How to Win at Sit N Go Poker Tournaments

Do you want to learn how to win at Sit N Go poker tournaments? If so, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we will teach you everything you need to know about Sit N Go play, from the basics to more advanced strategies.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, there is something for everyone here. Let’s get started!

Are you looking to take down your next sit n go in record time? Let us show you how to quickly and easily dominate your opponents. Learn the best strategies for winning big in this thrilling format!

What is a Sit N Go poker tournament?

Sit N Go tournaments (SNGs) are online poker tournaments that begin with a predetermined number of players. They can have varying numbers of players, time blind levels, buy-in size, and prize distribution.

SNG tournaments can be played in a live poker room, especially at the WSOP. They became a huge part of the industry in the early 2000s when online poker was born. SNG grinders were born because waiting for scheduled tournaments could be a hassle.

What are the rules for Sit N Go poker tournaments?

Sit and Go tournaments, also known as Sit & Go’s or Single Table Tournaments (STT), is a very popular form of online poker.

Sit and Go’s offer the excitement of a regular multi-table tournament but every game feels like it’s at the final table.

Sit and Go is known for its flexibility. They can be available 24 hours a day. The tournament starts once enough players have registered.

Another factor is time. Multi-table tournaments can take hours. However, a 9-handed Sit and Go tournament will usually be completed in under an hour. This makes it easy for players not to commit too much time.

What is the play structure of Sit & Go poker tournaments?

SNGs were initially introduced as 9 or 10-man tournaments with 10 minutes blind levels. New, more exciting, and faster formats were introduced over time.

Very few people continued to play the “normal” speed or 9-man SNGs.

Most serious players prefer 6 Turbo or Turbo SNGs. Although these tournaments have a slower structure, it does not limit the skill factor.

However, players love the shorter game time. This often leads to a higher hourly winning rate for skilled players.

Multi-table grinders love heads up SNGs, especially Hyper Turbo. These players simply want to play as many hands as possible and make a profit on online poker rooms’ returns such as Rakeback and loyalty programs.

Due to recent changes to the PokerStars VIP program, this method of grinding is becoming less common among low-mid stakes HUSNG players.

Many players still compete in Turbo Multitable SNGs where 18 to 180 players compete to win a share of the prize pool. These tournaments are more like regular MTTs with more players than your usual SNG, but they still start as soon as enough players sign up.

Three phases of a Sit N Go poker tourney

SNG poker tournaments have three phases: early, middle and late.

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Early Phase. Because you will often open the tournament with 100 BBs, the stack to blind ratio will be high. You will not have any reason to play with anything other than strong holdings because there is very little to steal in blinds.

This is where you let the fish hang themselves playing weak hands, and then take control when you get the monsters. Keep your chips if you don’t have any big hands and wait until blinds start to matter.

Middle Phase. SNGs are a great place to play an ante, as they can make it possible to steal large pots. The average stack will now be around 20 BBs. It is time to use your stack to steal chips continuously.

Re-shove is a powerful play during this phase. Players will be opening hands that they are not willing or able to stack with to steal the blinds. There will be many opportunities to steal chips and increase your stack without having to showdowns.

Late Phase. This is the most important phase from a financial perspective. Your mistakes will cost you most here, while good plays will make your money grow.

For the final game, it is crucial to learn a solid push-fold game and an equally solid understanding of ICM. You will rarely ever be able to fold/open your cards. You will always be going all-in if you are entering a hand.

Strategy tips for SNG tournaments

sit n go

  • Go for the win. The difference in payouts between the highest-paid places is significant, so aim to win.
  • Play your stack size well. If your stack is big, you should hold on to it with tight play. Next, bully the short-stacks by loosening up close to the bubble.
  • Experiment. Explore different speeds, play types, and the number of players until you find the SNG that best suits you, and then grind away!
  • Adjust your opening hand. Start tight with a full table. You can increase your range as players bust; keep your stack sizes and table position in mind.
  • Keep your stack safe. If you go bust, you are out of the tournament and can’t buy back like cash games. Play right, protect your chips, and don’t make big bluffs – unless they are obvious.

Sit N Go payouts

WSOP.com offers primarily Sit and Go’s for either 6- or 9-handed players. Once enough players have sat down, the cards are released and the action begins.

The final three players in 9-handed Sit & Go get paid. The prize pool is split with the first-place winner receiving 50%, second place 30%, and third place 20%.

Six-handed Sit and Go tournaments pay the last two players. First place takes 65% of the prize pool and second place wins the remaining 35%.

These payout percentages are only estimates.

Hourly rates and return of investment

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Return on Investment (ROI) and the hourly winning rate are two ways to measure your winnings in SNGs. Although players may disagree on which one is most important, it is generally true that the higher your hourly winning rate, the more money you will make.

The percentage of your average buy-in per tournament played is called Return on Investment. If you play $5 SNGs, and your ROI is 10, this means that you are winning $0.50 for each tournament played. Although this may seem low, the numbers in modern games tend to be lower for winners players and the volume is very important.

Here is where the hourly winning rate comes in. No matter your ROI, the more tables you play at once the more money you make per hour. If you can play 10 tables at a time without it reducing your ROI, you will have a higher hourly winning rate than if you only play one or five tables.

Because most of the decisions made in SNG tournaments are common for experienced players, top players will play more than 10 tables simultaneously.

Is Sit N Go the right poker tournament for you?

Sit N Go is a great way to get a basic understanding of poker formats. Through repetition, you’ll quickly discover which hands make you money and when to fold or continue with a hand.

Because it is a fairly simple game, Sit N Go makes it easier for more experienced players to multi-table these tournaments. You can build your bankroll faster with SNGs if you play well at more tables.