SNG Strategy - 10 Early Game Tells

1-table tournaments are hugely popular online, and incorporate some significant strategy adjustments when comparing to a standard poker money game. With the later stages, and specially the 'bubble' (when only 1 more player has to bust prior to the paying places) so crucial, it is key that you predict how different players will react during this stage of the overall game.

Below is a list of 10 vital things to look out for through the early stages, when chips are plentiful and the pressure low - along with what these signs can inform you of a particular players late game and bubble strategy.

- Early Game: Take note of any hands which players call raises with, this is a huge clue as to the kind of hand they will appear with later on at the bubble.

- Check-Raises: Keep an eye out for check-raisers, some players use this typically when out of position and others check and then fold. Exploiting a serial check-raiser is very easy, you get to simply take free cards in some situations and these players will frequently help you develop a big pot too! Check-raisers are used to playing backwards, so expect more late game bluffs too.

- Unusual Bet Sizes Early / Mid Game: Note players who make 4x or bigger open raises, this is often the mark of an inexperienced on line player or can be a hint that they have a hand they don't really want to see a flop with, such as a mid-pair. Inexperienced opponents tend to call 'light' at the bubble.

- Open Limpers: Again, inexperience frequently leads to an excessive amount of limping in to the pot. These players are unlikely to be carrying out a tight-early / push late strategy and can make classic bubble errors. Watch for players who often raise then suddenly limp-in, this is often a big hand.

- Super-Tight Players: Make a note of people who play almost no hands for the first few levels, they can easily be good players using a 'Pushbot' type of strategy.

- Shows: Each time a player gets a walk in the big blind and shows his trash hand, bets and then shows a bluff or shows a strong hand after everyone folds the turn - you should definitely make an email. Again there is a high likelihood that this player is inexperienced, especially showing rags in the blind and revealing bluffs. Experienced grinders understand that SNGs are too short for such nonsense and also have seen enough of pokers variations that they do not need to show you their cards.

- Bluffing Dry Side Pots: Most players in SNGs will check a hand down when a player is all-in. Those who bet when there is no second pot to win (only the one that the all-in player can win) and then show a weak holding usually are inexperienced... provisionally assign them the 'Push too tight, call too light' bubble ranges.

- Bubble Calls, Hopefully this 1 is obvious, when you see a call at the bubble which looks 'light' immediately take a note that will allow you to put this player on a better range of hands next time around.

- Bubble Raise / Folds: When you see a player with 12 blinds or less raise 3x after which fold to a re-raise you can be pretty certain they do not understand the facts of prize-pool equity (based on the actual fact that they don't really understand pot-odds! ).

- Push-Bots: This term refers to players who are pushing all-in at almost every opportunity, often good players! You can assign these types an enormous range, however, you know you still can't call without a premium hand, right!