Finishing a SnG or Tourney question

I'm having a lot of problems with finishing in the number one spot. I do great when there's more than two villains against me, but when I get down to one... I suck!

What do I need to know in order to better my chances at finishing number one and not number 2? How does the betting change in your opinion? Also, is there more of a bluff factor? I don't bluff very often and it's probably something I need to work on.

First of all, make sure to raise with every nice hand you have. Try to see as many flops as you can as long as the raise isnt outrageous. If the blinds are too high, then its basically fold or all in.

I do adjust my game a little from the way I play earlier in the tourney. But I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on maybe what the bets might be for certain hands (i.e. ATo, A rag off, low suited connectors, low pairs).

Any suggestions?

Once I hit heads-up, my game changes drastically. I switch from tight-aggressive to (hopefully) smart loose-aggressive. When it works, by the time my opponent realizes the shift, I've got a nice chiplead on him.

Basically, you can continue playing SNGs, and building up experience when you get heads-up. Or, you can play some heads-up games to hone your style. If you play HU games, it's probably a good idea to play at lower stakes than normal until you start winning

Play more HU SNGs.

...Thats what I need to do as well.

I don't even really like heads up. So I stick with very large SNGs or MTTs. I play TAG and usually have a healthy stack if/when I get to the final table. If you are in good positon when you have eliminated all but the last player, then it's just a matter of finishing the last guy off. Tag still works.

Tag forever!!!

Well, TAG isn't working well for me. I either get blinded out or I get so low that I have to start calling with crap. Most of the time, I'm not in the chip lead when it gets to HU.

The thing is, I'm an okay player at regular HU, but I'm not rolled for 5 dollar limits.

Pokerworld has some easy to win tourneys almost daily. $300 freeroll at 4:55 EST (hurry) and a $100 freeroll at 10:55 EST. Another great one in the Bodog $500 (3 times daily).

TAG works for me in large tourneys. I'm about to cash the Bodog $500 if I can just stay tight for another 30-45 mins.

My roll is not to big either so I'm focusing on getting my deposit bonuses and improving my skills. I've worked freeroll winnings into as much as ~$90 on some sites. I'll never get rich this way, but i'm playing a lot of poker.

very strong HU and most likely the best hands HU, raise raise raise!!!!

Okay, that helps. I've been trying to tighten up my game, but this was killing me. Thanks, shine!

With low suited connectors though, I will always see a flop with them provided the raise is not too outrageous.
But your main objective when HU is to play strong hands aggressively and seeing as many flops as possible.
And your welcome.

I know it is a cliche but HU is less about your cards and more about your opponent. I have played HU sessions when I would raise any two cards preflop and only fold if/when they raised me back, why? Because they would blind off thousands of chips before doing anything and couldn't figure out how I kept getting "good hands" swear to goodness they typed that in the chat box. I have also played tight.

I recommend doing some reading HoH, the second book has a very good HU section. HU is very different than the rest of the tournament so you need to be prepared for it, and most of your competition won't be ready.

Always raise the button 2xbb, then if your HU opponent checks raise half pot even with air......you'll be suprised. Then when out of position try to keep the pots small unless you are really strong. Works for me unless you are against a maniac who reraises everything.

sng, SnG, = Sit n Go. Small tourney's.

Not necessarily, Sit n Go just means that when the required number of people join the tournament, the tourney begins. There are SnG's that are thousands of dollars worth for the buy-in (for example on Full Tilt). They are more reserved for the top 10% of poker players who can afford that level such as pros.

What he meant by small is that there are usually not thousands of players, not small buyin. Still, there are SnG with as many as 360 people on Stars, so they can be relatively big (though not as big as the 1$ donkaments).

When it gets down to 2 people in a SnG the best strategy is to get aggressive especially preflop. This will allow you to steal some blinds and alter your play enough so you can trap your opponent. Thats the heads up strategy I use and it usually works.

I need to work on HU too, its very important when you consider the money you make between last and second place is often about the same as the money between 2nd and 1st.

once u get down to heads up u cant make any weak plays. since usually the blinds are super high at this point compared to stacks u only have 3/4 times to gamble. try to be more agressive preflop and pick up the blinds of a weak opponent. almost any suited cards or any big hands u will face big raises against. try to get good reads on all the players at the final table so that when it reaches HU u have an idea of what a person will do with a certain range of hands. u have to win some of the blinds at this stage or u will be eaten alive. basically just be more agressive and open up ure starting hand ranges a bit.

Yeah Headsup can be tough,

chances are if your opponent catches you, thats it, all your chips will probably go in, when they have two pair or 3 of a kind.
having a good insight and feel on the player really helps.

Wow... thanks ftender! That really helps!