FWIW and bearing mind I play regular speed tourneys mostly, I do this: I filter 5-9 handed so I have a basic idea of player type. I don't take most of the stats too seriously because they converge quite slowly, but I use VPIP/PFR/3bet/AF/call open/foldBB to steal/steal SB. I then filter 4, 3 and 2 handed (I actually use a different display altogether for heads up). If I played turbos, I'd probably do 3-5 instead, so that I had a better idea of overall aggression. I find having a basic feel for a player on two dimensions: looseness and aggression is much more useful than trying to use HUD stats to make decisions, but YMMV.

Just wondering would it be normal for someone to be better at turbos than regulars even as a beginner?
I hit a big downswing at the 3.40s regular and took a break for a while. Nothing was going my way and then I made very poor decisions for the last few buy ins of my downswing. A few days later I played one turbo just to see what its like, I was instantly hooked for a few reasons
-My early game is terrible, I leak chips from stupid moves with AQ , AJ, TT , hands like that. Whereas in turbos for some reason I can ignore these hands.
-My post flop game is bad, Turbos reduces my need to play post flop by alot.
-Doubling up early with a monster means more, i.e the blinds go up so quick I havent lost much of my double up by the time the shove/fold game starts.
- I think I play a much better ICM game than flop game.
I know the FAQ talks a little about it but just wondering are my assumptions fair to make? Would you recommend me sticking with the turbos for a few more 100 games or I am going into dangerous territory as someone learning the micros?
Im about 60 games in (nothing I know) but i just feel more comfortable playing them.

Then you should stick with them

tbh, they play pretty similarly but there's no doubt that each punishes certain flaws more and rewards certain strengths more.

How do you play pocket 9 in this position? Should i have raised pre-flop, and then bet the flop?

Full Tilt Poker $2 + $0.25 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t25/t50 Blinds - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter By DeucesCracked Poker Videos

BB: t1735 34.70 BBs
UTG: t1545 30.90 BBs
UTG+1: t1395 27.90 BBs
UTG+2: t1655 33.10 BBs
MP1: t955 19.10 BBs
MP2: t1355 27.10 BBs
CO: t1180 23.60 BBs
BTN: t2070 41.40 BBs
Hero (SB): t1610 32.20 BBs

Pre Flop: (t75) Hero is SB with 9 9
2 folds, UTG+2 calls t50, 2 folds, CO calls t50, 1 fold, Hero calls t25, BB checks

Flop: (t200) J 4 4 (4 players)
Hero checks, BB checks, UTG+2 bets t100, CO raises to t250, Hero folds, BB folds, UTG+2 folds

Maybe im a nit but WP imo! you're oop and in a multiway situation. A cheap set mine is fine ., your in very dangerous territory with everyone else involved if you start raising.

Cheers I guess just a second opinion is all I wanted.

I just find the tight early , loose later style is alot more effective with these, whereas Im always the biggest nit on the table in the regulars (and still leak chips lol)

I do literally the same thing both pre and post flop

I'd like to ask how often should I push as chipleader on the bubble. I know it's very situation dependent, I'd like to know the aspects. I play $10+1 SNG for 9 people. I'm trying to use my stack quite often (not in situations with loose callers, shortstacks etc.), but even tight looking players call and too often they show something what they shouldn't (e.g. he's comfortably second and calls with A2o..), but it's better than my hand. And I feel I'm not playing profitably, too many chips lost like this on these limits.

(If there are some grammar mistakes, sorry for that, I'm not from English speaking country. And I'm novice on this forum playing SNG for two months.)

Its way to generel a question. Post hands thats you doubted and you will get a more precise answer.

Be aware that good players will see your stats and assume you have a clue. If you start shoving a lot, they'll adjust and call you light. Some of them definitely will overadjust and call you far too wide in spots where they should remain tight.

This is stupidly basic!

9-man $1.75 turbo ITM, what should my calling range be here? I havent played STT's in years


Poker Stars $1.50+$0.25 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t200/t400 Blinds + t25 - 3 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter By DeucesCracked Poker Videos

BB: t1120 M = 1.66
BTN: t5790 M = 8.58
Hero (SB): t6590 M = 9.76

Pre Flop: (t675) Hero is SB with XX
BTN raises to t5765 all in, 2 folds

It depends what he's shoving. He should be pretty tight though, so you don't want to call too wide. Probably something like 99, AQ if you think he's going to be reasonably tight and widen it out a little as he gets wider.

Poker Stars $1.00+$0.20 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t100/t200 Blinds + t25 - 4 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter By DeucesCracked Poker Videos

BTN: t2571 M = 6.43
Hero (SB): t3386 M = 8.46
BB: t4243 M = 10.61
CO: t3300 M = 8.25

Pre Flop: (t400) Hero is SB with T T
CO calls t200, 1 fold, Hero raises to t600, BB raises to t1400, 1 fold, Hero raises to t3361 all in, BB calls t1961

How do u play Ax suited if folded to you in this stage?

