Sunday, November 23, 2008

Dominate Every Sit and Go You Play - Secrets For Winning Sit and Go Poker

A lot of people are losing huge amounts of money playing sit and go poker tournaments simply because they do not have the proper style and they do not know how to manage their chip stacks.

Sit and Go poker has become the most popular type of tournament online simply because of its payout structures and the fact they are done very quickly. A sit and go tournament generally lasts about 1 hour and often pays the top three people in the tournament.

If you are the type of person who enjoys playing in these tournaments, but you find that you are consistently losing, then you really need to consider the following information and incorporate the theories into your own game.

Dominating sit and go tournaments is not as easy as it may seem. If you do the math you need to place in at least second place a lot of the time just to build your bankroll. Do not make the mistake of playing turbo sit and goes when your trying to build your bankroll.

Building a poker bankroll is a slow process and by playing in the turbo games you do not get to use the proper playing styles required to win Sit and Go tournaments. For example, if you have ever played in the turbo tournaments you might have found that at the end it becomes an all in frenzy. There is not a lot of real poker being played. It is more like bingo. Since the blinds increase so fast in these tournaments, players are forced to go all in and cannot employ the poker abilities they need to consistently win.

If you want to build your bankroll with sit and go poker you have to play the regular tournaments and incorporate a tight aggressive style of play in the early stages. This will allow you to increase your chip stack so you can survive the bigger blinds later and steal some pots.

Multiple table sit and go strategy can become very profitable. What I mean by multiple table is that you have no more than 4 single table sit and goes playing at once. You see once you have mastered the style of winning every time, you will soon realize that it is like being on auto pilot. You will find yourself getting bored with only one table.

If you learn how to play right, you can increase your payouts by playing more tables with weaker players, rather than less tables for higher buy ins with better players.

The key to winning online is simply eliminating the weak players!

To consistently Beat Sit and Go tournaments check out the free e-book called "Consistently Beat Sit and Go Tournaments Strategy E-book" available at the Online Poker Training System Home.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Online Sit and Go Poker Strategies

Online Sit and Go poker is becoming more and more popular. There are some players that specialize playing in Sit and Go tournaments. Most players will play in Sit and Go's as an additional option to other game choices. The important thing to realize is that Sit and Go poker strategies are much different than the more traditional poker games you may be used to playing.

Depending on the number of players in the tournament, the payouts differ. For example, in a nine player tournament, First place pays out approximately 50% of the buy in, second place pays out approximately 30%, and third place pays out approximately 20%. In multi-table tournaments, it is more difficult to finish in the money. For example, in a 90 player Sit and Go tournament, you typically need to finish in the top 9 to win any money. Your chances of winning money are much lower playing in the multi-table tournaments than the single table ones. Of course, if you do play in the multi-table tournaments and finish in the money, or perhaps win, the payout is obviously much higher.

The main question is do you play to win the tournament or do you play to finish in the money? If you want to do well in these tournaments, and do well consistently, then your first goal has to be to finish in the money. After you accomplish that goal you can then focus on winning the tournament. That is where the strategy differs from playing in regular poker games.

Anytime you enter a Sit and Go tournament you pay the house a rake. A rake is an amount of money taken out of every pot by the dealer. This is the cardroom's income. If the buy-in for the tournament is $24+$2, $2 represents the rake and is not part of the prize money. The rake is higher playing in Sit and Go's than it is playing in regular poker. That shouldn't keep you from playing though. You'll find Sit and Go's to be a lot fun and they're a good way to build your bankroll. Single table games generally last around an hour, unless you're eliminated early. Multi-table games can last 2-3 hours.

Sit and Go poker strategy depends on the player. There are two schools of thought here. The first is to play aggressively early in the tournament. This includes large raises, going all-in, and taking a lot of risks to build up your own chip stack by bullying other players at the table. The players that play this way figure if they're going to lose, they may as well lose early and move on. They also figure they have a good chance of building up their chip stack because not too many players will probably risk calling them unless they have a very strong hand. Sometimes you will get more than one maniac at the table and each one will go all-in on the first hand. That's actually good for you because it's one less player you have to compete with to get in the money. The second school of thought is to play tight, and only play premium hands early. This includes letting other players knock each other out of the tournament while you just hang around. You wouldn't even bother playing mediocre hands early.

