Sit&Go Strategy

With the huge success of the sit&go format online, it was a natural progression for the sites to begin expanding the games to multi-table affairs. These have proved most popular in the two-table format, which run as high as the $500 level on sites like PokerStars. The standard format is that 18 players enter and are paid out on a 40%/30%/20%/10% structure. The general strategy is similar to full ring sit&go play, however, because of the increased number of players and this new payout structure, you will need to make a number of adjustments. Let’s look at each one in turn.

The Early Game

Because only one in four-and-a-half players get paid (compared to one in three in a full ring sit&go) and because there will frequently be more weak players taking part, it is important to open up your game a little. The bad players will not be around forever and you should try to stack them when the blinds are still low, playing speculative hands with little risk to your stack.
It’s important to chip up in these tournaments as there is a top-heavy payout structure. With a starting stack of 1,500 and an average of 6,750 for the paid players, it’s obvious you need to build a stack, so you might as well start here. With the paid positions further away the ICM considerations relevant to the one-table format, where you might get to the money without many more chips that you start with, are much less important.

Ideally, you want to have a good idea from the outset of who the weaker players might be. This can either be based on a process of elimination if you know who the regulars are, or by observation in the first few minutes, where it will become obvious who is playing too many hands. Then you want to try to play some of your more marginal hands against them whenever it is possible.

They will not only play worse than you, but also play even more marginal hands in the first place. So, beyond the obvious suited connectors and small pairs, Broadway hands like K-10 offsuit or Q-J offsuit go up in value since weaker players will often show up with hands like K-6 offsuit or Q-8 offsuit. Of course you shouldn’t take this too far and play terrible hands yourself, and you should still try to play your marginal hands cheaply and in position, preferably when other players have limped first.

Key point
Unlike regular sit&gos you should look to play more aggressively and speculatively in the early stages as there is more of a need to accumulate chips before you reach the middle stages

Two Becomes One

As players are eliminated, you need to remember that you will only be playing short-handed until the two tables consolidate into the final one of nine. You will be playing five-handed immediately before this happens. So if you have a short or medium stack that can survive until the final table you should make less marginal all-in moves, since when you get there you can wait for better opportunities. But if you have a big stack and sense the other players are being too cautious, make sure to use your leverage to accumulate some more chips while there are fewer opponents to steal through on each hand.

Once you reach the final table you will need to start thinking about your prospects for making the money and maintain enough fold equity to keep stealing the blinds. You should also remember that on PokerStars there is a big leap between the 100/200/a25 and 200/400/a25 levels. Keeping above five big blinds for these levels is important as you still have a way to go to the money.

It’s important to assess the stack sizes at the table and look for good opportunities to steal against mid-sized stacks if necessary. Also take note of any stacks above 6,750 – these will reduce the average for the other three players who get paid and make things a bit easier for you if you are short-stacked.

Key point
The flatter payout structure suggests you should play a tighter style in the latter stages, as the jumps in payout are less significant than in a full ring sit&go

The Final Countdown

Once players start to get knocked out at the final table and the bubble approaches you need to bear in mind the implications of the payout structure. With a 40%/30%/20%/10% structure it is obvious that for each position you advance beyond fifth you get an extra 10% of the prize pool. In strategy terms you need to play a bit differently from a 50%/30%/20% structure where there is a big leap from fourth to third and another from second to first.

Here, with a more gradual payout structure, the emphasis is on survival, as even if you reach second with a small stack you still get 75% of the first-place prize money. Therefore, in the late stages you need to avoid marginal all-ins unless you have a very strong hand and stick to pick up chips where there is minimal risk or you are up against shorter stacks.

You can alter this approach if you have a very large stack that can afford to lose an all-in without being significantly damaged. In this instance you should play very aggressively, as here the other players will tend to start competing for the valuable lower places among themselves and you will have a good chance of winning.

By contrast, with a short stack that is in danger of not making the money, you have more incentive to gamble than in the standard format since the uniform payout structure rewards you for trying to increase your overall standing. Your target should be to go for second or third spot, where you will receive twice or three times as much as for limping into fourth, even if you still only have a small chance at winning overall. If you accomplish this and reach the money in second or third place you can revert to playing to your stack size and avoiding risky confrontations.

In fact, unless you have a very big or very small stack you should look to avoid making marginal shoves or calls as a rule. For example, three-handed in a normal sit&go there is an additional 10% to second but an additional 30% to first, incentivising you to play for the win. But in the two-table format you get as much for getting from third to second as from second to first. In this format, and uniquely among tournaments as a whole, it often pays to be the steady place horse rather than the unpredictable front-runner.

Key point
If you are short-stacked in the late stages you should play a tight game and hope to benefit from other players being knocked out. Your target should be making second place rather than going for win-or-bust