SNG Strategy - 10 Early Game Tells

SNG Strategy - 10 Early Game Tells
1-table tournaments are hugely popular online, and involve some significant strategy adjustments when compared to a standard poker money game. With the later stages, and particularly the 'bubble' (when only 1 more player needs to bust before the paying places) so important, it is key that you predict how different players will react during this stage of the game.
Below is a list of 10 vital things to look out for during the early stages, when chips are plentiful and the pressure low - along with what these signs can tell you about a particular players late game and bubble strategy.
- Early Game: Take note of any hands which players call raises with, this is a huge clue as to the kind of hand they will show up with later on at the bubble.
- Check-Raises: Keep an eye out for check-raisers, some players use this almost always when out of position and others check and then fold. Exploiting a serial check-raiser is very easy, you get to take free cards in some situations and these players will often help you build a big pot too! Check-raisers are used to playing backwards, so expect more late game bluffs too.
- Unusual Bet Sizes Early / Mid Game: Note players who make 4x or bigger open raises, this is often the mark of an inexperienced online player or can be a hint that they have a hand they do not really want to see a flop with, such as a mid-pair. Inexperienced opponents tend to call 'light' at the bubble.
- Open Limpers: Again, inexperience often leads to too much limping into the pot. These players are unlikely to be following a tight-early / push late strategy and will make classic bubble errors. Watch for players who often raise then suddenly limp-in, this is often a big hand.
- Super-Tight Players: Make a note of those who play hardly any hands for the first few levels, they can easily be good players employing a 'Pushbot' type of strategy.
- Shows: When a player gets a walk in the big blind and shows his trash hand, bets and then shows a bluff or shows a strong hand after everyone folds the turn - you should definitely make a note. Again there is a high likelihood that this player is inexperienced, especially showing rags in the blind and revealing bluffs. Experienced grinders know that SNGs are too short for such nonsense and have seen enough of pokers variations that they do not need to show you their cards.
- Bluffing Dry Side Pots: Most players in SNGs will check a hand down when a player is all-in. Those who bet when there is no second pot to win (only the one that the all-in player can win) and then show a weak holding are usually inexperienced... provisionally assign them the 'Push too tight, call too light' bubble ranges.
- Bubble Calls, Hopefully this one is obvious, when you see a call at the bubble which looks 'light' immediately take a note that will help you put this player on a better range of hands next time around.
- Bubble Raise / Folds: When you see a player with 12 blinds or less raise 3x and then fold to a re-raise you can be pretty certain they do not understand the details of prize-pool equity (based on the fact that they do not really understand pot-odds!).
- Push-Bots: This term refers to players who are pushing all-in at almost every opportunity, often good players! You can assign these types a huge range, though you know you still can not call without a premium hand, right!