[SnG Strategy] - Stealing and Blind Steals

[Windbreaker]

If this was a normal SNG, I would generally fold all the time. With the SNG at Stars, I know I can outplay at least half the field. Meaning, I don't feel like it's necessary to put my money in on a best case scenerio of a pure blind steal. The only hands you can really beat right now is a blind steal, K10s, QJ, and Q10. I don't really see someone raising 3x BB with those types of hands...unless they have done it consistently during the course of the SNG.

I know a lot of players don't like to have less than 5-7 BB, but most of the time you can wait even longer and just outlast everyone that gets desperate.

[PShabi]

For the record,

If it's folded to me on the button, I'm stealing with those hands you mentioned EVERYTIME.

[Talking Poker]

Maybe so, but you're also raising there with premium hands.

[Zybomb]

IMO, I fold here

There is a better than average chance that he is just stealing, however its going to cost you all of your chips to find out.

In addition you (assuming no domination) are at best a 60/40 favorite -- and you will almost definately be called with anything outside of a pure trash -- and there always lies the chance he actually has a legit hand (which in this case he did)

When down to this situation, I really like the First In Rule -- being the first in the pot is more important than your cards. I think once the blinds are this high, you stand to make a lot more money by simply blind stealing (as people will be reluctant to call w/o huge hands -- and chances are you wont run into one of them that often -- , especially when you can still severly damage their stack/take them out) then by taking a chance at a double up here, where you are at best 60/40.

This may be a little tight, but Id fold everything below AQ, or anything lower than 99 in that spot, assuming I still had a stack that was capable of playing, if I needed to double up and take chances Id call with slightly more -- but I still like being the first one in, that way you have two ways to win, take down the blinds/antes or have your hand hold up -- here you only have one

Being the first in Id throw in a steal with hands as weak as mid 1 gap suited connectors, high connectors, any pair, Axs, two paint cards, and half the time with two rags. If I can net one set of blinds per orbit thats the goal in my stacks situation -- and hopefully somewhere along the line find a monster when someone tries it on me.