Okay, I know that all of these questions have probably been answered in the past, but I would like to ask them yet again to gain some new perspective on the subject and possibly go into more depth. I apologize if I posted this in the wrong section or shouldn't have posted this at all.


Where to play? (Stars vs. Tilt)
The only other site I have played SNGs on is Cake ($10-$80) and their software is horrible. Tables can't be resized and there are no hand histories (WTF?) which is pretty important to me as I am a lazy record keeper.

So that leaves just Stars ($16-$27) and Tilt ($22-$33). FPPs vs. Rakeback. I'm only going to be a Gold VIP this month as I took two weeks off and played at 70% volume the other two weeks. If I can reach Platinum on a month to month basis and eventually SN at the end of the year does that considerably outway Tilt's rakeback (obvious yes?)? If I can't make SN is rakeback a smarter choice?

From players I've talked to I've heard that Tilt is a much softer place to play. Is this true?


Table Selection and Multi-Tabling
Can you table select while multi-tabling? I have been playing 9-10 (9 fits better) tables on a single 22" widescreen. How do you select tables while multi-tabling? Do you just register for the first 9 that show up or actually take a look at the players before you sign? Previous to today that has been my answer, but I heard about Sharkscope's Tournament Selector and that has helped me find so very soft games, but at the cost of losing volume. Is it worth the effort?


SNG Software & Coaching Sites
Up until now I have only been using PT and PAHUD when playing SNGs as well as Tourney Manager to track my results. I did use Sharkscope for a month (previous to the Stars ban on it), but that didn't really help that much. I have heard about Wiz and Power Tools, but haven't actually bought one. The price on them is the only thing holding me back. I hate to spend a few buy-ins and end up not using the software at all. From a general consensus players seem to like Power Tools over Wiz. Is this true, and why?

I have taken a look at a couple of coaching sites and stoxtrader looks the most appealing, but again the price hurts my eyes. I would be using the site primarily to view SNG videos, so would it be worth it? Is there another site that you find superior to this one?

Thank you for your time.

Stars vs. Tilt
I have heard the competition is pretty similar at peak hours with enough fish at each to keep them profitable. I would play for RB on tilt even though I currently don't play on either.

Table selection while multitabling
This is possible because once you start to get together a nice list of regulars you can just sit back for a few if you see a couple of them loading up their sets and wait til you get theirs going. It is very easy to do this on high volume sites with stars at ftp with new games opening like every 10 seconds.

SNG Software and Coaching Sites
I would definitely invest in SNGWiz in addition to you current software. You just have to be able to adjust ranges properly when reviewing sessions but this will make your game much much more profitable especially in the late game. I learned so much about what I should be calling with using this software. I haven't used a coaching site. I don't see much use in it. We have some good videos here and this forum is a great learning tool. There aren't a HUGE variety of situations and player types you will experience in SNGs as opposed to cash and tourneys so I don't think it is nearly as necessary.

Hope this helps

If I recall correctly, you need to not just reach supernova to beat 27% rakeback, you have to get a milestone bonus or two.

You can look at the lobbies before you register. If there are several decent regs, wait for the next one.

I like SNGwiz better, but I have both. You probably won't be a winning player if you're playing the 27s or 24 turbos on either site without studying ICM. SNGwiz or SNGPT are the best tools for that.

SNGicons is worth the price. I haven't looked at or used SNG vids on any other site though.

About videos, if you don't want to spend a lot i suggest you to buy Beanmo video on Sharkscope list, 1 of them cost 15, 5 is 50$. I just liked them, but if you want to see more than a few videos you should look for another site.

95% of my games are Stars $15+1, if you compare that to Tilt's $10+1 (same rake) by doing rake divided by buy-in which gives you rake per dollar.

Stars 16 = 1/16 = .0625
Tilt 12 = 0.73(the rake minus 27% rakeback)/12 = .0608

Which is virtually the same, you are getting "instant rakeback" by getting more for your rake. I would save 2.67 (1 - .0608*16) cents per tourney if I played at Tilt or spend 2 (.0625*12 - .73) cents more if I played at Stars. However, this doesn't include Stars VIP Bonuses. If I moved my fav game up a level:

Stars 27 = 2/25 = .0741
Tilt 24 = 1.46/22 = .0608

More of a difference. Tilt would save me 35.75 (2 - .0608*27) cents per tourney or spend 31.78 (.0741*24 - 1.46) cents more per tourney. Again without Stars VIP bonuses.


Thank you for the responses. I will certainly invest money into an ICM tool sometime this week (still need to decide Wiz vs. PT).

Good point about the relative size of the rake. If you can make it to platinum each month Stars becomes even or very slightly better than FTP+27% RB.(EDIT: This actually isn't true. FTP points and Ironman add an additional 2-3%) Supernova makes it a good bit better.

If you have a good shot at making supernova definitely play on Stars unless you have reason to believe games are much softer on FTP or elsewhere.

At the 60s things swing back into FTPs favor since the rake is the same. I'm not sure about the differences at stakes higher than that though.

Table selection on Stars for $27s during peak hours is basically impossible, luckily most of the regular multitablers are pretty bad. No one ever does it, so even if you register first for your whole set people pile on. So if you see this and you are one of the morons who just decides to grind through all the regulars, gtfo ldo.