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SnG Bubble play

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  1. pconroy pconroy is offline

    Posts: 12
    Joined: Oct 08

    Nov 15th, 2008 (11/15/2008 4:09pm)

    Hi. I would like to ask opinions on a SnG bubble problem that is begining to frustrate me.
    Let me give you an example. It's a $15 SnG on stars with 4 players left (top 3 getting paid). The largest stack has $5000. Second $4500. Myself $2500 and the short stack has $1000. The blinds are $100/$200.
    In this situation I have been playing very tight. The large stack is to my left and when it's blind on blind I have been folding AQ, KQs etc waiting for the short stack to be knocked out. During this time the blinds are eating into my stack and by the time the short stack doubles up (through a lose call by the big stack) it is me that's in trouble.
    My question is this;
    How much distance should there be between you and the short stack before you really tighten up? Am I applying the right strategy or should I be playing these big aces hard?
    Hope you can help.
    Paul.
  2. moman1965 moman1965 is offline

    Katy, TX
    United States

    Posts: 2,765
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    Nov 15th, 2008 (11/15/2008 4:12pm) in reply to pconroy

    Unless the shortie has 1 or 2 blinds left, I am playing VERY agressive on the bubble. Winning 1 is better than sneaking into the money in 2. If you have 12 BBs and the big stack has 25, you have a tremendous amount of fold equity to him. Take advantage of this and if you see a strong hand , play it. 12 BBs, I am shoving on him fairly wide to preserve my fold equity.
    Hope this helps.
  3. Reech Reech is offline around

    Portland, OR
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    Nov 15th, 2008 (11/15/2008 5:08pm) in reply to pconroy

     
    Originally Posted by pconroy View Post

    In this situation I have been playing very tight. The large stack is to my left and when it's blind on blind I have been folding AQ, KQs

    this is maybe a little tighter than 'very' tight
  4. SofaKingCewl SofaKingCewl is offline

    Gent
    Belgium

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    Nov 15th, 2008 (11/15/2008 5:24pm) in reply to Reech

    If you're the one opening the pot you have to ship it in with AQ and KQs. Calling on the other hand would be bad in most situations.
  5. pconroy pconroy is offline

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    Nov 16th, 2008 (11/16/2008 5:30am) in reply to moman1965

    Thanks mate, I appriciate the help.
    Good luck.
    Paul.
    Thread Starter
  6. pconroy pconroy is offline

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    Nov 16th, 2008 (11/16/2008 5:30am) in reply to SofaKingCewl

    Thanks alot.
    Good luck.
    Paul.
    Thread Starter
  7. Phi Phi is offline aka tennisee

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    Nov 16th, 2008 (11/16/2008 5:47am) in reply to SofaKingCewl

     
    Originally Posted by SofaKingCewl View Post

    Calling on the other hand would be bad in most situatio

    Im snap calling AQ imo.
  8. thearthurdog thearthurdog is offline

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    Nov 16th, 2008 (11/16/2008 1:19pm) in reply to pconroy

    "The large stack is to my left and when it's blind on blind I have been folding AQ, KQs etc waiting for the short stack to be knocked out".

    The big stacks would be exploiting the hell out of you because of this exact reason.

    GL

    Arthur.
  9. Jennifear Jennifear is offline

    Niagara Falls, NY
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    Nov 16th, 2008 (11/16/2008 1:27pm) in reply to pconroy

    When you are in third place, it's still okay to shove your good hands. While you definitely don't want to call with AQ in the situation you described, shoving it is a different story.

    Here's an example with the stacks you pointed out:

    100-200 Blinds.

    4500 and 1000 have folded. You have 2500 in the SB, the BB has 5000.

    The Nash Equilibrium for this spot:

    <TABLE class=simple cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=3 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD>SB</TD><TD><TD><TD>34.8%, 22+ Ax+ K5s+ KTo+ Q8s+ Q6s QTo+ J7s+ JTo T7s+ T9o 96s+ 86s+ 76s 65s <<What you can shove</TD></TR><TR><TD><TD>BB</TD><TD><TD>10.7%, 66+ A8s+ A9o+ KQs <<What the BB can call.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

    In a real SNG, I'd be concerned that the BB might call more often. Therefore I might only shove 20% or so. That still includes A2s, though, so AQo and KQs are gimmes!

    One exception to this is if you are in third place with no fold equity.

    Say it's 100-200, and the stacks are 7000-5000-800-200. You would want to shove very tight from the third place spot and your range would then be reasonable.

    Hope that helps!
  10. pconroy pconroy is offline

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    Nov 17th, 2008 (11/17/2008 1:20pm) in reply to Jennifear

    That helps a great deal.
    Thank you and good luck.
    Paul.
    Thread Starter
  11. moman1965 moman1965 is offline

    Katy, TX
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    Nov 17th, 2008 (11/17/2008 1:30pm) in reply to pconroy

     
    Originally Posted by pconroy View Post

    That helps a great deal.
    Thank you and good luck.
    Paul.

    Jennifear doesn't need luck. She is the SNG guru... her roshambo could use a little help though!!
    Sorry Jen, I was only below the hard deck for a few seconds, saw the shot and I took it! Again!
  12. ferrengi ferrengi is offline

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    Nov 17th, 2008 (11/17/2008 2:13pm) in reply to Jennifear

     
    Originally Posted by Jennifear View Post

    When you are in third place, it's still okay to shove your good hands. While you definitely don't want to call with AQ in the situation you described, shoving it is a different story.

    Here's an example with the stacks you pointed out:

    100-200 Blinds.

    4500 and 1000 have folded. You have 2500 in the SB, the BB has 5000.

    The Nash Equilibrium for this spot:

    <table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td>SB</td><td>34.8%, 22+ Ax+ K5s+ KTo+ Q8s+ Q6s QTo+ J7s+ JTo T7s+ T9o 96s+ 86s+ 76s 65s <<What you can shove</td></tr><tr><td>BB</td><td>10.7%, 66+ A8s+ A9o+ KQs <<What the BB can call.</td></tr></tbody></table>

    In a real SNG, I'd be concerned that the BB might call more often. Therefore I might only shove 20% or so. That still includes A2s, though, so AQo and KQs are gimmes!

    One exception to this is if you are in third place with no fold equity.

    Say it's 100-200, and the stacks are 7000-5000-800-200. You would want to shove very tight from the third place spot and your range would then be reasonable.

    Hope that helps!

    So, if one of the larger stacks raises, you recommend folding AK?
    I thought it was better to call. If you win that pot, you have a decent chance to win the SNG.
  13. Jennifear Jennifear is offline

    Niagara Falls, NY
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    Nov 17th, 2008 (11/17/2008 2:30pm) in reply to ferrengi

    Depends on the situation:

    Here's a situation where you would, with a full explanation:

    Advanced SNG bubble play using ICM
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