I've devoted the last week or so to stamping up my SNG game. The string of bad beats has subsided and I've taken down 1st in two today. One of my busts, however, came at the hands of a big stack who had been limping a lot and taking a lot of pots by leading out at pretty much every flop he saw. He limped again, I looked down at A9s in the SB, shoved, he rolls over AJo. nh,gg. I'm not used to playing against this technique.

I hate the position the big stack limper puts me in, because my first in vigorish is shot, he has better odds to call my push, and I have no idea whether he is trying to see a flop with a speculative hand like a suited connector or just trying to trap the small stacks with a monster.

Any thoughts on how to deal with this? If I treat the limp like a raise I have to tighten up my shoving range so much that I'm likely to get blinded to death. On the other hand, if I ignore it, I'm probably walking into a trap about 30% of the time vs. often getting called light because the guy already has 1BB in the pot. Sheets and co. makes this look so easy, but at the $5 tables the other players seem to like spewing my equity all over the table by calling my shove with J6o and the like.

Weigh in with your opinions. (I'm looking at you, SNGPlanet Mark!)

Who me? You need the SNG pros to answer really... but I will try and give you some factors to consider... and with these situations there are several.

1) Fold equity... Based on your stack size and the blinds - for example, if you have 2000 chips on the button, the big stack first in limps for 400 (1bb) and you shove then there would be a total of 3000 in the pot (without antes assuming both blinds fold) and it would cost the biggy just 1600 to call... those odds approaching 2/1 make it likely he will call you with a whole lot of hands - lets be clear on that - make it likely he will 'correctly' call with a whole lot of hands (since you can not bust him). If you shove with no (or little fold equity) then you are more-or-less calling an all-in - ask whether you'd like to do this with A9s etc

2) The single biggest factor is the stack sizes of your opponents. If you are the only small stack then your situation is worse than if there are 2 or even 3 others. If there is another small stack at the table you must usually be first in to play a hand like a weak ace (in fact 1st-in your hand gets less important anyway). You need to factor the change in equity caused by others busting into each hand you play... people usually look at '$ev fold' as being neutral - this is not the case since there is always a non-zero chance an opponent will bust. If there is another shorty then this chance may be reasonable.

3) For every calling range there is an profitable pushing range - this one is so important that I'm going to repeat it in bold.

"For every calling range there is a profitable pushing range"

The people who win long-term (2000+ game samples) understand that they must adjust not to their cards, but to their opponents ranges. Learn what you can profitably push... and always factor in a chance of a 'freak call'!

Did you get the 30 day trial of SNG Wiz yet? (SNG Power Tools does the same thing)... you can start with some simple ranges (tight / average / loose) and see what you can profitably push with what stack size... then adjust for situational factors after you internalise the basics.

Anyway - I'm just a writer / businessman who happens to play a bit of poker. If there are any real experts out there then please add your thoughts!

Cheers, Mark

I am ALWAYS weary of a limper. I choose not to raise preflop with a hand like a9 with a limper in the pot.

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Kickboyswoop

I don't think Mark gives himself enough credit. I think his advice is spot on and well thought out. