Short Handed Sit n' Go Strategy

Short handed SNG's have 6 or less players. A full Sit n' Go becomes short handed at a certain point, so this is a well read for every SNG player.

Since the rounds go by much quicker, i.e. there are fewer players acting before you're up again, you will see more chips move around. Forget the starting hands recommendations, your game must become much looser than when sitting at a full table.

Since you are sitting at a table with just a few players, it is more unlikely to face a premium hand. This means you will have to play with medium hands as well. Try to get as much out of your monster hands as you can when hitting them. Slow playing, and making the super aggressive player move all in is recommended.

Being shorthanded in a full table SNG equals to be ITM, or at least very near. If you're playing in a shorthanded SNG itself, then you will be facing a new concept: "bubble play". The term bubble is used when players end one position off the money.

Anyone can hurt your stack in short handed poker, whether you're the big -, or the small stack. This means caution at all times is very important, whilst being aggressive on the opposite.

It's important to make the other players respect your bets and raises, that's why you have to be selective and make them credible.

Hoping that others fight each other out of the tourney, thus folding your way into the money is quite impossible when playing short handed SNG's. You want, and need to be stealing pots when sitting on the button. Again, be selective. Step away from position now and then to make your next bet credible.

Make sure to always muck your hands. Information is a key factor when playing short handed. Playing on multi tables can be tempting, but it is not recommendable.

Playing the short stack

It will occur many times that you're playing the short stack. We all get sucked out by the river once in a while.

Sometimes it seems very tempted to make calls, but it is not wise to put your game at risk. Over the long turn you want to make these types of situations profitable as well, thus you don't want to be facing too many coin flips. On the other hand, don't be to over cautious, you do want to make moves with medium, to high pairs, and Ax's. What you basically want is to pick up blinds before the flop when possible, and still have outs when someone calls. A good classification of the player you are attacking can be very favorable.

Also, you should be watching the big stack(s), as they can easily call your raises. A medium hand may not be enough when an Ace or King hits the flop.

One thing you never do short stacked is giving up! This is a common mistake by players in general. Short handed means anything can happen, for instance, although it is very occasional, two or more of your opponents might end up going all in versus each other.

If the blinds are catching up on you, you better wait until you're sitting on the big blind before moving all your chips in. Theoretically spoken there is no real advantage, except that you're giving your opponents a few more hands to loose. You are also better of to survive a few more hands.

Playing the big stack

When being the chip leader you are most likely going to get in the money. Having a nice stack gives you the advantage to attack the players facing the bubble aggressively, as they are trying to survive. Another advantage is that making a mistake might take away a significant portion of your stack, though it will not eliminate you from the game.

When playing the big stack, you will often have to call someone's all in move when limping into a pot, therefore choose your limps carefully based on position, and hands. It might be even better to initiate with a bet instead of a limp

It is wise to keep up the pressure when you're sitting on the small blind and all others fold up to you. Having at least twice the amount of chips than the big blind should be enough to justify attacking the big blind. You almost know for sure where you stand when you're being called, thus don't put your leading position at risk.

To become a short handed Sit n' Go winner over the long run you shouldn't be afraid to take risks. Be sure to observe your opponents, and play the opposite style they do. Play aggressive versus a tight table and passive when the others tend to be loose.

Squeezing

A common used strategy in short handed games is squeezing. When you hit a reasonable hand, for instance top pair and a high kicker, and you put your opponent on a drawing hand (straight, of flush), then you should try to limit (squeeze) your opponent's pot odds.