I'm back! Short handed/heads up SnG advice for me?

spore

spore

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Well first of all, I'm back! Went back to Korea and spent about 6 months there. And the new job has been taking up like all of my time until recently things have settled down and I have time to play some cards again!

Okay, well here's what I've noticed.. I am completely lost when it comes to playing 2-3 handed in tournaments. Been playing 1-table SnG's and I consistently come in 2nd or 3rd. My problem is that when it gets low like that I have no idea when I should fold, when I should raise, when I should limp-in or when I should call a raise pre-flop. Additionally, I then do not know when I should bet/raise/fold on the flop if I miss.

If anyone has any advice. I would appreciate it! Thanks!
 
spore

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Nice article! The info in there is generally how I play. But I need help more specifically how to play after getting to the money. I quite frequently make it to the money with chip lead or close to it. So, that's not the problem. I'm just not real good at recognizing what to do at that stage with 2/3 players left.. when to fold/raise/call/bet pre and post flop.
 
ChuckTs

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Welcome back spore!

As for your question about shorthanded play, basically it comes down to playing more aggressively. The blinds are (probably) high, stacks are low, and the blinds hit you so frequently that you have to play a very aggressive game. Open your raising range, and take the fact that your opponents will (or should) be doing the same into consideration.

It's a pretty general question, so I gave you a pretty general answer ;)

Your play should really vary depending on the table conditions, but in general that's how I'm playing in the late stages.
 
spore

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Thanks Chuck! I think I'm probably being way to vague with my question. Once I get some time to sit down and play some more SnG's I'll post some HH's . Maybe like 5-10 hands in a row with 2/3 players left, and see what i'm doing wrong exactly.
 
buckster436

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Welcome back spore,,, got no advice but glad your back>> buck
 
tiltboy

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I tend to use position at this point. I will raise with A high etc, Bet in position ideally but not really bothere just depends on the betting and flopped cards.

I find its more about reacting to your opponents behaviour rather than the cards on the board. I will take a lot more shots at the pot at this stage. Attacking the guy who isnt pot committed and prepared to go all in at every opportunity.
 
DaveE

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Three handed I like to make a small raise preflop...2 or 2.5 BBs, if noone reraises bet big...4 or 5 BBs after the flop. They really can't unless they hit something on the flop and chances are they didn't. Even when it's really obvious what you're doing they'll still usually avoid taking you on and play more aggressively against each other.
Of course you're gonna get caught once in a while, but even then don't let up, with the blinds so high you can build a big stack quickly.

By the way thetruth....go away!!
 
Effexor

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Shorthanded ITM is where hands like Ax and Kx and PP's go way up in strength, also raise with suited connectors, basically open up your starting hand range and play them more aggressively. If you see a flop and hit anything, odds are pretty good the other person missed. I'll lead out if I hit anything at all and proceed from there.

Also, since the blinds are usually very large in relation to the stack sizes, you can often min raise PF for steals.
 
spore

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Thanks for the advice guys. I think my short-handed play has improved fairly well. Now i'm just having a problem busting out on the bubble to bad beats. Oh well, losing to bad beats means i'm doing something right... right? :p
 
beardyian

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Bubbles and bad-beats suck but as long as your money goes in with the best of it in the long run results should start coming in :)

Welcome back btw :)
 
buckster436

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Welcome back spore,,, got no advice but glad your back>> buck
I must have been sleeping when i said i have no advice,,lol,,, when you get down to 1 to 5 players you have to be more aggrissive and play about any 2 cards, especially when you get to H2H,, you cant wait for that A K to show up or you`ll get blinded out,
buck:D
 
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