SNG Ladder Challenge (SLC)

[JayCo]

SNG Ladder Challenge (SLC)

Inspired by the 100 SNG Challenge and Mike Haven et al’s OIC (Open Internet Challenge), I think I’ve come up with a fun way to sharpen my chops on the higher levels of SNGs without putting too much $ at risk.

If anybody wants to give it a shot or has ideas on how to make this better, I’d be interested in hearing. I’ll post how mine goes after a handful of SNGs.


SLC Goal:
To climb the SNG ladder one rung at a time, in order gain some experience playing higher level SNGs & take a shot at turning just a few $ into big $.

SLC Guidelines:

1) Start with a separately tracked $ amount equal to 5 buy-ins at the level you choose to enter the ladder

2) When you win enough so that your SLC balance is >5 buy-ins for the next level up, move up a rung (i.e., your next SNG buy in should be at the highest level you have 5 buy-ins for)

3) When you lose enough so that you do not have 5 times the buy-in at your current level, drop down a rung for your next SNG
a. If you’re at the original rung you started at, keep playing as long as you have 1 full buy-in
b. For the truly stubborn, if you have SLC cash left but it is under 1 buy-in, play micro-limit NL until you lose it all or win enough for 1 buy-in to try again.

4) As soon as you hit your $ goal, feel uncomfortable with the size of the buy-ins, or this becomes annoying and/or a stupid way to spend your time, STOP


An optimistic example starting at the $5 rung:

I’m setting my sights on turning $30 into either $1,000 or $2000 playing all 1-table SNGs at Party.

I’m starting at the $5+$1 and will quit as soon as I make it to the $200+$15 level and either a) get my SLC balance up to $2,000 or b) win 1 $200+$15 SNG. (I may also quit as soon as I hit $1,000 and then try it again it it was fun.)

1) $30, $5+1, 1st -> $49
2) $49, $5+1, 1st -> $68
3) $68 $10+1, 1st -> $99
4) $99 $10+1, 1st -> $130
5) $130 $20+2, 6th -> $108
6) $108 $10+1, 7th -> $97
…

So if I'm lucky enough to win my 1st four SLC SNGs, I’ll get to quickly jump to the $10 and $20 rungs. However if I finish out of the money on SLC SNG #5, I’ll drop back to the $10 rung. (Since $108 is just short of the 5 $20+$2 buyins=$110 I need to stay at the $20 rung)

J

[JayCo]

Maybe this was a bad idea...

1) $30, $5+1, 10th -> $24
2) $24, $5+1, 8th -> $18

[ilya]

5 buy-ins isn't much of a bankroll for SnGs. You need more like 20-30.
But maybe this is part of the fun? I don't know I'm confused.

[Milky]

Yeah this is what I was thinking as well. I'm kinda doing the same thing but I'm waiting until about 20 buyins before moving up.

[JayCo]

[ QUOTE ]
5 buy-ins isn't much of a bankroll for SnGs. You need more like 20-30.
But maybe this is part of the fun? I don't know I'm confused.

[/ QUOTE ]

I completely agree with both of you- 20 buyins would be much more reasonable and safe.

This isn't meant to be "safe", really. I'm just looking at this as a relatively cheap way to take a few bucks (in my case $30) and hopefully get some accelerated higher-level exprerience and have some fun. This SLC is basically a structured way of "taking a shot" at the big bucks.

The 5 buy-in thing just keeps it a little more real so there's some play at each level, I guess.

J

[stupidsucker]

I began this a month ago
SnG marathon

Your risk of ruin is through the roof with the way you want to do things. I suggest a more moderate pace, and you really can turn that $30 into $2000.

I do recomend starting with $1-200 and start right from the 10+1's but I understand wanting to start from the 5's.

I am currently starting month 2 of my marathon, and I will post an overdue update soon. I worked my way up to the 50's where I got killed facing tougher opponents mixed with some bad luck. I am happily back at the 30s trying to make back up the dent I lost.

GL in whatever you do.

[JayCo]

SS-

Thanks for the thoughts and the link.

From your SnG Marathon post:
[ QUOTE ]
Here is the goal:

I am starting with a nice sized bankroll for 10+1 party SnGs ($600).

<snip>
The ultimate goal is to reach the 200+15 level and compare where my $$/hour rate is the best.

[/ QUOTE ]

My goal for the SLC, which should perhaps be renamed the "SnG Sprint", is totally different than the Marathon. I'm trying to take a tiny bankroll of $30, and full well knowing there's a very good shot I'm going to blow it, take a fun crack at the Big Time. It's meant to be close to an all-out sprint to a specific goal- I'm not trying to see if I can "really" conquer each rung on the ladder consistently, just see if I can climb up it quickly once (pocketing $1k or $2k as a nice bonus).

If I bust out, no biggie- I'm out $30, but had a shot at big $, some fun, and since I probably failed to make lots of adjustments at the higher level, maybe learned a bit. I actually think I may consider doing a SnG Marathon alongside the sprint- this SLC is just for kicks.

I am interested in an update on how you're progressing on the Marathon. Since I'm just strarting to play SNGs more regularly now, I'd be partcularly interested in seeing your ITM & ROI %s in blocks of 50-100 at similar/same levels over time to see if you have improved as you've played.

J

Edit: Tried to edit the original post to contrast the SLC Sprint to the SnG Marathon, but can't edit it any more

[BradleyT]

Everyone replying to you wasn't here for the OIC and they're like, "huh"?

I think you have a great idea. And I just cashed out of Stars leaving ~$30 in my account so I'll give it a go.

[stupidsucker]

I had to change my format some. I ended up starting with $200 instead of $600. I also moved up to the 20s a lot faster then originally planned.

If you do a quick search for "SnG marathon" You will see the 4-5 threads for it. I have now done about 500 SnGs into the marathon.

[JayCo]

This is fun so far. Of course, poker is always fun when the deck runs over you and you finish 1st or 2nd in 5 out of 8 tourneys.

You really need a hot run to overcome the 20% juice Party charges in the $5+$1s. If you can swing the extra $25 to start with $55 at the $10+$1s, I'm with SS that it's not a bad idea.


11 SNGs: 55% ITM, 44% ROI, Avg=4.5

$5 LEVEL
1) $30, $5+$1, 10 -> $24
2) $24, $5+$1, 8 -> $18
3) $18, $5+$1, 3 -> $22
4) $22, $5+$1, 1 -> $41
5) $41, $5+$1, 2 -> $50
6) $50, $5+$1, 6 -> $44
7) $44, $5+$1, 9 -> $38
8) $38, $5+$1, 2 -> $47
9) $47, $5+$1, 4 -> $41
10) $41, $5+$1, 2 -> $50
11) $50, $5+$1, 2 -> $59
$10 LEVEL
12) $59, $10+$1, ?


The extra 50 cent rake might have delayed the $10 rung for a while if I didn't get a gift from an honorable maniac.

With about T1100, he says something like "I have to go, someone have my chips" and raises all-in. The response is a general "yeah right" and "always trust a poker player". Someone believes him (maybe), calls, but Friendly Maniac wins and doubles up with 95o to T2200.

He proceeds to raise all-in every hand for the next 5 or 6 hands, getting lucky and tripling up once to ~T1200 just before I wake up with AA. I limp, he raises all-in, sadly no one else calls (no favorites against a random hand I guess) and I cruise to 2nd with the extra chips.

On to Rung 2 and the $10+$1s!