SNG/"small tournament" books

[smbruin22]

i know we've had these threads before, but does anyone know of any books coming for SNG's/"small tournaments"

i suppose miller's book is coming on smaller stakes no-limit (i read recently may 2006).

and the harrington books are good, but my biggest criticism is that the books move from deep stack to heads-up pretty quickly. before anyone pounces on me, check the table of contents and see for yourself. and don't forget, i believe dan makes reference to the first part of part 2 as not being able to fit into the first book.

if you sit tight waiting for cards in say a 4 table tourmanent, the blinds become an issue pretty fast. and if you play with decent players, alot of them will notice that you play very few hands. hard to win too many chips from others, although if you survive longer, your tight image is very valuable.

probably like many others, i feel like i need more guidance in the medium range where i have 10-15 times the combined blinds and the cards have been running cold.

any thoughts? i think there is a need for a definitive book for SNG/"smaller" $$$$$ no-limit tournament book (and cash, but that's another thread)... my sense is that miller's book will be it.

sorry, i forgot all about "kill phil" when i wrote this. i get the sense it work pretty well in these games where blinds become an issue really fast.

thanks in advance for any responses!

[MTUCache]

I just posted a topic similar to this in the Home Games forum a couple days ago.

(See Here)

There wasn't any books recommended to me, and most of the thoughts in the topic are me just thinking out loud about the scenario, but the other guys in the thread had some valuable insight.

The prevailing thoughts seemed to be:
1.) Tight in Early Position, Loose in Late Position (stealing blinds is at a premium)

2.) Conserve your Chips (don't follow the crowd and limp into every pot just hoping to hit the flop, save them for a real hand)

3.) Learn to love the words "All-In" (you'll inevitably end up in a few pre-flop all-in scenarios, so instead of shying away from, learn to embrace them). Don't cripple your stack by putting in 2/3 of your chips. Keep your stack big enough to be scary when you do go all-in. When you get that hand you've been waiting for, with the action you've been waiting for, go big or go home. There's no shame in getting sucked out on if you go in with a dominating hand.

4.) Implied odds are not good. Don't go slowplaying big hands, or praying for sets, hoping for a big payday. If everyone is on a short stack, you're not going to get paid off big often enough on these longshots.

[smbruin22]

MTUcache,

good stuff!!....

i've been finding that in almost any tournament us recreational players play that the blinds become an issue pretty fast....

you patiently wait for cards for the first 60-90 minutes, you don't hit any and all of a sudden your stack is 12 times the circuit and the blinds are about to go up again.

i like your comment about getting to like the word "all-in" (but using it smartly)... you can't be afraid to lose (i'm reading stu unger biography and that seems like one of his key attributes - not afraid to lose)

[MTUCache]

[ QUOTE ]
you patiently wait for cards for the first 60-90 minutes, you don't hit any and all of a sudden your stack is 12 times the circuit and the blinds are about to go up again.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly... that's been my problem for the last three months at my monthly game.

I play tight, and make it to the final table, but with hardly any chips. Meanwhile, a couple of complete donkeys have gigantic stacks, just because they sucked out a couple of all-ins that they were underdogs in. Then, the blinds go up, and I'm left making a desperate move.

Of course, now that I've established my reputation as a good, tight player among the group, it's going to be a lot easier for my all-ins to be scary when I'm doing it with a decent stack. Much scarier than me raising a 1/3 of my stack, or a 1/2 of my stack. It's hard to get over that psychological hurdle of committing yourself to that hand, especially when you are pre-flop or don't have much information, but it's so much better than crippling your stack.

[Jbrochu]

[ QUOTE ]
you patiently wait for cards for the first 60-90 minutes, you don't hit any and all of a sudden your stack is 12 times the circuit and the blinds are about to go up again.


[/ QUOTE ]

If it takes 60 to 90 minutes to reach an M of 12, then you are deep enough early to play some speculative hands and try to accumulate chips. This should help you get your big hands paid off as well.

[smbruin22]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
you patiently wait for cards for the first 60-90 minutes, you don't hit any and all of a sudden your stack is 12 times the circuit and the blinds are about to go up again.


[/ QUOTE ]

i was wondering about my exact statement and the M vs. time (whether my statement was accurate)... i was thinking 60-90 minutes with few cards and then M = 12 (could be 9-10 though) is fast, but you think it's slow.

... but i like your statement and i think you are correct, providing people aren't raising pre-flop..... sorry i seem to have got the order wrong

wrong order - here is the comment i'm responding to
If it takes 60 to 90 minutes to reach an M of 12, then you are deep enough early to play some speculative hands and try to accumulate chips. This should help you get your big hands paid off as well.

[/ QUOTE ]

[AliasMrJones]

If you look over at the left-hand side of the page, you'll find a link to 1-table Tournaments. Click it to find the promised land.

There aren't any books that specifically cover SnGs and there are some adjustments from ring play or MTTs. (Some significant adjustments depending on the tourney structure.) Because of the lack of literature and these adjustments specific to SnGs with fairly quick blind structures, the Single Table Tournament forum here is the best resource on the planet for learning how to beat SnGs.

[RatFink]

Have you read Kill Phil? Even if it isn't your cup of tea to play move-in poker, understanding it and applying it situationally may help your middle game strategy so when you do make it to a final table you've got some chips to work with.

[smbruin22]

[ QUOTE ]
Have you read Kill Phil? Even if it isn't your cup of tea to play move-in poker, understanding it and applying it situationally may help your middle game strategy so when you do make it to a final table you've got some chips to work with.

[/ QUOTE ]

ratfink, thanks... i love harrington early strategy, but i've come to realize i probably won't be in a 15 hour tournament anytime soon, let alone a 7 day tournament.

so i think kill phil will be a good idea. and i have no problem with all-in play once the blinds pressure you a bit (the opposite is a horrible feeling, you put 40% of your scarce chips in on AK in poor position, it doesn't hit, and you're like "now what", your opponent bets out and you're basically toast. i should have just moved in pre-flop (even given that the flop missed) ...

i find the few large B&M (or home) no-limit tournaments i've been in, the blinds get on you pretty fast unless you get some hot cards early.

trying to cut down on my expenditures (even though i started this thread soliciting ideas).... can i figure out most of kill phil on my own? or is it really worthwhile to buy??

sorry, this was a bit disjointed as i added stuff later but didn't look at the order.

thanks in advance!!