Have you ever wondered how some players consistently win at Sit and Go’s? In the latest Made to Learn video from 888poker, Stream Team member Aaron Barone shares five top tips for crushing this poker format.
Tight is Right
Your goal with Sit and Go’s is to finish in the top third of the field. In 9-max, that’s the top three, and in 6-max, that’s the top two.
Achieving this goal means playing a tight preflop strategy and avoiding unnecessary confrontation, which will give you a better chance of finishing in the top third of the players.
Know the Payout Structure
When playing sit-and-go, it’s important to pay attention to the payout structures, as they can drastically impact your ranges. In 6-max, three-handed would mean you are on the bubble, and then the next person out receives nothing. Payouts in this situation are 70% for first place, 30% for second, and zero for third.
In 9-max, the bubble begins with four left, and payouts in this scenario will usually be something like 50% for the winner, 30% for second, and the remainder going to third. This time, the fourth-place finisher will be the one to leave empty-handed.
It’s important to recognize the difference between each potential ladder. Our ranges will be different in each spot because the risk of busting the tournament is worth different amounts of equity.
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Understand How to Play Push/Fold
As the blinds go up, stacks get shallower, and ultimately, the game often turns into push-fold. The majority of your decisions are simply boiled down to ‘Should I go all-in’ or ‘Should I fold.’
Many players think this is all luck, but there’s actually a ton of skill involved that centres around push-fold. It’s not only about how good your hand is but how often your opponent folds. The more they fold, the more hands you can shove as you’re more likely to win the pot without showdown.
There are many programs you can use to calculate exact ranges based on your hand and your opponent’s tendencies. Study these so you’re prepared when you find yourself in these spots.
Bubble Play
The bubble is arguably the highest equity spot in a sit-and-go. At that point, you’ll be in one of three situations:
- Short Stack
- Middle Stack
- or Chip Leader
If you’re the short stack, the good news is that you have the least amount of equity and can play a bit looser. You still want to make the money but realize you’ll likely be the next one out. This means you’re freer to take risks and try to get yourself in a better position to cash.
If you’re the middle spot, you’re somewhat in a precarious position. You’ve got to play tighter now because other players at the table are more likely to be forced into an all-in confrontation, which would allow you to make the money.
If you’re the chip leader, this is where the fun begins. As the big stack, you’ll want to put pressure on the other stacks, specifically the middle ones, who realize what’s at stake. In the right circumstances, you can add a significant amount of chips to your stack by bullying the table.
Volume: Get Your Reps In
Barone has played almost 300,000 sit-and-gos across his career and suggests multi-tabling to increase your volume.
Barone advises adding more tables slowly and only doing this when you feel comfortable.
So there you have it: the foundations for a solid sit-and-go strategy. With a good understanding of these concepts and plenty of practice, you can crush multiple tables at a time and develop a solid win rate.
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