I’ve been getting bored with just my limit game so I decided on a little SNG project. It’s been done before but I’ve never tried it and it seems like an interesting experiment.

What:
On a $300 bankroll I’m going to attempt to play 100 SNGs at every level on Party Poker from the $11s - $109s or until I bust out. I will be playing the 10 seaters non-speeds. My guess is I won’t make it through the $55s, but we’ll see. I will multi table as many as 4 at a time but never more than that. If/when I hit the higher levels I may only play 2 at a time, depending on how it’s going.

Background:
A majority of my SNG play has been at Stars. I have a lifetime ROI of around 24% at the $11s and a sample size that is too small at higher levels to really be of any significance (ROI of 45% over less than 50).

I actually started this project last month but just haven’t gotten around to writing about it (lazy bastard ). Unfortunately due to time constraints this may take a good bit of time to complete…unless of course I bust early. I don’t have much time to play and this will have to take a back seat whenever there is a good bonus to be cleared. I’m guessing I’ll get in between 50-75 a month, depending on schedule. I plan to post an update after every 25 games and post some good/bad/interesting hands along the way. Any and all feedback is of course greatly appreciated. With that…let’s see how Leon did in his first 25 games at the $11s.

Last 25
1st…1
2nd…0
3rd…1
4th…6
5th…4
6th…1
7th…4
8th…3
9th…4
10th..1

ITM…8%
ROI…(82%) edit (74.5%)
Win/(Loss)…($205)
Bankroll…$95

Total
1st…1
2nd…0
3rd…1
4th…6
5th…4
6th…1
7th…4
8th…3
9th…4
10th..1

ITM…8%
ROI…(82%) edit (74.5%)

Win/(Loss)…($205)
Bankroll…$95


Wow…I may not even make it out of the $11s! I finished OOTM in my first 15 straight and 23 of 25. I looked back over all my SNGs for the last 2 years and I’ve never had such a crappy run. I think it was a combo of sh*ty cards, sh*ty play, and just plain old sh*ty luck. I think I was pushing way too early and getting involved in hands I should have stayed out of.

Take a look at this gem. This is the tourney I finished in 10th. 4th hand of the SNG:

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t20/t40
10 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: t2000
UTG+1: t2000
UTG+2: t1955
MP1: t2000
MP2: t2185
MP3: t2020
CO: t1940
Button: t1940
SB: t1960
Hero: t2000

Pre-flop: (10 players) Hero is BB with
8 folds, SB raises to t125, Hero calls t85.

Flop: (t250, 2 players)
SB checks, Hero bets t150, SB raises to t375, Hero raises all-in t1725, SB calls all-in t1460.
Uncalled bets: t40 returned to Hero.

Turn: (t3920, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t3920)


River: (t3920, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t3920)


Results:
Final pot: t3920
SB shows As Jd
Hero shows Ad Ts

If I could, I'd kick my own ass for such a retarded play .


What are your thoughts on this hand?

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t50/t100
9 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: t2095
UTG+1: t2190
Hero: t2220
MP2: t2721
MP3: t1580
CO: t2595
Button: t993
SB: t3896
BB: t1710

Pre-flop: (9 players) Hero is MP1 with
2 folds, Hero calls t100, MP2 folds, MP3 calls t100, CO calls t100, Button folds, SB calls t50, BB checks.

Flop: (t500, 5 players)
SB bets t334, BB calls t334, Hero raises all-in t2120, MP3 calls all-in t1480, 3 folds.
Uncalled bets: t640 returned to Hero.

Turn: (t4128, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t4128)


River: (t4128, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t4128)


Results:
Final pot: t4128
Hero shows 7h 7c
MP3 shows As 7s

I fold preflop in both cases. The first one is just so marginal that it's not worth taking a risk so early on. The second one you're opening the pot with a limp, it might be okay if the blinds were still 30/60 or something but you're just begging for someone to raise and take it away from you. If you were in LP and there were a couple of limpers to you though, i'd think calling is fine.

Sunbob, you are right. I really need to get back to basics and stop F-in around in the early levels.

Godlike, you are right on the limp. Not a great idea and could have easily been raised and then I'd have had to muck. What are your thoughts on the flop push?

Good luck Leon.

I hope you can get yourself to stay with the sng's and really see where you are at.

I will track you in the process maybe that will help,

Cheers,
tom

I think I made an error on my ROI for the first 25 games. I think it should have been (74.5%) instead of (82%). ($205)/$275 = (74.5%). So I still sucked, just not as bad as I thought .

