When it comes to poker, there can be no greater thrill than running deep in a tournament. As more players fall by the wayside and the lure of a big score looms large as the final table approaches, the adrenalin rush that accompanies it is one of life’s great natural highs.
But it is right around this time – as the blinds rise and stacks get shorter relative to these growing blinds – that the men get sorted from the boys. In fact, it is an undisputed fact that the best tournament players in the world enjoy such status because they have learnt how to adjust to the pressure of these moments while others make significant mistakes or miss opportunities to steal some valuable chips.
So how do you learn what to do at this crucial stage of a tournament as well? The simple answer is to study. Read books, watch educational videos, talk to players more advanced than yourself and ask them for advice as to what they might have done in some sticky situations you have faced in the past.
But as we all know, practice makes perfect and this is where Sit N Gos can be so valuable to the aspiring tournament player. What is a Sit N Go, I hear you ask? This is basically a mini-tournament – generally comprising no more than five tables but most commonly just one table of nine players.
This traditional one table Sit N Go will usually see three players make the money with a payout structure that sees the winner earn 50 percent of the prize money, second place 30 percent and third place 20 percent.
The beauty of the Sit N Go is that you don’t need to set aside hours of your day to play – if you’re playing online, most are over inside an hour and if you’re playing a “Turbo” Sit N Go with blinds rising quicker than usual, they usually only take around 30 minutes.
But aside from the instant gratification that comes with playing in a Sit N Go, they are also one of the best ways to gain experience when the blinds start to hurt and you find yourself in danger of having your stack dwindle away. Provided you do your research into the range of hands you should be shoving with in these situations, and when, the Sit N Go is the best way to put this into practice again and again and again.
It is also a great way to learn how to deal with the bubble because if you play only half a dozen Sit N Gos on any given day, you are certain to find yourself with a short or medium stack when four players remain sooner rather than later.
If you’re a regular at Sit N Gos then you will already be familiar with the many interesting situations you will find yourself in at these tables, but if you’ve never tried one or have only played a few I recommend giving them a go. There can be no more effective way to bolster your tournament game.
