[UMTerp]

e-fermat's post reminded me of a quiz I made up a few weeks ago when I was trying to help some friends understand basic SNG play. This quiz will be easy for the more experienced posters on here, but some beginners might learn a thing or two. I thought questions 7 and 8 were the most important ones to understand as far as profitability, and I was surprised how many people gave answers that were backwards on those two questions.

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Here are ten questions that are pretty basic, but are knowing the right answers are essential to winning SNG play. I'd think that most winning players would get 7+ right. All are fairly common situations at the lower levels. If you want to raise, as long as you're in the ballpark of the right amount, you'll get credit.

All questions assume a $25+$2 Turbo SNG at Stars (1500 starting chips, 9 players, 13500 total chips in play) with typical (less than stellar) players unless otherwise specified. I’m only asking questions which I feel have a clear cut answer.

1. Level One, 10-20 blinds. A known solid player open-raises to 80 UTG. Folded around to you in the SB, and you have AsQh. What’s your play?

2. Level One, 10-20 blinds. You’re UTG+1 with 66. Your play?

3. Level Three, 25-50 blinds. Nine players left. Two limpers, and the (unknown) chipleader pushes all-in in MP. You have jacks on the button. The chipleader has been fairly reckless in building his stack. Call or fold?

4. Level Three, 25-50 blinds. You have 1425 chips left. Folded around to the SB who raises to 175. You have 7c6c in the BB. Your play?

5. Level Five, 100-200 blinds. Folded to you on the button. You have 1300 chips, which covers both of the blinds. You have KcJs. Action?

6. Level Five, 100-200 blinds. Seven players left. You’re down to 950 chips, and pick up 8s7s UTG. Your play?

The next three questions assume you’re on the bubble.

7. Level Eight, 300-600 blinds w/ 50 ante. You have 7000 chips on the button. The small stack folds UTG, and the blinds each have between 2500 and 2800 chips. You get dealt Jd3d. Your play?

8. Level Eight, 300-600 blinds w/ 50 ante. You have 7000 chips on the button. The second largest stack (2800) folds UTG, and the small stack is in the BB with 950 chips 1left (350 after posting). You get dealt Jd3d. Your play?

9. Level Seven, 200-400 blinds w/ 35 ante. You have 300 chips remaining after posting your big blind, and the other three stacks are about even with ~4000 chips apiece. UTG pushes, as he has been frequently, and the small blind calls. You have 7s7d. Your play?

10. Heads up, 300-600 blinds. Your opponent is overly passive, and you have been stealing from him at will. You’re about even in chips, and he open-raises to 2400. You have Ad3d. Action?