Update:

Last 25 $11s…….(50) Total $11s

1st......…3……...…….1st……4
2nd…......2…...……...2nd……2
3rd......…5...…………3rd……6
4th…......4…………...4th……10
5th…......3………...…5th……7
6th…......2……...……6th……3
7th…......3…...………7th……7
8th…......2…...………8th……5
9th…......1…...………9th……5
10th........0…...……10th……1

ITM…......40%...............24%
ROI….....12.7%......…...(30.9%)
W/(L)…...$35…........…($170)
Bankroll………….….………$130

Still continued to run poorly and make poor decisions for my next several games. Only cashed in 1 (3rd) of my first 8 games during next set of 25 and saw my bankroll drop to $37. Finally turned it around and hit some cashes to keep my head above water. My number of 4ths is a bit alarming as it’s currently 20% of my finishes. I’d like to take a look at some of my bubble plays and see what’s going wrong there...

Nothing wrong with this I don't think. Although his reraise tells me I'm either crushed or a coin flip, I've basically pot commited myself and can't really fold with the blinds what they are. Anyone disagree?

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t200/t400
4 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: t3440
Button: t6763
Hero: t2670
BB: t7127

Pre-flop: (4 players) Hero is SB with
2 folds, Hero raises to t1100, BB raises all-in t6727, Hero calls all-in t1570.
Uncalled bets: t4457 returned to BB.

Flop: (t5340, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t5340)


Turn: (t5340, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t5340)


River: (t5340, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t5340)


Results:
Final pot: t5340
Hero shows 8c 8s
BB shows Js Jh


This one I was basically just trying to steal and ran into a monster. Probably shouldn't have went all-in on the steal but maybe bet something like 1,000 and then released to an all-in reraise? It would have left me very short w/ these high blinds but maybe could have found a better spot to push.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t200/t400
4 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: t6630
Button: t6827
Hero: t3015
BB: t3528

Pre-flop: (4 players) Hero is SB with
2 folds, Hero raises all-in t3015, BB calls t2615.

Flop: (t6030, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t6030)


Turn: (t6030, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t6030)


River: (t6030, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t6030)


Results:
Final pot: t6030
Hero balance 0 lost 3015 9c 6c
BB balance 6543 bet 3015 collected 6030 net 3015 Qs Qc


I honestly didn't think this was a bad push here. As you can see when I'm the shorty I'm usually pushing like crazy to double up and get back in it. If there was another shorty too I'd be a little more selective.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t200/t400
4 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: t5400
Button: t5386
Hero: t2380
BB: t6834

Pre-flop: (4 players) Hero is SB with
2 folds, Hero raises all-in t2180, BB calls t1980.

Flop: (t4760, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t4760)


Turn: (t4760, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t4760)


River: (t4760, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t4760)


Results:
Final pot: t4760
Hero shows Ah 8s
BB shows 8h 8d


Ok, last one. This one was just bad on my part. Not really sure why I went for the min. raise although there's a good chance he would have called a bigger pre-flop bet anyway. But the real question is why in the hell am I getting involved with this hand? Considering the blind sizes and the shorty about to catch the blinds...stupid stupid stupid.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t300/t600
4 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: t2410
Hero: t4635
SB: t5395
BB: t7560

Pre-flop: (4 players) Hero is Button with
UTG folds, Hero raises to t1200, SB folds, BB calls t600.

Flop: (t2700, 2 players)
BB bets t1500, Hero raises all-in t3435, BB calls t1935.

Turn: (t9570, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t9570)


River: (t9570, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t9570)


Results:
Final pot: t9570
BB shows Qs Js
Hero shows Qc Ts

Don't steal on the bubble...Lederer gives some good advice that if you're in 4th, you're only goal is to finish ITM...after that, you can go nuts. I think one of your priorities should be to drop the 4th place finishes to nearly none...I'd rather see you blind out or push with AJ-AK than something like 88 trying to steal.

your sklansky summary is more or less correct, iirc.

as for the raise vs. push... yes, i think the raise pot-commits you immediately, so the push is best. the only time i would consider not pushing is when i can fold after raising and still have a stack that i can do something with (other than merely survive).

ultimately, i'd be more than happy jsut to pick up the blinds (if BB folds). flipping a coin for a double up isn't the worst thing, but taking down the pot pf guarantees survival.

also... oops, didn't realize it was party.