So which strategy is correct? To be fair, you can win using either strategy. Remember, your first goal has to be to finish in the money. After you accomplish that goal you can then focus on winning the tournament. Can you accomplish that by consistently playing aggressively early in the tournament? The answer to that question is no. You may have an occasional win, but you won't profit in the long run because you'll be exiting too many tournaments early. Playing tight early is the strategy employed by most of the very good Sit and Go players.

So early on, you'll want to play tight and conservative since the blinds will still be low. You can attack with premium hands, but pick your spots carefully and let your opponents make mistakes so the field gradually shrinks. At this point in the game the blinds are low and not worth trying to steal. Play smart and try to double your chip stack early in the tournament. Your chance of finishing in the money is good unless you suffer a bad beat or make a bad decision. An example of a early bad decision would be going all-in pre-flop with pocket 10's. There are too many cards that could beat you by the time you get to the river. Calling a bet, or a raise, is sensible with the pocket 10's, but going all-in is just plain reckless.

Keep in mind that each game is different. If you find yourself in a game where all of the players are tight, then it might be a good time for you to use your tight table image and try to steal a pot or two early on. Learn to play your opponents like any other poker game. Recognize the difference between weak, loose, tight, aggressive, and maniac players. Learn when to trap aggressive players. If you pay attention to the game, and take notes on you're opponents (almost all of the sites allow you to keep notes on players), you will benefit later in the game by making the correct play. Learn from your opponents tendencies since many of them will become predictable. The better players won't be and you need to be able to recognize the good players from the weak ones.

Early in the game you won't be playing too many hands. As the game progresses, and the blinds go up, your strategy needs to change. You can't continue to sit back and be a spectator. As the blinds increase you'll need to win some pots. If you don't you will soon find yourself in trouble with a low stack.

Once the blinds reach 50-100 you do need to become more aggressive. I don't mean reckless, just more aggressive. You'll play more hands, especially in later positions, and won't rely on only premium hands to play. Trying to steal blinds is a good tactic from late position unless the pot has been raised or there are several callers. Don't slowplay A-A, go ahead and bet or raise with it. Be cautious with pocket kings. An ace on the flop could be disastrous if you already decided to go all-in. The same could be said for any pocket pair except pocket aces.

Here is a strategy to use regarding pocket pairs if the flop gives you a set. Use the hand to trap an opponent, especially if it's a smaller pocket pair. If an opponent has a strong pair they will likely call any bet or raise you make and you should be able to win a large pot.

At this point of the game, you'll be using a combination of the two strategies mentioned above--conservative (not too tight) and aggressive. You want to mix it up so you don't become too predictable to your opponents. Of course the cards you receive will determine a lot of what you can or cannot do. The game will change and you will need to change with it.

Even though you are changing up your strategy a bit, you don't want to lose sight of your objective. That is to finish in the money and after you accomplish that to focus on winning the tournament.

In the later stages of the tournament, your strategy doesn't change all that much until you are in the money. As soon as you are in the money, you should play to win.

At this point of the tournament the blinds are getting very high in relation to the average stack size. Even though you are in the money, you don't want to confront other big stacks with a marginal hand. Bluffing is O.K., but you still have to play smart. You wouldn't bluff your entire stack when you have no chance of winning. Don't settle for third place when you still have a shot at winning. Pick your spots to play aggressive, mix it up, and keep your opponents off balance. If you play passive at this point you won't win the tournament.

Sit and Go poker tournaments are a lot of fun. I hope this article was helpful.

http://www.internet-poker-room-reviews.com

Monday, July 14, 2008

Poker Sit and Go Report - Early Play Should be Passive, Not Tight

So many sit and go poker “teachers” have always said to be really tight during the first. I remember even once reading one of Roy Rounder’s recommendations that you should only be playing AA, KK or QQ for the first stages of the game and when you get those hands as hole cards be very, very aggressive – even all in!

Can I tell you something right now? That is utter nonsense. Everybody is on to that lame strategy that never really worked in the first place, and is even more lame now than it was 2 years ago, when I remember reading it. The simple truth is that everyone either plays that strategy or recognizes the schmuck who is using it. How can you get ahead that way? There is no winning, when playing open book poker. The best you can hope for are mediocre gains swallowed up by long losing streaks waiting for quality cards.

