Sit-n-go tournaments are simply small impromptu poker tournaments that begin once all the seats at the table are filled. Sit-n-go tournaments come in a variety of formats; the most common consists of only the people sitting at the table. Although occasionally some poker sites will offer a multiple table sit-n-go tournament in which the payout is a somewhat different. Professional poker players often shy away from this type of tournament, largely due to its unpredictability, but for a beginner an effect sit-n-go strategy can provide you with many necessary lessons at the table.
Your strategy for a sit-n-go poker tournament should be played like a series of battles, each one leading up to the final war. Since typically only the first three places get prize money, you should play the sit-n-go as you would a bigger tournament during the first leg. During your first three levels of blinds you should not attempt to play fast and loose. The only way to stay beyond the first three levels of blinds is to play tight. By playing ‘tight’ I mean that you should just play solid poker, no tricks, and no bluffs. By playing only premium hands, you are buying yourself time later in the tournament once a few players have been picked off. Patience during the first few rounds of blinds will pay off heavily in later rounds. This isn’t to say that occasionally playing a few ‘not so great’ hands won’t pay off, but just be aware of your position when and if you decide to bet early on a so-so hand.
Next, your goal should be to double up during the first four rounds of blinds. If you don’t double your stack during this time, it will be extremely difficult for you to remain in the game as the blinds increase. By doubling up, you decrease the chance of having to play a tricky hand at an inopportune time later on. But, if you double up during this time, you will have effectively bought yourself more time in the tournament and your stack isn’t getting demolished by the ever-increasing blinds.
To effectively win a sit-n-go tournament, or at least place in the money, you should begin to steal blinds during the last leg of the tournament. If you’ve got the big stack of chips in front of you, feel comfortable bullying your short-stacked tablemates in hopes that they will get blinded out of the tournament. But remember; only the top three positions make it into the money, so when there are five or less people at the table, all the short stacks will play tight and wait for the next two players to get eliminated. If a short stack is going to make a move on your stack, force them to pay for that move. More importantly; make sure stealing the blinds doesn’t backfire by always paying attention to your opponents and your position, don’t assume because he’s short-stacked that he doesn’t have the nuts this hand.