2-table torneys proper strategy

[olliepower]

i do fine in one table sit n' goes, but i seem not not do nearly as well in 2 table ones. i usually make the final table, but end up there too short stacked and bust out relatively early. What do you all believe is proper strategy for the 2/3 table sit n goes?

[Max Weinberg]

Dunno, play well?

High blinds at the consolidation to FT make it tough to pushbot your way into the money, so you have to accumulate early and often by fishing cheaply or making moves earlier than you normally would. In a one table SNG there are usually 4-5 people left when you default to pushbot, but at that same blind level in a multi-table, there are usually like 7-9, screwing your FE to the wall like a cheap Vegas escort.

[Slap My Jack]

I haven't played many and find the same issue. But I think the best chance to prepare a decent stack before the final table is when both tables get shorthanded. You don't want to wait until there 10 players left (5 per table), because it is only a matter of time until player 10 drops. But I also I think I play better in a tournament when it is shorthanded.

If you haven't gotten lucky with the cards early to be the chipleader, it seems like you will have to take a coinflip eventually. So if you definitely have to take a coinflip, I have considered that it might be better to do it sooner before you get to the final table. I haven't experimented with this though, but some justifications for this idea are..
At the FT the blinds erode the number of chips you have making it so you gain less by doubling up later.
People are more willing to race with you at the FT---taking down some chips without a race is still good.


I have a small sample, but the idea of just 'playing well' to take them down I don't think holds. When you get the cards, solid play will get you to the end. Often times you will just end up with a stack that makes it so you will only get htere if you win a couple coinflips in a row. I don't know if you'll get the big money enough to make it worthwhile playing these without pushing it hard.

[Max Weinberg]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a small sample, but the idea of just 'playing well' to take them down I don't think holds. When you get the cards, solid play will get you to the end. Often times you will just end up with a stack that makes it so you will only get htere if you win a couple coinflips in a row. I don't know if you'll get the big money enough to make it worthwhile playing these without pushing it hard.

[/ QUOTE ]
Who said that playing well didn't involve pushing it hard?

Playing "well" doesn't necessarily mean "weak-tight ABC."

[Beachman42]

Play VERY aggro in position when your table is short. Pick on the W/T nits to take the blinds. You pretty much have to drop back when you make the FT to TAG unless you have accumulated the chips to bully.

[Slap My Jack]

Since most posters here intend to play well, I was under the impression that it meant doing nothing differently, otherwise playing well is already a given.