Hi there! So I started playing NLHE SnG and MTT 2 months ago. I see some improvement during this time, I manage to spot my weaknesses and mistakes and try not to repeat them. My main problem is that although I succeed in getting into the money most of the times, I rarely get the first place, because I have very few chips, trying to stay alive. For instance, when I am short stacked in the bb, I can't defend it easily. There was this game (6persons) when we were in the bubble (3persons), and the small blind (similar stack with me) was always all-in preflop, after button folded. Even if i knew he had nothing, I was always folding. I think it would brake my nerves to call him with KJs and show me 10 2 and beat me. The only thing I was doing is all in with any pair and any ace when I was on the button. So, I waited when he went all in and I had QQ. I got into the money, but it was too late for anything else. In the same game, the button always raised, but I was afraid to go all in with A5 or KQs. I know that in theory on the button I should be more aggressive, put it seems difficult in real life!
PS: In MTT where there are more people on the bubble, things seem easier for me.
Thanks for your time.

Sounds like you're getting emotionally attached to each individual tournament you play. If you play more, you'll become less prone to being irritated by variance (although it will still happen).

Also, moving in nearly ATC when short when the big blind is as tight as it sounds like you are is the CORRECT strategy.

In SNGs, by the time you get down to 3 or 4, the blinds are very high relative to the amount of chips you have. If you have a hand like KJ, 3 handed, when you are short stacked, you simply have to be willing to get all-in. What you can't do is fold every time someone raises, and hope to catch AA, KK or QQ. You will run out of chips very shortly, and even when/if you do get a monster, you won't be able to win much with it. This is why you need to be going all-in with any reasonable hand (QJ, K9, any ace, any pair). Your goal is to increase your chips stack, and if called, have a reasonable chance to double up.

If you get called and lose, it doesn't really matter. If you don't increase your chips you are going to lose anyway. You need to take the best shot at increasing your stack. And that is to be aggressive.

Imagine the blinds are 200/400 and you have 2000 chips (5 big blinds), and there are 3 people left. Every 3 hands will cost you 600 chips if you fold. If you go 6 hands without a big hand, you are down to 800 chips - which is only 2 big blinds - and not enough to make anyone ever fold. Instead, first time on the button with at least a face card, shove all-in. If they fold, you have added 600 to your stack. If they call, see what happens. If you win, you are suddenly in good shape. If you lose, you aren't really worse off than if you had been folding.

This is both the trouble and beauty of getting short-stacked. The trouble is that you have few chips, and have no real moves left. The beauty is that it is easy to play because you are in trouble and have no real moves left.

Not to be mean op but if getting it in pre as a 70% fav and losing is a problem maybe poker isn't for you.

I started out about ten years soley playing sng's. I'll give you some advice I wish I would have got then. Switch to cash games!!! Lol

^Terrible advice!

Op: Go allin and learn to love the flips. If you fold too much, you can't beat the games. Period.

Thanks guys. No, cash games is something that i 'd rather not play, for many reasons. Only with friends, to pass the time!
teh pokerz, I get your point. I think that I should have something like 5 blinds to make such a call. If another opponent is short stacked, he might go out first. I don't know if this is correct way to play. I 'll see how things will go in the future.