Speed Sit & Go’s have become one of PKR’s most popular formats, and in this series we’re going to look at the strategies needed to make them pay.
While there are many differences between speed and regular Sit & Go’s, the key thing to remember is that you’re still playing the same game. The basic structure and payouts remain intact, meaning the same fundamental concepts – position, stack sizes, fold equity – apply to both formats. For instance, it’s generally accepted that tight is right in the early levels of a Sit & Go, and this remains true in speed Sit & Go’s.
The most obvious way in which speed Sit & Go’s differ from standard Sit & Go’s is that the blinds escalate at a quicker pace – every four minutes as opposed to ten minutes in regular Sit & Go’s. While some may say this makes the speed Sit & Go’s more of a crapshoot (yes, it is true that the maximum attainable ROI% in speed Sit & Go’s is lower than in regulars), you can also play many more in the same amount of time and therefore make a higher hourly rate. Find what works best for you.
Same but different
While the blind structures may be the same in both formats, you’ll see far fewer hands per level in the speed SNGs. So what does that mean? Well, you have less time to wait around for something playable in the speed Sit & Go’s. This is not your cue to go mental and start three-bet jamming 30 big blinds with suited connecters from the big blind over a button raise. That said, you should be far less willing to bet/fold and more willing to enter into 60/40 and coinflip situations, as players are under more pressure to find hands and it’s rarely correct to slow-play.
You’re going to reach the push/fold stage of the tournament more rapidly and there will likely be more opponents left when you do. This means that to get in the money in speed games you’re probably going to have to win more showdowns, and as such the variance will be a little higher. So if you’re going to play speeds it’s a good idea to either already be competent at late-game play, or put some time in at getting better.
I recommend playing around with software such as this ICM/Nash calculator to see if your push or fold was ‘correct.’
Conversely if you believe your edge lies in the early levels of a Sit & Go then maybe you’re better suited to regular Sit & Go’s after all!
Read part II