Update:

Last 25 $11s…Total $11s (75)

1st………..3……..………7
2nd………..3……..……5
3rd………..4………..…10
4th………..3………..…13
5th………..3………..…10
6th………..2………..…5
7th………..3………..…10
8th………..2………..…7
9th………..1………..…6
10th……….1………..…2

ITM……40%...........29.3%
ROI…….16.4%......(15.2%)
W/(L)….$35………..($125)
Bankroll…………..…..$175

Well, I’m improving but still not where I’d like to be. This is going to be a real challenge when I reach the $22s if I don’t hit a nice run and get the bankroll up. Let me just say though, I’m really enjoying this very much. Seriously, I haven’t been real “in” to playing the last few months but this has really lit a fire in me to not only play but to get back to learning again. My limit game has become very stale and this has been very refreshing. Regardless if I succeed or fail in this, it has been well worth it.

Also, when did Party add $77s to the mix? I guess it must have been when they rolled out that big upgrade, but I hadn’t noticed this added level. Adding another 100 games will take me a little longer to work my way up if I continue to survive. We’ll jump that hurdle when we get to it.

Looking again at my poor finishes, I just continued to make some stupid decisions. Sometimes in the heat of battle a bet or push makes sense but when you back and look at the hand later, your like WTF was that man?

My 9th place finish, level 1 and UTG raises to 5x BB. Folds to me on the button with AKo and I push. UTG calls with QQ and I’m out. I seriously don’t know why I would do that. Late game, sure but why in level 1 put all my chips in as a likely coin flip?

My 10th place finished was not so good either. Notice this is level 4 and we are still 10 handed!!!

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t100/t200
10 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: t2306
UTG+1: t2636
UTG+2: t766
MP1: t1924
Hero: t2585
MP3: t2243
CO: t2002
Button: t1252
SB: t3056
BB: t1230

Pre-flop: (10 players) Hero is MP2 with
4 folds, Hero raises to t700, MP3 folds, CO calls t700, Button folds, SB calls t600, BB folds.

Flop: (t2300, 3 players)
SB checks, Hero raises all-in t1885, CO calls all-in t1302, SB folds.
Uncalled bets: t583 returned to Hero.

Turn: (t4904, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t4904)


River: (t4904, 0 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t4904)


Results:
Final pot: t4904
Hero shows As Jc
CO shows 9c Ac

Of course now that I look at this again, I like my play less and less. AK, AQ, A10, A9, 1010, 99, and of course AA have me crushed. The likelihood of him holding a hand like that is pretty strong too. But then again, how do I get away from this? I’m going to make a continuation bet here and with the size of the pot him reraising me might tell me I’m behind but I’m pretty much pot committed. Dunno, need to think about this some.

On that particular hand there I don't think there is much you can do Leon.

I think the sb made a mistake by calling that hand with two players showing strenght and he got extremely lucky.
AJ is a difficult hand to play especially early on but you had to raise there. I think Iwoulda busted 2.

All the best of luck with your project I hope you stay this focussed.

Tom.

Update:

Last 25 $11s…Total $11s (100)

1st………..2……..………9
2nd………..4……..……9
3rd………..6………..…16
4th………..2………..…15
5th………..2………..…12
6th………..4………..…9
7th………..1………..…11
8th………..2………..…9
9th………..2………..…8
10th……….0………..…2

ITM……48%...........34.0%
ROI…….23.6%......(5.5%)
W/(L)….$65………..($60)
Bankroll…………..…..$240

Made it through the $11s. After my terrible start to this thing, being down only $60 isn’t too bad. Having just a shade under 11 buy-ins at the $22s is going to be pretty darn tough though. I’m really going to have to stay focused or I won’t make it through this next 100.

I need to look closer at my money finishes. Really lacking in the 1st place category. To be honest, I feel that head’s up is one of my strengths.

Not much I could do here.
Hand #1:

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t300/t600
2 players


Stack sizes:
SB: t14006
Hero: t5994

Pre-flop: (2 players) Hero is BB with
SB raises to t1200, Hero calls t600 (pot was t1800).

Flop: (t2400, 2 players)
Hero checks, SB bets t2400, Hero raises all-in t4794, SB calls t2394 (pot was t10194).

Turn: (t12588, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t12588)


River: (t12588, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t12588)


Results:
Final pot: t12588
SB balance 20000 bet 5994 collected 11988 net 5994 As 7d
Hero balance 0 lost 5994 5h 4h


Another beauty…
Hand #2:

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t400/t800
2 players


Stack sizes:
SB: t9554
Hero: t10446

Pre-flop: (2 players) Hero is BB with
SB raises to t2631, Hero raises to t4462, SB raises all-in t9554, Hero calls t5892 (pot was t12816).

