SNG Strategy - 10 Early Game Tells

De CidesaWiki

1-table tournaments are hugely popular on the web, and involve some significant strategy adjustments in comparison with a standard poker qq money game. With the later stages, and particularly the 'bubble' (when only 1 more player must bust ahead of the paying places) so important, it is key that you predict how different players will react during this stage of the overall game.

Below is a list of 10 vital things to look out for during the early stages, when chips are plentiful and the pressure low - along with what these signs can inform you of a particular players late game and bubble strategy.

- Early Game: Take note of any hands which players call raises with, this is a massive clue regarding the kind of hand they will arrive with down the road at the bubble.

- Check-Raises: Look for check-raisers, some players use this typically when out of position and others check and then fold. Exploiting a serial check-raiser is very easy, you get to simply take free cards in some situations and these players will most likely help you develop a big pot too! Check-raisers are used to playing backwards, so expect more late game bluffs too.

- Unusual Bet Sizes Early / Mid Game: Note players who make 4x or bigger open raises, this is the mark of an inexperienced on line player or can be a hint that they have a hand they do not really want to see a flop with, such as a mid-pair. Inexperienced opponents tend to call 'light' at the bubble.

- Open Limpers: Again, inexperience frequently leads to a lot of limping into the pot. These players are unlikely to be adhering to a tight-early / push late strategy and will make classic bubble errors. Watch for players who often raise then suddenly limp-in, this is often a big hand.

- Super-Tight Players: Make a note of those who play almost no hands for the first few levels, they can easily be good players having a 'Pushbot' form of strategy.

- Shows: Each time a player gets a walk in the big blind and shows his trash hand, bets and then shows a bluff or shows a strong hand after every one folds the turn - you should positively make an email. Again there exists a high likelihood that this player is inexperienced, especially showing rags in the blind and revealing bluffs. Experienced grinders understand that SNGs are too short for such nonsense and have seen enough of pokers variations that they do not have to show you their cards.

- Bluffing Dry Side Pots: Most players in SNGs will check a hand down each time a player is all-in. Those who bet when there is no second pot to win (only the one that the all-in player can win) and then show a weak holding usually are inexperienced... provisionally assign them the 'Push too tight, call too light' bubble ranges.

- Bubble Calls, Hopefully this one is obvious, when you see a call at the bubble which looks 'light' immediately have a note that can help you put this player on a better selection of hands next time around.

- Bubble Raise / Folds: When you see a player with 12 blinds or less raise 3x and fold to a re-raise you can be pretty certain they do not understand the facts of prize-pool equity (based on the very fact that they don't really understand pot-odds! ).

- Push-Bots: This term refers to players who are pushing all-in at almost every opportunity, frequently good players! You can assign these types an enormous range, however, you know you still can't call with out a premium hand, right!