Sit-n-go tournaments are a very good way to make some cash with risking less than you would at a cash table. The standard SNGs will have 9-10 players who sign up and begin as soon as every seat is filled. One of the main reasons that SNGs can be a bit difficult is that you need to adjust your play through the different stages of the tournament. This can be difficult, but as long as you know how to play for each stage you will come out victorious in the long run.

Blind Structure and Early Playing Hands In SNG’s

In the early stages of SNGs everyone has the same amount of chips. The standard for this is 1500 while the blinds will start at 10/20. Since the blinds are so small in comparison to your stack it is important to get in some extra hands early before the blinds are so large that players feel forced to try to take the pot down.

When the blinds are small there are normally small pots which players will let you steal more often. The more of these small pots you can steal the better set you will be for the middle stage of the SNG because you will be able to survive longer to see more hands.

Limping in the early stages is not as bad as limping is normally made out to be. The thing with limping is that you don’t want to be limping the same hands that everyone else is. Instead of limping in with hands like QT, KT, A8 types of hands and even suited connectors you want to be limping in with hands that have the ability to make big hands that beat other players big hands.

Hands like small pocket pairs are good to limp in with because you can flop a set that will beat your opponent’s two pair types of hands and even top pair hands. Another good type of hand to limp in with are suited aces. With these you have the ability to make top pair with your ace, two pair hands, low straights, and nut flushes. You aren’t trying to go broke when you hit your ace with these hands. You just want to get a bet or two with them for a little extra value.

The main value from these hands will be from over flushing players. When they limp in with hands like 56 suited and make a flush they will still be willing to get it all in because they see that they have a big hand. You will be able to take all of their chips in this situation because you have made a flush as well, but yours will be higher than theirs.

Be Aware of Position Early In A Poker SNG

You don’t want to be playing an extensive amount of hands in early position for the same reason you normally don’t want to. If there are a lot of players behind you that can raise you want to avoid donating your blind when you are forced to fold to a raise. Even limping in with small pocket pairs and suited aces in early position is wrong. You never want to lose any extra money that you don’t have to. This means if you avoid playing nonpremium hands in early position you will save yourself from calling preflop and having to fold on the flop.

When you are in later position it is more acceptable to limp in behind other players. Normally a lot of players like to simply see the flop in the early stages of SNGs so limping in when you are in the cut off or on the button is ok as long as others have limped in first.

Concentrate The Entire Sng Game

Although there are not that many players in these SNGs you still have to constantly be aware of your goal. You want to make it into the top 3 seats so that you make payout. If you get caught up in trying to knock players out early you will not be able to make it to the middle and late stages of the SNG which means that you will not be able to get paid.

Even though it is only the beginning of the tournament you still have to be a conscious thinking player who knows their main goal is to make money. Only make plays in the early stages of SNGs that will better set you up for the middle and late stages.