Reduced Table Size Play

[r2p]

After the SnG gets down to the ITM size I understand the need to be more aggressive but I am currently getting beat like a drum and making mistakes in this situation. Is there a basic strategy to employ or is it more "softer side of sears" approach ?

[daboze]

without knowing your specific details I can really only give some general advice. The most important of which is:

Push from the SB way more often!

[bigredlemon]

If the blinds are 20% of my stack, i'd push with any two broadway cards and any pair higher than 7 in any position in any unraised/uncalled pot.

[ilya]

[ QUOTE ]
Is there a basic strategy to employ or is it more "softer side of sears" approach ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Huh? I don't get the link between horrible marketing strategies and ITM SnG play....

[The Yugoslavian]

Ditto. Sears has no place in any discussion of poker, especially Sears' poor marketing slogans.

Perhaps the original poster feels he is playing too 'soft' but without *any* specific information, I don't see how anyone is suppose to be able to provide helpful advice or comments.

My advice to r2p based on his post would have to be, don't worry, 'it's in the game.'

[r2p]

The reference to Sears is one of are you making your initial decision more on the quality of your starting hands (hardware or fact based) or is more people/betting pattern related (softer side of sears or gut) when you are with three people.

[r2p]

Thanks - I have clearly been too conservative related to that approach.

[r2p]

I ran your approach using PokerStove and came up with the following % win numbers pre-flop:

Your Hand vs 1 Other Random Hand 2 Other Random Hands

Any Broadway 63% 47%
88 69% 56%
99 70% 59%
TT 75% 61%
JJ 77% 63%
QQ 80% 65%
KK 82% 67%
AA 85% 70%

Each case was run about 25M hands and I rounded.

[Marcotte]

[ QUOTE ]
If the blinds are 20% of my stack, i'd push with any two broadway cards and any pair higher than 7 in any position in any unraised/uncalled pot.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is too tight for 3 handed play. If you only have 5 BB I'd push probably top 75%-95% from button or SB (if button folds). Certainly you'd push any pair or Ace, wouldn't you? You've only got 5 BB! Only time I'd tone it down is if 2nd place also had 5 BB. Even then I'd push every hand the big stack folds.