – ultimately they will have to shove and may double up – but this will often happen. You should therefore always be aware of their position, stack and their play (if they have already acted) before you make a decision. As before with an average sized stack it is still +EV to get your money in with a premium holding.

Collusion

Most DON regs understand collusion on the bubble and it’s importance. Collusion, for the uninitiated, refers to two or more people calling an all-in from a short stack in order to increase the chances of the short stack losing the hand, being knocked out and everyone else making the money.

The shorter the small stack, the more likely collusion is to happen and the danger of others colluding upon you underlines the need to not let your stack get too short.

If you’re looking to collude yourself, it’s an easy decision as a big stack and even when you have an average stack it’s still a good move (especially when another player has already called). However, if you have a small stack you should fold and leave it to others at the table to deal with the shorty. A good rule for deciding if you want to call is if your stack minus the amount to call is still healthy (based on M and the other stacks at the table).

All comments welcome.

[Robb]

Kev, read all three. I like the posts, though I've played less than 20 DON's in my life. I have like $20 on Starz so I've been playing the $1 DON's. Had a hot run of 8 of first 11, then cooled off and tilted my way out of a couple. Funky game.

Anyway, liked the posts. I'll prolly try to implement your ideas for a while and see how I do. The $1 games seem filled with stations, so cbetting isn't hardly worth it. Wait for a hand. Same with draws.

I'll take your ideas, and Chopper's from the earlier thread, and let you know how it turns out. More than likely it will turn out badly, since I suck at tournies, but maybe DON's are basic enough for me to handle I think was worried about M ~ 8 or 9 and that wasn't optimal. And general lack of knowledge about SnG's and tournies generally.

Edit: Up 5 BI's in 20ish DON's after reading this. I'm actually really liking the grind. I prefer the Turbo's right now. I can start 3 sets of 3 DON's about 10 minutes apart ($9.90 in buy-ins), and finish in less than an hour. I really like how you only need 5 "wins" for a breakeven, and if you get some breaks winning 7 or 8 of them isn't impossible. I have yet to "9 for 9" but its early days. Again, many thanks for the post.

Edit 2: I wonder if we could start a discussion of "Bubble Points," different stack sizes and villain types as the blinds get high. There's the dreaded "we're still 9-handed w/ 150/300 and antes" endgame, the sick "two big stacks to my left when I'm the table shortie" nightmare, and the lovely "best of 3 shorties" scenario. And plenty of others. Maybe Kev and Naka could post part 4 with lots of suggestions for different endgames?

[kevster]

Thanks for the kind words Robb.

re: C-betting, there is little value to this at the $10s, let alone the $1s.

If you're looking for specific bubble points, Naka is working on strategy around specific spots at the moment.

Briefly though, if the game is still 9 handed at the nosebleed blinds, you've just got to jam it in where you can and try and survive.

As with most other bubble point scenario's, your "two big stacks to my left" scenario depends greatly on the other stacks at the table. If there are others with a similar or worse stack to yours, you can wait. If not, you need to get it in and do it before your M reaches 3 or, providing their not idiots, they will have you for breakfast.

Regarding "best of 3 shorties", it's useful to try and judge their perception of the situation, e.g. are they shoving every plausible opportunity or are they sat on their hands and waiting, and use this to counter-balance your play.

It may, however, simply come down to what two cards you're happy to go with so it's worth giving this some thought.

Hope this helps.

[Robb]

Definitely helps. I played another 3 rounds of 9 last night during Monday Night Football, winning 5, 6 and 5 in each set respectively, so +2.30 in 27 attempts which is lulz 7.7% ROI, but I feel like I'm learning a lot. You can't be afraid to get the chips in the middle with a really solid hand, but you also have to fold lots of what (to a cash game player) look like good hands.

I folded QQ early on to some preflop excitement, saw JJ and AK flipped up and then an AJx flop. I got KK in pre against A6o and lost the race, still had some chips but had to play short stacked early. So...like you say, it takes judgment, experience and skill reading the game and players to find ways to make money at DON's. I'm learning. I really appreciate your insights and the 3 posts on DON's. Can't wait for Naka's stuff.

[kevster]

which is lulz 7.7% ROI

Don't worry about this too much until you've played a good number obv. Anything approaching 10 is pretty good at the turbo's anyway I reckon.

you also have to fold lots of what look like good hands.

fyp.

This is maybe the most important skill that plenty of people struggle with which can make DONs very +EV.

[tpb221]

Nice post. I've played these on and off for the last year(appox 200 games) Pos ROI, but they do get a little boring. The one thing that caught my attention was your use of the word"collusion" As long as there was no prior discussion among the players and it's in both there interest it is not "collusion". I bring this up because DoN have more then there fair share of real colluders. These tourneys give the poker sites fits.