Full Tilt Poker $2 + $0.25 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t30/t60 Blinds - 6 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter By DeucesCracked Poker Videos

BTN: t1995 33.25 BBs
SB: t5415 90.25 BBs
BB: t1975 32.92 BBs
UTG: t1480 24.67 BBs
MP: t1385 23.08 BBs
Hero (CO): t1250 20.83 BBs

Pre Flop: (t90) Hero is CO with 2 A
2 folds, Hero raises to t180, 1 fold, SB calls t150, 1 fold

Flop: (t420) 6 8 8 (2 players)
SB bets t360, Hero folds

The same way you did but maybe raise a little less preflop.

Another one..should i have re-raised all-in here?

Full Tilt Poker $2 + $0.25 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t25/t50 Blinds - 9 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter By DeucesCracked Poker Videos

Hero (UTG): t1610 32.20 BBs
UTG+1: t2178 43.56 BBs
UTG+2: t680 13.60 BBs
MP1: t1410 28.20 BBs
MP2: t1320 26.40 BBs
CO: t1320 26.40 BBs
BTN: t1182 23.64 BBs
SB: t2030 40.60 BBs
BB: t1770 35.40 BBs

Pre Flop: (t75) Hero is UTG with K K
Hero raises to t150, UTG+1 calls t150, 1 fold, MP1 calls t150, 5 folds

Flop: (t525) 8 4 A (3 players)
Hero bets t300, UTG+1 folds, MP1 raises to t700, Hero folds

No, and I wouldn't have bet the flop either. If they're anything like reasonable or sane, you should fold anything less than a pair of aces or a flush draw out, but you can't make them fold an ace.

somewhere i heard limping some hands early in a tournament is not a bad idea

im allready limping 22-88 for set, depending on position i might fold/raise them too. but what about AJs UTG 9 handed oder QJs utg+2? generally i dont like limping but it seems like people get scared by limped stats or the higher VP you get from it. what about marginal hands in position? 1 limper from mp, we on BTN with ATo?

im playing 6$ turbos, after ~50-60 hands the bubble is busted. 4 or 5 limps at early stages allready "boost" my stats to loose/weak looking ones.
for example: i limp 4 hands in the first 10 hands, means i get at least 40VP which looks really weak/loose. after 30 hands im at 13VP - minimum! it will more likely be around 25-30 at this time and it looks so weak.

if im not limping im more like 12/10, which scares people when i try to extract value


so is limping good early in tournaments?


edit: the numbers i said are examples but i guess its a little bit too high. im not getting so many limps early i guess...

I wouldnt worry so much about your vpip or image. The regulars you play with often will get an idea of how you play regardless and the fish probably will not notice or adjust. They will look at their cards and see A8 and think: Sweet I have an ace! Lets hope I flop another!

Limping for setvalue with small pairs is fine in a passive game.

how do I calculate sd/tourney?

Here's irieguy explaining how it's done: http://archives2.twoplustwo.com/show...=1479432&page=

It's about 1.7 buyins afaik. It doesn't change much whether you win or lose, unless you're at the extremes. Irieguy also explains why that is.

Oh and just for fun, here's the thread that explains why you're always being told "sample size sample size": http://archives2.twoplustwo.com/show...0&fpart=1&vc=1

Thanks for the previous replies...in this one, should i have folded on the river to his raise?

Full Tilt Poker $2 + $0.25 No Limit Hold'em Tournament - t200/t400 Blinds - 2 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter By DeucesCracked Poker Videos

BTN/SB: t8290 20.73 BBs
Hero (BB): t5210 13.03 BBs

Pre Flop: (t600) Hero is BB with 9 J
BTN/SB raises to t800, Hero calls t400

Flop: (t1600) 7 A A (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN/SB checks

Turn: (t1600) J (2 players)
Hero checks, BTN/SB checks

River: (t1600) 4 (2 players)
Hero bets t1600, BTN/SB raises to t7490 all in, Hero calls t2810 all in

is there major difference in game play from the 6 man and the 9 man sng? i just noticed you should pay attention more to tendencies in the 6man. Im just wondering if its the same degree of tightness. i noticed myself playing a bit more in the 6mans - is this incorrect?

Nope, you will definitely find yourself playing more hands as there is 50% less people at the table (ldo). Also, you will be in the blinds alot more to for the same reason, so you will be "involved" in more pots. Definitely stick to the tight early, loose late theory - but to an extent. You can play certain hands in a 6max SnG that you would dream of playing in the early stages of a 9man. Like raising ATs OTB during the first level.

I play the 6mans for this reason... there is more play in them generally and I find more actual "poker" situations compared to the 9mans

Good luck!