one street past preflop: how to play 6-max SNGs

[Slim Pickens]

This is an introduction to a hand history commentary I'm attempting to write. I'd love feedback on the subject, although I know most people still play 9/10-max because (duh) $/hr is probably higher for a comparable player. Anyway, if you read this, would your continue reading, or just assume the author was some blowhard douche know-it-all with a chronic case of (Gus) Hansen's Disease, a.k.a. FPS?


The early stages of a SNG are about gathering information, not chips. Knowing an opponent’s early-game VPIP and PFR percentages is usually enough to make intelligent push/fold decisions in the later stages, which is where all the real money is made in full-table SNGs. In addition to knowing opponents’ preflop behavior, shorthanded SNGs require a good player to understand how his opponents play postflop. Realistically, no player is absorbing 100% of the information available to him, but being able to absorb the most useful information is what allows break-even players to become profitable. Most critical is how opponents play flops. With 12-20 BB, most hands play out in two streets: do something preflop, and then do something on the flop. Get the rest in on the flop if you’re ahead or might get a fold. If you’re too far behind and won’t get your opponent to fold, bail out. More advanced techniques such as later-street blocking bets and speculative/free-card-buying check-raises usually require deeper stacks than are found in 6-player SNGs. Let other people play the marginal hands for you, watch the chaos, and learn.

This is not intended to be a guide to maximizing $/hr, nor am I really qualified to instruct beyond a basic level of competence. It is intended to show what a decent 6-max SNG regular thinks about while 4-6 tabling for fun and profit.

[insert non-sucky complete hand history with commentary here]