Flop: (t19108, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t19108)


Turn: (t19108, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t19108)


River: (t19108, 1 player + 1 all-in - Main pot: t19108)


Results:
Final pot: t19108
SB balance 19108 bet 9554 collected 19108 net 9554 Jd Ah
Hero balance 892 lost 9554 Ks Kd


Hands like these will take care of themselves over the long run so no worries. There were a few 2nds that I could have played better but all in all, I’m not too worried about my finishes…yet.

With that I have finally caught this journal up to date. I have just started on the $22s. As a matter of fact I’m playing in 1 right now. Level 4, 8 minutes left and 10 players still in! WTF??? Anyway, it’ll probably take me a little while before I post my next 25. I’m heading to the airport in about 2 hours to fly back to the homeland (Washington state) to visit the family. I only make it up there once a year, sometimes once every other year. Two of my younger brothers (twins) are graduating high school this spring so I’m trying to get up there and visit them a little before they go off on there own.

Ok, I’ve finally finished my first set of 25 $22s. I’ve been so busy lately I really didn’t think it would take this long to get going on these. All those damn Party bonuses had me super busy and then I’ve been out of town a good bit. The month of May will have me out of town for 5 days in Mexico (wedding) and then 4 days near Portland, OR (graduation). I still think I’ll be able find some good table time though.

Update:

First 25 $22s

1st………..5
2nd………..3
3rd………..4
4th………..5
5th………..3
6th………..1
7th………..2
8th………..0
9th………..1
10th……….1

ITM……48%
ROI…….51.9%
W/(L)….$285.35
Bankroll $525.35

Man was I running well. Wish every set of 25 could go like this. I played well, but to be honest there were plenty of pure luck moments that could have went either way. There is one odd-ball in there from Early April when Party crashed and everyone got paid based on there current chip stack so that’s why I have an odd amount.

Hand #1:
This was such a terrible call by Villain and I ended up bubbling out 6 hands later. I don’t think there was much else I could have done other than an all-in preflop and I’m pretty sure he would have called there too.

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t200/t400
5 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: t3634
Hero: t5562
Button: t6328
SB: t736
BB: t3740

Pre-flop: (5 players) Hero is CO with
UTG folds, Hero raises to t1700, Button folds, SB calls all-in t536, BB calls t1300 (pot was t2636).

Flop: (t4136, 2 players + 1 all-in - Main pot: t2208, Sidepot 1: t1928)
BB checks, Hero bets t2040, BB calls all-in t2040.

Turn: (t8216, 1 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t2208, Sidepot 1: t6008)


River: (t8216, 1 player + 2 all-in - Main pot: t2208, Sidepot 1: t6008)


Results:
Final pot: t8216
Hero shows Ah Qh
SB shows 9h Qs
BB shows Ts Th

Hand #2:

This one is possibly the worst fold I have EVER seen. Seriously, how in the world do you not call me here? One of the other players was pretty pissed and went off on the guy. And as amazing as it sounds, I went on and won this game...

Party Poker
No Limit Holdem Tournament
Blinds: t300/t600
4 players


Stack sizes:
UTG: t3824
Button: t11406
Hero: t770
BB: t4000

Pre-flop: (4 players) Hero is SB with
2 folds, Hero bets all-in t470, BB folds.
Uncalled bets: t770 returned to Hero.

Results:
Final pot: t600

Let me see...170 more to call...pot is 1,370 so I'm getting 8-1...I fold

Update:

Last 25 $22s…Total $22s (50)

1st…….……2……………7
2nd…….…..2……………5
3rd…….……4……………8
4th…….…...2…….…..…7
5th…….…...8………..…11
6th………....3………..…4
7th………....2………..…4
8th………....2………..…2
9th………...0………..…1
10th…….…0………..…1

ITM………32%...........40.0%
ROI……...(12.7)%......20.5%
W/(L)…...($70)………..$215.35
Bankroll……………..…..$455.35

A bit of a variance correction since my last set. Ran rather poorly and made some mistakes along the way. Had my fair share of suck-out moments too. I think a major problem for me is the amount of time between my sets. I thought I’d be playing these more often but I just can’t seem to find the time. That’s causing me a little rust when I first fire up a couple. I’m out of town for a good portion of the next 10 days so I really doubt I’ll get going again until late June . I’m way too tired to post any hands from this batch and frankly, there wasn’t much of interest. I really need to get it cranked up over the next 50 $22s or I’ll be dead in the water from my first bad run at the $33s.