The other side of that debate is to play aggressive in the early going. If you have seen my sit and go training videos you surely know that isn’t what I recommend either, as it will usually result in you being an honored member of the rail in short order. So how do you balance this out so that you actually win more than you lose?

The answer is simply this. You need to see more flops in the early going for as cheap as possible, so as not to risk your tournament if the flop misses you. This strategy involves several dynamics as well which you need to absolutely master.

Playing your position. This is about the most important aspect of your game while learning, that will rapidly improve your results once you understand it. Getting in cheap usually means limping in the cut-off, button, and small blind positions, while calling a minimum raise in the big blind. You do this with hands that have potential for big pots. AX suited, KX suited, connectors, single gapped suited connectors, and any pair will qualify here.

Knowing your opponents. I keep harping here about qualifying your opponent’s style using holdem indicator, but this will win you pots without cards when the time is needed.

Playing after the flop. This also involves knowing your opponents but you need to understand flop texture and betting strategies at this stage, otherwise you may get pushed out of a lot pots where you were the clear favorite.

Pot Odds and Draws. The combined knowledge of this math will really help your decision making skills as to continue in a hand or not. Keep in mind that when drawing in the early stages, that flop had better hit you real good, and the pot odds should be absolutely juicy.

The Power to Lay Down a Hand. If you are getting into these pots and find that you are consistently asking yourself how you can continue in the hand facing yet another bet, then you are actually better off playing that lame book tight strategy. This takes a certain internal strength that comes from your character set, as opposed to pure poker skills.

In closing, see as many flops as you can while keeping your stack exposure to the minimum.

Marty Smith is webmaster and a regular online poker player. He has a FREE Sit and GO Video Strategy Series on his website at http://www.PokerSitandGoReport.com. He is also editor of http://www.PokerCalculatorReport.com.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Free Online Poker

Playing online poker gives you all kinds of attractive bonuses to get started. Bonus you get only when you open an account on that particular site and deposit some capital. Playing free poker is also an option but the amount they give is really to minimum.


Bonus is the extra capital they offer you because you chosen there site above many other online poker sites. Recently I joined a site “Duplicate poker” for playing
free online poker. But I presume playing with real money would be much more interesting, challenging and exciting then free poker. Finally, I opened my poker account and tried my chance as I was fed up of playing free Texas Hold em poker all the time.

Now I am enjoying extremely as it given me encouragement to play my best hand because my hard earned money is on stake. So I can’t afford to lose. Most important thing what I felt is when you bet real money your playing style improves day by day as this was not the case with free or trial option.

So my advice to all of those who wants to play better with time has to invest little capital only then he can be a skilled player.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Why to Play sit n' Go ???

A lot of population like SnG's because they have a diverse instigation, median, and end. (I'm of that of understood.) At Party Poker, the SnG's below the $50 + $5 buy-in are generally handsome soft meet, and if you play appropriately, you can see a good enough ROI, outstandingly if you're able to multi-table and weather flaming emotionally. In fact, I've won place in many sit and go playoffs when I clicked on the "away" button and just crumpled my way into the coins by nonattendance.

Another reason to like poker SnG's is because you can get at minimum an hour's merit of rod action while a very lesser extent of capital, so it's a inordinate way to preparation. You also get capability playing at a full table, a short- table, and leader-up at a SnG. (Assuming you play well enough to make it that far.) Some get blistered out on shaky ring games all the time and play sit-an-go's as a change of pace.

And finally, a lot of spot have SnG's that are qualifiers for the bigger, -table tourney with the big prize pools. If you can win a $10 + $1 SnG and get an minute into a $200 + $15 multi-table contest, then you can get a fortuitous to play with the "big boys" without grasp to risk an all-inclusive $215.

Please visit the 2nd part of this article, Texas holdem SnG plan. I chat bankroll and dancing strategies in that article.

End Play - How to Win at The End.

Fun as spirit a ruthless provocation extremist is, finally the simmer has to burst. Someone has to get clout out at some theme. Ideally, you’ll be the one measure the bashing, and ideally you’ll have > 50% of the money in play by that tip. 75% is reasonably achievable. Once you’re expeditious to crack superstar out, there are some ways to go about it. One is totter from the and setting a trap. Another is, when dealt a monster in first or second perception to limp in, letting your opponents see a flop, expecting they hitch a case, and concurrence the money in then.

