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]

[SlackerMcFly]

Well??? We are waiting...... (insert Caddy Shack pic here).

Looking forward to reading your HH.

[Sparta45]

I would assume the author is some blowhard douche know-it-all with Hanesen's Disease.....and I would continue reading.

[Slim Pickens]

$109 6-max SNG

SB has shown he'll call preflop raises with a wide range of hands, far more than premium, and try to "outplay" people from OOP. He's c/r'ed the flop a few times and folded to a flop bet a few times. Also, I saw him firing when he sees weakness, getting c/r'ed on a ragged low flop and having to fold once. Do I look like a complete tool playing the hand this way?

blinds 40/80
Hero (t2110)
CO (t1185)
Button (t1755)
SB (t1505)
BB(t2445)

Dealt to Hero: A[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] K[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

Preflop: <font color="red">Hero raises to t200</font>, <font color="grey">2 folds</font>, SB calls, <font color="grey">BB folds</font>

Flop: <font color="blue">(t480)</font> 3[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] 6[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] 3[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]
SB checks, Hero checks

Turn: <font color="blue">(t480)</font> 4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img]
<font color="red">SB bets t320</font>, Hero calls

River: <font color="blue">(t1120)</font> 7[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img]
<font color="red">SB bets all-in t985</font>, Hero calls

[Paul B.]

With your read you should bet the flop.

[Slim Pickens]

[ QUOTE ]
With your read you should bet the flop.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree I can probably pick up the pot on the flop without much danger of folding the best hand.

He knows I didn't hit it. I know he didn't hit it. My hand is best and he's drawing to six or fewer outs. I'm feigning weakness to induce a bluff from the worst hand. Same thing happens on the turn. I can't decide if it's brilliant, retarded, or standard.

[SlackerMcFly]

Bet the flop, release to re-raise.

As played, I'm having a hard time figuring out what hand would call a p/f raise then play this way.

A3 maybe? A6 or 77?

None of those hands make sense. Good hand to post.

[Sykes]

retarded.

I'd laugh when he turns over 55/77/88/99.

Hell even 78

[StregaChess]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't decide if it's brilliant, retarded, or standard.

[/ QUOTE ]
Is he the kind of guy that bluffs the turn &amp; river?
If thinks he's ahead is an all-in standard for him? Most likely not right?

[Slim Pickens]

Here's the same guy (Seat 3) rivering his straight and just calling a raise when the only thing that beats him is KT and a flush, the flush draw having flopped. This is pretty much why he never has a straight when I'm calling him on a 4-straight board with AK-high.

Seat 2: (button) t1895
Seat 3: (SB) t1285
Seat 4: (BB) t2490
Hero: t1320
Seat 6: t2010
Dealt to Hero [7c Th]

*** Preflop ***
Hero folds, Seat 6 folds, Seat 2 calls 50, Seat 3 calls 25, Seat 4 checks
*** FLOP *** [9s 6s 3c]
Seat 3 checks, Seat 4 checks, Seat 2 checks
*** TURN *** [9s 6s 3c] [Jh]
Seat 3 checks, Seat 4 checks, Seat 2 checks
*** RIVER *** [9s 6s 3c Jh] [Qs]
Seat 3 bets 100, Seat 4 folds, Seat 2 raises to 300, Seat 3 calls 200
*** SHOW DOWN ***
Seat 2 (button) showed [7s Ts] and won (750) with a flush, Queen high
Seat 3 (small blind) mucked [8c Tc] - a straight, Queen high