Newsletter Article

Effective Sit n' Go Tournaments
Finding the Right Formula
Appeared in October 2008, Volume I

Just what makes a Sit N' Go (SNG) tournament effective? In order to answer that question you first have to realize the benefit that a SNG should bring. In multi-table tournaments (MTT), when players make it to the final table, they usually find themselves in unchartered territory, causing them a dilemma, because a good number of books will tell you, that the strategy needed to be successful at a final table, and possibly win it, is different than the strategy a player may have used in getting to the final table.  So, if the average player doesn't get to a final table often enough to gain the experience needed to be effective at the final table, how does a player gain the experience? What is the answer? The answer is SNG Tournaments!

So what is an effective SNG? An effective SNG is one where it simulates final table play and gives the poker player the experience he/she needs to be effective when they do find themselves at a MTT Final Table. An effective SNG should also be affordable and convenient, ie.. one should start when there is enough interest to fill up a table.

Two other elements to an effective SNG are, 1) quickness, but not so quick that it becomes a "turbo" tournament where luck is an overriding factor, and 2) the prize structure should award a player for making it to 3rd place.

An effective SNG should also not drag on for hours either. In our opinion, an optimum amount of time for a SNG should be 1 - 1 1/2 hours in duration, with blind levels no less than 12 minutes.

The last remaining factor of an effective SNG is the starting chip stack. The starting chip stack should be high enough to benefit the skilled player but low enough to support quickness in the tournament.

So what is an effective starting chip stack? It is our belief that a SNG Tournament should start with a chip stack of no more than 1500 - 2000 chips. Any more and the SNG will last too long and will lose its effectiveness as a tournament designed to help a player master his/her "final table" play.

We'd love to hear your comments. Feel free to start a dialogue in the forum. That's what its there for.

Come on out on Saturday, October 18th when we will be at Grace O'Malley's in the Loop. Cash games and Sit n Go's start at 12:00 pm and run all day and night. See the calendar for specific games scheduled throughout the day.