My beloved, , is trapping the trappers. You’ll see this go on all the time: a player who has folded 20 hands straight open-limps for 20% of his mountain. You’ll want to limp behind with virtually any two valentine, pregnant to snag a part of the flop and way in the guy. A lot of the time, you’ll wind up doubling up a contestant. It doesn’t really difficulty.

Just keep set to the blinds, bit back up, and then making a stand again a few hands down the road. You’ll most tending be recognition all-in against a short heap with an poorer hand. But you can afford to do this. You can dual up short stacks numerous oldness. You’ll improve in just a pair . But a short flue can’t pay for to lose even once. And he certainly will given satisfactory time.

A story to point out: I had been thrashing the stuffing out of passive, weak dramatis personae who were all looking to fold into the money. I had mount up perhaps 75-80% of the chips in play, and was looking for a accidental to end clothes. The control open-stagger, an exceedingly shifty move. The small visionless completed, also a mistrustful move. I they were both looking to trap me, in a pretty pleasurable turn of trial. I just check my 6-9 offsuit from the big unsighted.

The flop was 6-6-3, and all the cash went in. The switch had Q-Q, and the lesser sightless had a apposite ace for a flush draw. Neither value-added, and I bump out two troupe at once. Wheeee.
Really, the most central phase of finish effervesce play isn’t so much the business card as it is the skill. You want to prolong fizz play as long as possible, captivating the at will and in no way giving any chips back if you can at all duck it.

That’s why I guide life ludicrously tight any time name unspoilt the pot in front of you. You’re always looking to be the first one knock extra greenbacks in the pot. Let me go ahead and duplication that just to make sure you bear in mind it:
You always want to be the first one shove extra bread in the pot.

More : http://www.pokertips.org/glossary/w/SNG

SnG Strategy by The Book "Kill Phil"

Promised a duo of eons ago I'd have a look at the poker strategy proposed in the book 'Kill Phil' and see if this is really apt for connected SNGs... My initial thoughts on this book were that the organization is poor, with a strategy future then 100's of exemption erection on other exclusion in the rest of the text. On the plus side the writing pattern is momentous and there are some outstanding 'nuggets' in there which will help dramatis personae at many as like as chalk and cheese levels cogitate about incitement lucidly.

Here I will summary the impetus strategy that Rodman and Nelson put forward for SNGs and 1-table satellites... not in too much point (you can every time buy the book... only $20 or so!).
The next placement will divide a archetypal minor even SNG into 'early + mid' and 'bubble + ITM' and see what good and bad plays grow from the strategy.

Well, we can jolt with something that may seem suprising... the SNG Strategy estimated in Kill Phil is exactly the same strategy as they recommend for concluding tables of Multi-table game... so, what exactly is this strategy:
- The base of all play in Kill Phil is your CSI and CPR information (Chip Status Index and Cost Per Round not Crime Scene Investigation and Cardio-Pulmonary Resusitation (!)).

- These information give you a stack size of 'Huge', 'big' 'Small' etc- The hands are then into 10 accessible 'groups' starting with AA, KK and going down to 2- well-matched converter- Based on your stack size / location at the table / Action ahead and hand sextet you each raise all-in, bet 1/6th of your stack or fold (with occasional concession and omission to the exceptions as statement by this time).

So, the final table strategy...

1) Follow the 'Kill Phil Basic' until you are down to 6 players.2) 4-6 performers left: Lots more open shoving, completely a lot more re-raising - markedly with big / mediocre loads.3) 3-handed: Try and make a deal! (ok this is for the MTTs!), open shove groups 1 to 10, re-rise groups 1-8... move in every one hand with unimportant stack.4) Heads-up: Move in each hand!
Well, seems devoted sufficient that it in fact might work... I reason the 4-6 players area will be the key - wiliness like I'll need to go back through the book and write down which hands in which perception with which CSI and then try it out - perhaps at a few not the same spur sites.


Anyway, in the route of setting up our workplace at the moment - writing desk / chairs / cabinets all put collected bygone days (yep, suffering from 'Ikea Fingers') today we go and get monitors and other electronics... hope to have some photos by mid-week!


You can test your skills at : http://www.partypoker.com/