playing shorthanded?

#1 21-09-2007, 1:59 AM

I was looking for some advice on playing shorthanded. In a SnG for example, I'll make the money often but once i get to 3 handed play or heads up I find myself only to be always dominated by my opponents . At the beginning of a SnG I only play group 1 hands and the odd group 2 in position. I understand the value of those hands 9 handed. I was hoping someone might be able to help me understand the value of hands shorthanded.

#2 21-09-2007, 3:29 AM

my basis is to think of being at a full table, and play has been folded around to you 5, 4, 3 handed..so your late position hands come into play shorthanded. raise with D and E hands where u usually would limp/fold in early pos. or reraise in the blinds with C,D,E hands.

always mixing it up is a good idea too...

PS.. in the time I was writing this...had a great player raise UTG with A 10 off on BLOWDOG..i got QQ in mid and reraise...he miniraises me back around with one caller..immediately im thinking AAKK as such is my luck..so flat call and other guy does

flop 10 8 6 rainbow...he bets 10 to a 600 pot i raise to 100 and other guys folds...he reraises 100, i push...he calls

10 on river.....other guy folded JJ and this guy(so many other words come to mind) cant fold his top pair on board top kicker and chases out!!!

UNFREAKINGREAL!!!!!

just had to vent, just a little....lol

#3 21-09-2007, 1:23 PM

when i get shorthanded in SnG's i mostly find that betting patterns help me more than my cards.
Especially if you are down to 2 - 3 other players.
Is the button raising every orbit or even every other orbit?
Are the other players defending their blinds to raises?
Is the small blind folding unraised pots?
Has the small stack been folding everything getting ready to push?
Who has been aggressive throughout?
Who has been tight throughout?

The answers to these will help you pick your spots for re-steals and raises, in my experience, particularly turbo SnG's by the time you're down to 2 or 3 players there isnt much post flop play going on due to the size of the blinds.

Loosen up your starting hands and try and play the players more than playing your cards


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