Questions about SNGs

[Rakes]

Hey guys,

This thread will be used to ask and answer general questions about SNGs. Anyone can ask and anyone can answer =)

[Rakes]

Hey rakes, I just watched one of your videos, pretty nice, I didn't saw anyone to play your style before, the interesting part is your bet sizing. Interesting bet sizing you chose to make since the t50 blind level, I make a standard 3x, and from t100 level I make 2.5x. Can you talk a little bit about your PF raising size you make 2.27? What you accomplish with that raise size, I am interesting in incorporating this into my game, what's the benefit of it and what is the downside? I play 5max sng with a lot of loose players. How much do you usually Cbet... tell me about the Cbet sizing you use.

I make it 2.27 because I steal a lot and would often fold to 3bets. By raising smaller, I can afford to steal more often. The downside is that we get 3bet more, we don't get as much value with our good hands.

As far as cbetting goes, i always cbet against donks on like 99% of boards. Against a reg, I cbet on good cbetting boards. unless he's like a nit/reg then it depends on how deep we are.

I usually cbet about half pot because it's good enough to take it down. Earlier stages, I'd cbet maybe 65-70%.

[vald3s]

I struggle with the Cbet in my game because people likes to call light Cbets, is it still profitable to Cbet 99% of the time against donks? What if 2 players are involved in the pot and both loose donks? My biggest leak is that I go too far with some hands I shouldn't and I pay off a lot, because I my Cbet gets raised too often or my 2 barrel. How often do you double barrel? or triple barrel? Do you need to improve to double barrel?

[madison79]

Rakes,
I was watching your 30 tabling on PS and I got to thinking about AK and how u were 3 betting it. Do you think this is better or flat calling it at the low blind levels of 10/20 and 15/30. Does position matter to you as much? Either your in or out of position?
I feel like if I 3 bet I have to C bet any flop and then I'm almost stuck shoving the turn no matter what.
Also, against most players if you get 4 bet whats your line?
I usually just flat call behind the raiser which does open up odds for small pairs to come along as well but I feel like I save chips on QT5 rainbow board since I can check fold.
I play the 11's and below.
Thanks Madison79

[zerosum79]

One of the things about 3betting is that you have to be very careful about how much of your stack you are committing to the pot.

If the raise is to 3x at the 15/30 level then by raising again the pot will be something like

15+30+90(initial raise) + 270(3bet)+ 180 if called = T585

You will have committed 18% of a T1500 starting chip stack. This in my opinion is a pretty big mistake with AK as you are basically pot committed (having passed the 10% commitment threshold) without really having a plan or knowing if you will connect with the flop. By Cbetting (which you should do) another half pot bet you will have in essence committed 1/3 of your stack.

Now typically a SNG is balancing different factors many of which are conflicting. One might say that not 3betting AK is losing value with a premium hand PF. If you 3bet you have to be willing to make and all in shove on the turn with air some of the time (on obviously dry boards).

When you make the decision on how to play AK you need to be thinking ahead about what your plan for the rest of the hand is. If you are willing to stack off with it sometimes when you miss then 3betting is correct as you will find it much easier to get all in post flop. However if that makes you nervous or you have trouble reading opponents and flop texture you might be better off calling behind as you will still have a chance to get all in on the river with a 3rd bet.

zero