9 Handed Sit-N-Go's.

Hey all, new here, this is my first post. My problem is that I used to play pretty good poker before I got serious about it, but now I'm not doing so great. (makes no sense huh?). It seems like all the strategy I'm reading is just hurting my game. Apparently I'm playing way too tight and won't play any ace lower than A-10, and always fear someone has the nuts. I used to play the complete opposite, limping almost anything and stealing blinds like a mad man. Both strategies aren't great, but it seems I keep getting down to 10 blinds and having to shove in 9/10 of the Sit-n-go's I play. Any sugestions on something new to try to break this "too tight" strategy? (I'm playing mostly low stakes 3$ buy in 9h STT)

I know your feeling. i used to be like that. i became a complete rock. It is however more profitable than being a complete loose cannon and calling with anything. ive managed to open my game up alot more recently and find that the early part of the tournament is the most important. when people let me limp with cards such as 67 and other connectors i play them because when they hit youre going to get paid off massively.

I'd recommend playing the FT Academy Challenges, particularly Ferguson's pre-flop play (at micro ring tables) and the two SNG ones: SNGs by the Numbers and Mastering the Bubble. If you complete each of them 10 times, you will have internalized a lot of basic skillsets and thought patterns needed to to better.

I have done better since I became a slight bit looser -- playing the occasional suited connector, for instance. Playing more aggressive position poker has also helped considerably. And taking notes on the other players at the table helps, too. Don't just play your cards.

I would say lossen up A bit.
I know when you get into a certain style it can be hard to get out of,but you must be versatle in your styles.
Play that ace rag in position every now and then.
Your suited connectors or semi suited connectors every now and then.
Get some better reads on your oponents so you can know when you might be able to get away with calling a min raise with marginal hands.

Don't shy away from the tight strategy in the early stages, you only really want to play premiums until you lose a few players. You will very rarely find yourself building big pots post flop early on and winning them in 9 man sit n gos with the blind/stack ratio, and any you do win will almost certainly not see you through to the money either. You are best to sit back for the first few levels, learn to be handy with the notes instead of the call and raise buttons! There's nearly always enough donkeys waiting to knock each other out in the first few levels.

It sounds like you're not changing gears through the game, once a few players have gone, you really want to start opening your range, stealing blinds etc. make sure you pick out who the weak players are, with < 6 players left, you really want to be picking up these guys blinds, even if you are out of position, if the guy to your right has seen very few flops, raise his BB utg with a marginal hand. So many people just roll over as you approach the money. It's a lot more situational than simply raising with 'ace rag' or 'suited connectors' every now and then. Don't be afraid to defend your blind with a marginal hand either against an aggressive player, especially in the late stages. There is a good chance they may fold, and if you end up in an all in situation, you are likely to not be far behind and possibly be ahead either.

Try to aim to get heads up, rather than simply making, or rather folding your way to the money. When there are 5 players left (assuming 3 pay out), this is the time to really get aggressive, don't be afraid to take a coinflip here. The worst thing you can do is be pushed around and have your stack dwindle, because when you shove, you're not getting value. The bubble onwards again selective aggression is the key, and stack sizes really come into play shorthanded, google ICM (Independent Chip Model). The maths is complex, but if you get the hang of the concept, it will help your understanding.

Wow, great community! Thanks for all the replies, lots of good info! I'll try loosening up a bit later. I think my main problem was when I had the most trouble was when I tried to "take shots" and try Sit-N-Gos for a higher buy in, and did everything I could to survive untill the payout. Guess that rule of thumb is there for a reason =P. Thanks for all the help guys, I'll try it all out and tell you whats going on.

I don't really like this. Gotta be more specific at the very least. If you're shoving and get called after using FE, and end up in a coinflip I don't hate it. Not happy by any means, but I don't hate it.

If you're making a call, or raising when you know you have no FE, expecting to get into a flip, I can't agree with that.

Making the money is what Sng's are all about. Once you're in the money, you have plenty of opportunity for advancing on the pay scale. Getting all the way to the bubble, correct play dictates basically letting people steal from you. If you're the chip leader with a sizable stack, you should probably be jamming ATC every hand.

If the players aren't adjusting to proper bubble/late-game strategies, by getting involved too often, then you can exploit that by sitting back and letting them off themselves.

Absolutely, I guess I didn't expand enough, thoroughly agree with the last paragraph aswell. A lot of the late play revolves around your opponents play and relative stack sizes.

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