SNG - Fold to Chip leader in the bb on the bubble?

E

eelsthefan

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 1, 2014
Total posts
9
Chips
0
I just started playing $1.10 and $2.20 SNGs (13 so far and ITM 53% for a net profit of $4.91). In the past I have been strictly uNL cash games with moderate success.

Anywho, I have noticed I tend to fold on the button when it gets down to 3 players (top two ITM) and the chip leader is in the BB to hopefully encourage the other two to battle it out, but raise light after the chip leader folds when I'm the SB against a smaller stack in the BB. Is this sound strategy? In my cash games, I would think I'm retarded for playing like this. So far it has worked well, but may just be situation? Obviously if the smaller stack starts protecting his blinds more I would have to back off... but at these stakes is that common?
 
C

cotta777

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 27, 2012
Total posts
868
Chips
0
I just started playing $1.10 and $2.20 SNGs (13 so far and ITM 53% for a net profit of $4.91). In the past I have been strictly uNL cash games with moderate success.

Anywho, I have noticed I tend to fold on the button when it gets down to 3 players (top two ITM) and the chip leader is in the BB to hopefully encourage the other two to battle it out, but raise light after the chip leader folds when I'm the SB against a smaller stack in the BB. Is this sound strategy? In my cash games, I would think I'm retarded for playing like this. So far it has worked well, but may just be situation? Obviously if the smaller stack starts protecting his blinds more I would have to back off... but at these stakes is that common?


The button is your strongest spot for position which is highly effective in gaining chips when your sticking to a solid range naturally the chips are going to Tilt towards the Button over a long period of time. In which case you need to only folding your weak range of cards.

I wouldn't advise playing for the min cash whilest in Third place,
You should be targetting first place since the pay gap compensates you more if you get knocked out third place once from 3 attempts and you win 2 your going to be much better off than 2 underdog heads up clashes and a loss.

Also Reg's will start to think your an easy target and attack you more on the bubble once they realise your game and if you feel reluctant to risk on the bubble thats bad news for us because we wont have an answer to the exploitive plays.

My Advice is as soon as the blinds are at a healthy level 100/200+ You need to be shoving hands Like K7o+ on the button two picture cards etc even like Suited Queens (im not saying shove every time you have one of these hands)
because you need to maintain a pattern to you card pushing ratio otherwise your going to get called to often.

Again with the late raiser attacking us frequently when we are big blind It can be very lucurative for us to Fight back and Jam with a strong range of cards..

It's all about keeping a balance and if we aren't having the premium cards we need we have to improvise which means looking for a frequent raiser to exploit with speculative range or a High card, even when called were winning a flip against KQ - AJ etc around 40% with 78s 79s, 86s 56s so with the fold equity on top of roughly 39-41% Equity it will be profitable for us against a looser player who wont be calling every time.

The only time we should be folding is when we have a monster stack lead and we've had a generous run of cards,
I sometimes fold flip hands such as pocket 9's and below if they risk putting back in a 3 way mix, AQ and under etc if Im a huge chip leader My fear equity will allow easy steals which entail no risk
 
Last edited:
H

hffjd2000

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 6, 2014
Total posts
2,329
Chips
0
Agree, the button is your best place.

One difference of cash against tourneys is betting size.

Yup, that strategy is common as well at tourneys. But that strategy would not be good if the blinds are reasonably high.
 
suit2please

suit2please

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 30, 2008
Total posts
832
Chips
0
I just started playing $1.10 and $2.20 SNGs (13 so far and ITM 53% for a net profit of $4.91). In the past I have been strictly uNL cash games with moderate success.

Anywho, I have noticed I tend to fold on the button when it gets down to 3 players (top two ITM) and the chip leader is in the BB to hopefully encourage the other two to battle it out, but raise light after the chip leader folds when I'm the SB against a smaller stack in the BB. Is this sound strategy? In my cash games, I would think I'm retarded for playing like this. So far it has worked well, but may just be situation? Obviously if the smaller stack starts protecting his blinds more I would have to back off... but at these stakes is that common?

You haven't played that many of them, but generally that should not be a strategy. Obviously depending on the chip leaders stats. You might want to tighten your range on the button vs a big stack, but shouldnt just be folding. IMO you aren't encouraging anything (except maybe showing your strength when you do play) and are giving up position.

As has been already said, you want to play for first not 2nd. Playing for 1st you might end up coming in 3rd more often than 2nd, but hopefully more 1sts to more than make up for the bubbling.
 
S

SwiftHax

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 14, 2013
Total posts
367
Chips
0
I hate folding the button, especially 3-handed where you can play almost ATC effectively. Don't be afraid of bubbling and always aim for the top instead of the petty min-cash. Your opponents can sense it and will exploit you. Put pressure on other players and don't let the biggest stack take full control of the table.
 
Jacki Burkhart

Jacki Burkhart

long winded rambler...
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 12, 2013
Total posts
2,960
Awards
6
Chips
0
I just started playing $1.10 and $2.20 SNGs (13 so far and ITM 53% for a net profit of $4.91). In the past I have been strictly uNL cash games with moderate success.

Anywho, I have noticed I tend to fold on the button when it gets down to 3 players (top two ITM) and the chip leader is in the BB to hopefully encourage the other two to battle it out, but raise light after the chip leader folds when I'm the SB against a smaller stack in the BB. Is this sound strategy? In my cash games, I would think I'm retarded for playing like this. So far it has worked well, but may just be situation? Obviously if the smaller stack starts protecting his blinds more I would have to back off... but at these stakes is that common?

Obviously, it depends on the hand strengths and relative stack sizes, but I think the basic concept of what you are talking about CAN be ok. basically it's OK to tighten your raising requirements vs. the big stack and widen your raising requirements vs. the short stack.

If it so happens, because of table position that you are tightening on your button because of WHO is in the BB then that is unfortunate table position, but probably a wise adjustment in your strategy.

To say "bad strategy. You should exploit your button" is highly oversimplifying a complex ICM dilemma...

Add to the fact that the bubble is often a push/fold situation in these things and your button is not nearly as strong as it may seem. The button is essentially the same as UTG and there are no post flop advantages to having the button when you are all in preflop.

so...I think under the right circumstances you have a sound strategy.
 
Folding in Poker
Top