SnGs - When do you move up?

[Aequitas58]

I killed playing SnGs this weekend. I was playing $20+2s and $10+1s. On another thread, Defendant said he likes a bank of at least 10x buyin to play a particular SnG limit.

Forgetting about ring games, when do you move up in the SnG world? Do you randomly give a higher priced tourney a shot or do you wait until you've built the money to play at that level?

Also: Could anyone w/ experience tell me about the skill level difference b/n the $20+2 vs. the $30+3 on Party?

[johnbaker]

I dont like playing at a sng unless i have 6x the buyin in my bankroll. a lot of people probably think this is too risky, but i have a lot of faith in my skill, and i've played sng's (and won 3 out of 5) for 40% of my roll before.

i feel that one is safer in sng's on party than in cash games, because if you get screwed in an sng, you only lose the buyin. if you get screwed in a buyin game, you could lose several buyins (depending on how long you play before you get screwed). the longest ive gone on party without losing all my money as a big favorite is probably 45 minutes at one table... maybe its just bad luck, idono, this is not the time or place to bitch about pp lol

-jB

[Aequitas58]

Do have have experience w/ the $20 and $30 SnGs? Any notable differences? I played a $20 the other day, 3 people were out before the first orbit was complete - it was sick.

[SirFWALGMan]

I find it hit or miss. Sometimes the 20/2's are bad like you say, and sometimes there are really good players. Usually there are at least 5-6 decent players which makes it harder to money. I played 1 30/3 and have no reads there.

[jillaj]

I was wondering the same thing but with 10 to 20. I mostly play them on stars but was wondering how yough the 20 was. I found the 10 to be pretty much the exact same as the 5 dollar sng were.

[Aequitas58]

From my limited experience, the $20s are actually easier than the $10s. More "plays" so to speak, which just ultimately mean bigger pots and faster eliminations. It's great for the tight player who is very conservative in the first 3 rounds like myself. I have heard, however, that there is a noticable jump in skill level from the $20s to the $30s. I'll find out.

I will post more updates as I play more of the tournaments.

[johnbaker]

ive only played 1 $30 before, and it was about a year ago when i was an idiot... but its probably about the same skill level as $20, im gussing theres going to be more tactical poker and less fuckin around like at $5-$20 sng's



btw if u think 3 people out on the first orbit is sick, how about 3 people out on the first HAND? knocked out by ME? hahahah it was just a $10, but it was classic.... i raised position with J9, two people tried getting cute with their AA and KK and dont reraise me preflop, i flop a straight and they both go all in... some other dope goes all in on a flushdraw that doesnt hit, it was rape... they never knew what hit em

-jB

[humpty99]

I've played 5 dollars, all the way up to 200 dollars (through a backer), and to be real honest, aside from the preflop raises and reraises, I didn't see THAT much of a difference. There is a difference to be sure, but not as much as one my think. I think with every level of play, there are some good players there who have moved up the ranks along with some terrible players who don't really care about there money (either stupid or rich). Like you Aequitas58, I play very tight in the first few rounds because you really can't gain much unless two people flop monsters, like a flush versus boat. No matter what level I have played, I always finish in the top 5. I have got too many 4ths to even count, although I have cut down because I just play my game and take what comes. Before I would get ultra tight when it was down to 4, and from experience, that is not the way to go.

[johnbaker]

no offense, but if you think that the play in $5 and $200 sng's have remotely anything in common, you know nothing about the game.

-jB

[junYUN]

i started with all 5+.50 sngs, and when i got my bankroll up to about $100 i started playing some 10+1s. i have about the same success rate in the 10 as i did before, but havent moved onto 20 yet

[humpty99]

You are right. I kind of left some things that I was thinking out of my post, and did not read back through. The fives are worthless, and the tens are a little better. Between the 20-200, I honestly did not notice much difference. You will get many more RERAISES preflop the higher you go. In the 5s, there is a raise and probably five calls. In the tens, there is a raise and one or two calls, maybe three. In the 20s, there is a raise, one or two calls, maybe a reraise. Once higher than that, a lot more "move making" preflop is the main difference. Don't see as many flops, and/or turn and/or river. You are correct though, the 5s and 200s are very different. My main point was that I think that online its more about how much somebody can afford as opposed to how good they are. Thank you for pointing that out, and at least letting me defend my position.

[Chutups]

I think you should have a goal of amount of money before you go up, 100$ sounds like a good number to aim at. I just play random sit and go's depending on how I feel, it's probobly not a good idea and I should try to reach a goal then go up.

[Golfjunkie]

I have always stuck to the 10x rule. If you're good enough to make money at a certain level, it shouldnt be hard to make it to the next 10x level. If I have a good day, I'll usually have the 10x required for a jump up. I like to stick to the games I know I can beat, but I don't feel there is much difference between 20 and 30 sngs. You just need to feel comfortable no matter where you sit.

Junkie

[saminex@yahoo.com]

Personally i dont rely on sngs for money. its so much luck in the late guy when blinds become 1/3 of your stack...But if you do play sngs only my advice whould be when u make enough to lose 10 sngs move up ie 10+1 have at least 110 dollars and if u lose move back to 5+1.

[pivotal]

I personally like the 2 table and 3 table SNG's because towards the end the blinds dont eat your stack and you can still use skill to win and not really on luck cause the blinds are so high.

[jillaj]

I am gonna try to move up. I have a 70 percent pay rate with the 5 sng's. I think i should be able to at least still make money on the tens.

[humpty99]

There are a lot of people in this thread that seem to think it gets to be luck late in the SNG. Are you guys only playing on Party? I used to exclusively play Party, and I could not agree more for that particular site; however, on Stars and Paradise it seems much more skill based toward the end. Sometimes on Stars, you can have 4 or even 5 people play through 2 or 3 rounds of blinds and everyone is still in the game with decent stacks. Usually somebody gets antsy and makes an early move (or call), and gets knocked out, which works out well for me.

[pivotal]

party and paradise are both near crapshoots when its down to 3 people. THe blinds on paradise sometimes get to what like 5k?

[jdiana86]

You could talk to Pauly from Tao of Poker, just search Tao of Poker in yahoo. I know he recently made the move from $20's to $30's.

[PShabi]

I've played both 20 and 30. Haven't noticed a big difference in skill. I'm confident in my ability so I play 30 because for $10 more, I can profit an extra $70 when I win a 20man.

[PShabi]

The natural reaction of most players is too tighten up around the money. Don't.

That's when I change gears and start stealing pots. I'm sure to voluntarily show a good hand when it looks like I could be stealing to keep people off me.

I'm not there to try and get 3rd instead of 4th. I'm in the money, so I"m not gonna lose anything. Time to win.