Sng's and Bluffing

[Brad22]

Alright, I agree with the multi-tabling argument fully.

I'm just starting to play these tables with some focus, so I have only been playing like 1 or 2 at a time. I guess when you add more in, you may not have these reads.

[tewall]

I've found exactly the same thing you're saying to be true. It's just amazing what people will call bit bets (like all-in) with. Gut-shots. 2nd or 3rd pair in early levels. Amazing.

it's a beautiful thing man. pays the rent [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[BigDave]

Like most things, it all depends.

I usually find myself doing things like when I am running good, convinced that I am gods gift and can run over the table with fancy plays like this. Under perfect circumstances, these plays will work well. Reads (PT data) are very important. Early on, how good of a read can you really have? Early on, is it worth it to risk almost a quarter of your stack to pickup even 200 chips? I say no.

In general, I don't feel it is worth the risk early on in a 800 chip tourney. In fact, I feel that I find myself trapping early on more then bluffing early on to catch people trying to do these very moves. Especially if we are talking about 1 or 2 opponents. Not that I trap every time, just that I trap way more then I bluff in the early stages.

The difference between having ~1000 chips versus ~800 chips in the early stages in insignificant to me. The difference between having ~700 when 25/50 comes around versus ~500 is huge to me.

BigDave

[tewall]

Interesting. I'm the opposite. I don't trap early on (unless I've got something like quads) but will bet any good hand. I'll also bluff a lot if I'm the first one in and only 1 or 2 opponents (usually half pot). I find the difference between 800 and 1000 to be very important. It gives me more time if I get a cold string of cards.

When it gets to the end, then I'll start trapping (as well as bluffing). Early on I want someone to pay through the nose if they're going to call with their gut-shot straight draw (which they will).

[tewall]

I was just going to post something like this! I was wondering what bluffs people find profitable.

What I've found to be most profitable is to raise from late position, and follow up with a continuation bet if checked to. Pretty standard, but works very well.

I've tried going all-in when 3 or 4 people have limped in at say about 10xBB, and this has worked so-so. The problem is sometimes people will limp in with AK or KK type hands, which is stupid, but that's what they do. I don't know if this happens enough to make my bluff unprofitable though, because I don't have a large enough sample (by about 5 orders of magnitude).

[hobbes9324]

It's pretty much automatic for me (at the $20's) that if we're down to 5 handed or less, and the SB completes to me in the BB, I push with almost any 2 - I get called about 5% of the time, so if you're at 50-100 or higher, its free money.

[Snarf]

I do it too...and it usually works several times in a row...and then while I'm patting myself on the back and feeding my FPS...it FAILS to work MANY TIMES IN A ROW....

Its used to be one of my bigger leaks and causes of lost tourneys early or late.

[wahooriver]

I believe bluffing in SNGs is all situational. I will throw out a 1/2 pot bet in the first couple of rounds when the flop likely has missed everyone.

Else I wait until the dust has cleared prior to considering bluffing. Bluffing is an important skill, but one to reserve for the middle stages IMO.

[gumpzilla]

I like the general idea, though I wouldn't overdo it. Try and choose your targets well. You may not see enough hands to make an ironclad read, but you'll frequently enough to get some kind of clue, and try following it. The fact that SNG's are beatable by ABC poker doesn't mean that it's necessarily the best way to do it, and thinking about how to branch out is always a good thing.