Hi Collin,
At one time (ie. time of publication of your SNG Strategy book) SNG's were fairly exploitable, with many of the players not understanding an optimal way to play them, (generally tight in early levels not wanting to take big risks on marginal holdings, loosening up & stealing in mid-levels, push/fold in late levels never allowing oneself to blind out/down..... 'I've read your book 5 times already').
These days it seems most players who are playing above micro limits are well-versed in SNG strategy and edges to be gained are marginal at best, usually takes alot more than just a solid TAG game with a perfected shove/fold game (I.C.M.... SNG Wiz) - - more advanced SNG moves becoming more vital. Good players seem to rarely have higher than a ROI+2 to ROI+5% (I'm referring to buyins $100+).
Even in the lower limits on the more popular sites, you find alot of solid SNG players and edges to be gained seem minimal.
My question >> what is your take on playing "An Alternative Style to SNG Play" (referring to epicatc's article which I'm guessing you've read/seen as it is stickied on the site where alot of the online pros are), basically referring to trying to isolate the fish in early levels, &/or trying to play hands with them in hopes of outplaying them postflop or having a hand like SC's hitting big and stacking them off when they're not able to get away from something like TPGK or an overpr. The players that are typically super loose in early levels & often being huge chip-spewing monkeys. The thing is, you will see others who are taking advantage of chipping up from these monkeys in the early levels, giving themselves an advantage as game progresses into mid-levels. By just sticking with more basic TAG style game, we can get ourselves in a position where we're flipping at mid-levels and then we're out in one hand, whereas if we'd been a bit more active early and were able to take advantage of the early level fish, we'd have more of stack to cushion the blows with & of course to take advantage by hammering away at mid-sized stacks.
I personally will play 9-plyr. SNG's and will put in some sessions during a couple month period but then will stray away from them again. Reason being, I find that at the limits I play at where you get a mix of good players/donks & nooos (usually 3 v.good players, 2 good & a few bad), the game (alot of the time) is essentially a guessing game.... questions being a) How much does my opponent know about I.C.M.
b) How much do I figure my knowledgeable opponents think I know about I.C.M.
(sidenote.... all of my SNG play is on 9-plyr. tables, occassionally playing a series of turbos... at other stretches of times playing regs.,.. I found that by playing the turbos for awhile it was very beneficial for working on end-game play (shove/fold game).
Another question....
I've noticed that alot of the winning MTT players will also play the 45's as their 'bread & butter' game as the fields still seem relatively soft and there's a decent edge to be gained in them. What are your thoughts about the 45's? Have you considered writing a book on playing multi-table SNG's?