Tournament Advice: Guide to the Full Tilt Poker Six Person Sit N Go
by T. Holewinski of Predictem.com
Full Tilt Poker was the first site I played on, about 3-4 years ago. I am glad I picked that poker site, because it helped me become a more profitable player. As I learned the game, I moved onto other poker sites and made some decent money. I would shift between cash games and tournaments, with a much better win percentage in the Sit N Go (SnG).
Specifically, this article deals with the Six Person SnG. A few people will tell you that you can not make a profit continually playing these short handed SnGs. But a good player will always rise and make a profit, on any table, game, or field. This type of tournament is perfect for the beginner (or expert) because it pays out the top 2, is much easier time to identify player types and the game usually moves much faster than 8 or 9 person SnGs.
I have played these SnGs for a good year and have come to a few conclusions, or what I like to call my thirds policy. The actual thirds (1/3) are based on player types at the table, which is a crucial responsibility.
Two players are complete donkeys, and usually go out by the 10th hand. You will need to identify these players quickly and let them make their mistakes. If you can optimize their demise, even better, as you will gain a significant chip advantage. That leaves four players, including yourself.
Two players are average/mediocre, they play some hands they shouldnt, but all in all they can be up a bit or down a bit. As the blinds increase, they will need to make their stand. And the chip leaders will almost definitely make the call, in order to lessen the field. A player dropping out is good for you as well, that increases your chance at cashing out.
Two players (and this should be including yourself!) are better than average or solid poker players. They know when to play the hand, when to fold, when to call and when to raise. In most cases, these two players will cash out which is the name of the game.
Now you know what to look for in terms of player types. The real advantage of this tournament is that you do not need to win many hands to cash out. One or two decent pots, and you are in good shape. If you win a big pot early (possibly taking out another player), there is a good chance you can slide into a payout as well.
Even if you lose a small or medium sized pot early, by tightening up and winning small pots, you can get back to even quickly. Just remember not to jump the gun and move all in with mediocre hands if you lost a 1/3 of your chip stack early. The blinds are low enough to make a comeback.
Hopefully this article and the corresponding tips can help a player make a move into the world of profitable SnGs.