Adopting MTT strategy to SnGs

[pat3392]

I have been playing lots of MTT and I think I've got a fair idea on how to play them. However, as I'm moving up the buy-ins I notice that the higher MTTs don't get games going(the 180 person on PokerStars) I think it is because of my time zone.

Anyway I was hoping you guys could point out the main differences between optimal SnG/MTT strategy. I'll be playing the one table turbo SnG where 30% of the field get's paid.

On a side note; are turbo games considered more profitable per hour?

[Fielmann]

Most MTT's start at scheduled time, almost regardless of the number of participants. There are MTT's scheduled around the clock. So you don't really need to wait for these 180-man ones to fill up.

Put very shortly: MTT's are about accumulating chips and making it to the top places. SnG's are about survival and making in the money.

In order to be successful in playing SnG's, you have to post hands, post tournaments, read books, read Beginners' Digest, train with SnG-Wizard, etc. "Having a fair idea on how to play them" won't get you very far.

I guess most people would agree that turbos are more profitable per hour. I don't. You get to play more games, but the games are also tougher. It's basically a self-regulating market: if turbos were significantly better, then all the pros would be playing them, leaving the normal ones very soft, thus making them more profitable, etc.

[taipan168]

Probably the main difference for me between 1-table SNGs and MTTs is that the bubble effect is much more powerful than in MTTs (except for satellite games or games where the payout structure is very flat). In MTTs getting ITM gets you your money back plus a little but finishing in the top 3 can get you tens or even hundreds of times your buyin. In a 1-table SNG comparatively speaking there's a big jump in payout from 4th to 3rd but from 3rd to 1st it's relatively flat with 1st paying perhaps 3-4x the buyin.

The upshot of all of this is that chip accumulation is far less important than survival in 1-table games and understanding ICM and when to push/call or fold is critical. If you're serious about 1-table games, get SNG Wiz and use it to analyse your games - it is critical.

[Nakamura]

I guess most people would agree that turbos are more profitable per hour. I don't. You get to play more games, but the games are also tougher. It's basically a self-regulating market: if turbos were significantly better, then all the pros would be playing them, leaving the normal ones very soft, thus making them more profitable, etc.

One thing to consider is that SNGs have much lower variance compared to MTTs making them a better choice for serious grinders.

Also you usually can't shove as wide as in a MTT since you are usually far from the money in MTT and can use chip $EV in calculating the pushing/calling range. In SNGs you need to add in the ICM tax as you are always close to the money.

[TLR]

The main difference other then the points pointed above is the number of players in the table, in an MTT you play most of the tournament 9 handed, in SNG the 9 handed portion is the least important part of the Sng, I think the biggest adjustment you will need to make is getting accustomed to playing 5-7 handed