Marklar
Rock Star
Silver Level
Here are alot of mistakes I see people make in the late stages of an SnG. I share them so that maybe those reading this can become better SnG players and maybe I'll stop experiencing less suckouts Let me know what you think here or improve on it yourself. I could use use some tips myself as I get more second/third/no place finishes rather than first places.
One mistake I see alot of players making is they overvalue good "flop-seeing" hands. Recently I've had pocket 9s and pocket 7s busted by JT offsuit and QJ offsuit. It's late in SnG and I shove all in and unless he has a big ace or pair I dont expect him to call especially since it would be for all his chips, which in both cases they called all in (around $1200 with $100/$50 blinds). I still don't understand it. Those are good hands to see a flop (early on) but you only have Jack high (or queen high). If you're up against any Ace, King, or pair you have to get lucky and draw out.
AJ may be a favorite over 72 but only a 60% favorite here. This is why I hate shoving in when I fear my opponent my call. Many times I've been busted by KQo (or suited). I of course had an ace with a good kicker. Most recently my opponent in the big blind called my all in with KQ and I had AQ. The blinds were $100/$50 and I had $900 and my opponent had $1400. He wasnt thinking that if he were to call and lose the pot he would only have $500 left. Even if King high was good in that spot he was only a 60% favorite. If he was going against an underpair he was about 50/50. His call was a mistake but I got rivered with a King. But the 60/40 rule is very important when you're facing an opponent shoves in before you
Give up drawing hands. The time for those was when the blinds were $10/$20. JTs QJs KQs are good hands but do not play them when the blinds are big unless you are the aggressor. I see alot of players limp in and then call 3-5x raises while they only have 10 to 15 BB left with these hands. KQ looks good but you are even dominated by A2. If you're playing a suited hand you already know that you will rarely flop the flush so that means you will have to put even more chips into the pot to see fourth and fifth street if you flopped four to the flush. You may even be put all in by your opponent and you've wasted a good amount of chips.
The main rule is when the blinds get at the $100/$50 or the $150/$75 level you have to change gears. If you want to see a flop you must be the first one into the pot. And in being the first into the pot you should raise it. You want to avoid flops and showdowns. You've got two options only. Raise or Fold. The call button should be avoided.
You got AJs in the SB and the guy on the button raises 4x. You have two options only. Raise or fold. You cannot call here. I normally lay it down if I feel like is going to call but a push here is not bad in my opinon. Not calling goes back to the fact that you probably are going to miss the flop and your opponent, whether he has a big hand or paired one of his cards on the flop, is probably going to make a continuation bet and you've wasted 4 big blinds.
Other tips
Pay attention to the people on your left. You dont want to steal blinds with a short stack on your left he could shove in anytime and then you're screwed or going to have to gamble with a J2.
Personally I fold the button, most of the time, I dont try and bluff after the flop. I dont try and steal from the button since it's the oldest trick in the book.
Don't try knocking people out, even if you're chip leader and have chips to spare. If you feel your cards are live so what... fold. You do not want to double people up. Would rather him take the $300 worth of blinds or do you want him to win a $1900 pot because you decided to try and eliminate someone?
One mistake I see alot of players making is they overvalue good "flop-seeing" hands. Recently I've had pocket 9s and pocket 7s busted by JT offsuit and QJ offsuit. It's late in SnG and I shove all in and unless he has a big ace or pair I dont expect him to call especially since it would be for all his chips, which in both cases they called all in (around $1200 with $100/$50 blinds). I still don't understand it. Those are good hands to see a flop (early on) but you only have Jack high (or queen high). If you're up against any Ace, King, or pair you have to get lucky and draw out.
AJ may be a favorite over 72 but only a 60% favorite here. This is why I hate shoving in when I fear my opponent my call. Many times I've been busted by KQo (or suited). I of course had an ace with a good kicker. Most recently my opponent in the big blind called my all in with KQ and I had AQ. The blinds were $100/$50 and I had $900 and my opponent had $1400. He wasnt thinking that if he were to call and lose the pot he would only have $500 left. Even if King high was good in that spot he was only a 60% favorite. If he was going against an underpair he was about 50/50. His call was a mistake but I got rivered with a King. But the 60/40 rule is very important when you're facing an opponent shoves in before you
Give up drawing hands. The time for those was when the blinds were $10/$20. JTs QJs KQs are good hands but do not play them when the blinds are big unless you are the aggressor. I see alot of players limp in and then call 3-5x raises while they only have 10 to 15 BB left with these hands. KQ looks good but you are even dominated by A2. If you're playing a suited hand you already know that you will rarely flop the flush so that means you will have to put even more chips into the pot to see fourth and fifth street if you flopped four to the flush. You may even be put all in by your opponent and you've wasted a good amount of chips.
The main rule is when the blinds get at the $100/$50 or the $150/$75 level you have to change gears. If you want to see a flop you must be the first one into the pot. And in being the first into the pot you should raise it. You want to avoid flops and showdowns. You've got two options only. Raise or Fold. The call button should be avoided.
You got AJs in the SB and the guy on the button raises 4x. You have two options only. Raise or fold. You cannot call here. I normally lay it down if I feel like is going to call but a push here is not bad in my opinon. Not calling goes back to the fact that you probably are going to miss the flop and your opponent, whether he has a big hand or paired one of his cards on the flop, is probably going to make a continuation bet and you've wasted 4 big blinds.
Other tips
Pay attention to the people on your left. You dont want to steal blinds with a short stack on your left he could shove in anytime and then you're screwed or going to have to gamble with a J2.
Personally I fold the button, most of the time, I dont try and bluff after the flop. I dont try and steal from the button since it's the oldest trick in the book.
Don't try knocking people out, even if you're chip leader and have chips to spare. If you feel your cards are live so what... fold. You do not want to double people up. Would rather him take the $300 worth of blinds or do you want him to win a $1900 pot because you decided to try and eliminate someone?
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