Ok sometimes I have a very tight strategy when it comes to finishing in the money.
The last 4 ( $55 +5 ) I have played I was the unfortunate last chipstack of the final 4 players.

In all 4 I managed to get in the money just waiting on 2 players to make war, or on a premium hand. I still find it amazing that players so close to the money risk their tournament on group 2 or 3 cards.
In my last stng i found myself with only 1.4 K or so and all the others had around 4K when someone decided A10 was the best hand to go all in with to lose against JJ.
Next hand I got AA doubled up and got 2nd place in the end.

I am not saying just sit and wait untill you get a hand but I see to many people getting desperate when there are only 5 or 6 players left They feel they need to get as much as the chipleader or something so they waste stack and position with beatable hands.

I just posted this so I could see if my new picture is up.

Is it.. is it??? huh huh.

tommyhawk,

Check out this thread about a forum member who had to leave in the middle of a SnG and still finished in th money.



Sort of supports your theory in a round about way.

Don... nice to see my posts are gettin pimped out... Do I get some kind of commission check for that...? BTW... it wasn't in the middle, it was like 10 minutes in, as I got busted at work playing...

Anyways, my gloating about how good I am aside... I disagree w/ your premise Tommy... My main goal when I play SNGs is not to finish "ITM", but to win... When I'm on the bubble, and everyones buttholes tighten up, it's the best time to steal blinds and make sure that you end up ITM, and give you a great chance to place 1st, or at worst 2nd... I'm not advocating betting into the biggest stack all the time, and trying to show how big your balls are... But, usually in the bubble situations, a minraise is enough to chase them... And, if not, a 1/2 pot bet will get another 25%...

Honestly, how often does a "great" player get ITM at the $50SNGs...? I certainly don't consider myself great, but I can't imagine the rate is much higher than 50%... if you come in 3rd at a $50, it's costing you $55 to play, and you only win $45... At that rate, you'll actually be LOSING money by playing...

Like I said, I don't advocate pushing constantly, or chasing down big stacks... But, if you don't play aggressively on the bubble, you're giving away golden opportunities to build your stack to a level where you can challenge for the TOP spot, not just one of three...

Sorry for being so longwinded...

I do not know where you are plaing $50+5 SnGo s, but at party the third place finish pays 100 for a $45 profit, not a $45 prize.

Thats what I meant... If it only paid $45, you'd lose money... I apologize for being obtuse... My point was that if you play for 3rd, which this attitude promotes, then you're not gonna have a very good ROI in the long run...

[quote="MVPSPORTS"]Don... nice to see my posts are gettin pimped out... quote]

MVP,

With well over 700 posts you have to get props once in a while.

I'm only about 750 behind you.

Don't get me wrong. I only play for first place.
But when you find yourself dead last for some reason don't get too desperate. People do bust eachother out and then the extra money is very important. I will take my 3:1 shot when I have no other options left when in fourth place.
Especially if the players whom are left have the tendency to play a little loosy. If they don't then you have to be the agressor if you have a descent stack left. But if the blinds are that high that your all in raise does not cost them much then you better wait.

This is just a small ascpect of the game.

My current ITM is 60% and my ROI is at 33% but it is only after 28 stngs at the $55+5 level so there is not much I can say about that.

Hey just wanted to see if my pic was up.

Tom.