SNG Strategy - 10 Early Game Tells

1-table tournaments are hugely popular on line, and incorporate some significant strategy adjustments in comparison with a standard poker money game. With the later stages, and gaple online particularly the 'bubble' (when only 1 more player needs to bust ahead of the paying places) so essential, 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 what to look out for throughout the early stages, when chips are plentiful and the pressure low - along with what these signs can let you know about 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 arrive with afterwards at the bubble.

- Check-Raises: Look out for check-raisers, some players use this almost always when out of position and others check and then fold. Exploiting a serial check-raiser is very easy, you get to take free cards in some situations and these players will most likely help you create 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 could be the mark of an inexperienced on line player or can be a hint that they have a hand they don't really want to view a flop with, such as a mid-pair. Inexperienced opponents tend to call 'light' at the bubble.

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

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

- Shows: Whenever 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 everybody folds the turn - you should definitely make a note. Again there is a high likelihood that this player is inexperienced, especially showing rags in the blind and revealing bluffs. Experienced grinders know that SNGs are too short for such nonsense and also have seen enough of pokers variations that they do not have to show you their cards.

- Bluffing Dry Side Pots: Most players in SNGs will check a hand down each time a player is all-in. People 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 are often inexperienced... provisionally assign them the 'Push too tight, call too light' bubble ranges.

- Bubble Calls, Hopefully that one is obvious, when you see a call at the bubble which looks 'light' immediately take a note that will help you put this player on a better selection of hands the next occasion around.

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

- Push-Bots: This term refers to players who are pushing all-in at nearly every opportunity, frequently good players! You can assign these types an enormous range, however, you know you still can't call with out a premium hand, right!