Which is more +EV?

[SebQtaneus]

Here's a question for ya,

A Poker Stars $5.50 3 table SnG pays $50, 36, 24, 14, 11

But an $11 2 table SnG pays $72, 54, 36, 18

Which is better?

The $11 is twice the buyin but for only a 50% increase in payout. So is it worth the extra time (and it's not much time really for the first 9 dummies to bust) to wade through the extra table at the lower buyin? And the lower buyin also pays out an extra place because of the extra players making it easier for a decent player to ITM than a more expensive 2 tabler.

Opinions please.

[leatherface9]

Though I hate both structures, the 2 table IMO.

[SebQtaneus]

[EscapePlan9]

[Sendachi]

I've had a similar question about this in the past. In my mind, I keep coming back to the single table SnGs and can't figure out why I would do 2 or 3 table ones.

The payout on the single tables is to the top third, so ITM is *very* attainable. 3/9 seems very easy compared to 4/18 or 5/27. Also, they only last about an hour. I do three at a time and I call that a set. I usually do 2 sets (6 games) in about 2.5 hours.

The combination of higher pay percentage and short amount of time required makes STTs look pretty efficient to me.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not ragging on the multi's. I'm guess I'm hoping somebody will explain their appeal. Maybe I'm missing something.

[EscapePlan9]

I agree with Sendachi, I also prefer STTs to these. There will certainly be more variance in the multi-table tournaments and I'd be frustrated by not making the money as often. However, there's nothing wrong with mixing in a 2/3-table SNG with single-table SNGs.

[SebQtaneus]

The reason I like the multi table SnG's is because (a) They have higher payouts because of more entrants, and (b) They are, or at least seem to be, good practice for MTT's that I plan on paying in the future.

Yes, it might be easier to hit ITM on a single table but the payout is from a smaller prize pool so you don't make nearly as much compared to your buyin. A 9 seater at Stars with a $10+1 buyin pays out $45 for 1st giving you a $34 profit. Whereas a 27 seater at the same stakes pays $100 for first and a $89 profit. You can even finish 5th and double your money with a $22 payout.

In my experience playing them the last week or two, it usually only takes about 2 hours to play a 3 table SnG because the first 9 bust out so fast that you are at 2 tables really quick. The final two tables get SH pretty fast as well. It then slows down for a bit cuz folks all want to make the FT. Then the FT goes 'fairly' quickly because with that many chips at it, one or two players have usually been building pretty good stacks and start to bust the shorties right and left. It's usually the final 5 or 6 that takes awhile. I have played Single table SnG's that have taken close to 2 hours as well although for the most part they are usually just over an hour by a bit. I don't mind the extra time of the multi's then because it doesn't feel like much more time and the payoff can be quite a bit larger.

I've been doing something similar to the "sets" that Sendachi does, in that I will start a 2, 3, and 5 table SnG's at the same time knowing that because of the extra players the final tables should all take place at different times. This is nicer IMO than having 3 tables ITM going on at the same time if you are lucky enough to last that long in 3 single table SnG's.

[SebQtaneus]

[EscapePlan9]

[SebQtaneus]

[EscapePlan9]

I am interested. Looking good so far, good luck to ya.

[Sendachi]

I'm interested too. Nice run so far.