Playing Texas Holdem Sit-n-Go’s - Online Poker

At nearly every online poker site in the world today you have the opportunity to play sit-n-go tournaments. Some are single-table, while others are multi-table. Let’s look at the single table sit-n-go today and what you can expect when playing at online poker sites. A typical No-Limit single-table tournament has 10 players and each player gets the same amount of starting chips. People play until one person has all the chips at the table. Usually the top three players share the money with 1st place getting 50 % of the total pot, 2nd place 30% and 3rd place 20%.

At the beginning of these tournaments the blinds are low and you might be able to see a few more flops, but remember that premium starting hands are what win most pots. You really need good hands to win at a full table and just calling does not work very well at a full table unless you are in premium position. Position is critical in all Texas Holdem games, particularly at single-table tourneys. As with regular Texas Holdem games, if you get a good hand like Aces or Kings, don’t slow play it. You want to make people play to draw extra cards. You want to drive people out of the hand. You don’t want two pair, a straight or a flush outdrawing your big hand.

When you are playing these single table tourneys you don’t want to take a lot of chances early. A few players will probably go all-in and eliminate themselves within the first 15 minutes or so. Unless you have a very strong hand you want to avoid these coin flip situations. If you play fairly tight you are likely to survive a lot longer. As players get eliminated you can play more hands. You can also bluff a little bit more, especially if you have been playing tight. If you get to the final few players with the lead you can play it safer or you can steal more pots. Both options are available when you have the big stack. If you are short stacked you will have to pick a spot and go all-in trying to double up.

Once you get to a heads-up duel you will want to be aggressive and totally change your starting hand requirements and a lot of your strategy. The goal at these single table poker tournaments, just like the multi-table ones, is survival. Let other people pick themselves off and only attack when you really have the cards. As the tournament progresses you can take more chances and when you get heads-up it is another game entirely.