Sit n Go Poker Essentials

Play Tight Early and Aggressive Late

Tight aggression is the key.  It’s a familiar myth amongst sit and go poker players that playing loose early in the game is the best strategy.  On the contrary, you should play extremely tight early in the game, and loosen up later on.

How Much to Bet 

A good bet with a first rate hand is anywhere from 9-14% of your stack.  Use this percentage early in the game.  Early in the game you should go by the percentage more than you would late in the tournament.

What Hands to Bet With

Try to play premium hands early on.  You’re A7 is not a premium hand just because it is suited!  A quality hand is pocket Jacks or better, AK, AQ, and KQ.

Don’t Limp Late

You’re just throwing your chips away if you try to limp in late in the game.  You should either be raising or folding at this point.  The blinds will chip away at your stack, and limping will keep you out of the money.

Art of Small Pairs

It’s better to limp in with small pairs when the blinds are low.  Raising with small pairs is ok in late position, and you feel everyone else is weak.  You can take down a pot pre-flop with a good sized bet.  Push with small pairs late in sit and go’s, and limp in with them early in the game.

When to Bluff

You’ve got to bluff in sit n go’s or you’ll never win.  Bluffing is crucial late in the tournament.  Pay attention to your position, and this will tell you when to bluff.

Position

Position is without a doubt, the most important part of sit n go poker.  The best position to be in is on the button.  When you are on the button, you are third last to act before the flop, and last to act after the flop.  If everybody folds to you pre-flop, and you are on the button, you should definitely think about raising.  There’s only the small and big blind left to act, and most of the time they will fold to your raise, leaving you the blinds to take.  If they do call your raise, you still have the advantage because your last to act.

Another great position to be in, especially for bluffing, is two spots counter clockwise of the dealer.  Why two spots?  Well most people understand that players like to bluff one position next to the dealer, so a lot of the time you’ll get caught in that position.

Heads Up

Playing heads up poker should be a lot of fun once you make it.  The aggressor will win 90% of the time.  You should adjust your play accordingly, and note that ace high is a great hand when heads up.  Even king high isn’t too bad.  Become the aggressor and you will win most of the time. 

Placing in Sit n Go's

Placing in sit n go tournaments can be a nightmare when playing at low volume sites.  Sometimes you can wait an hour and not have a full table.  On the flip side, when you go to a site with a lot of player volume, they can fill up in a matter of seconds.  Players will play a lot looser at these sites too, because they know they won’t have to wait to join another table if they lose.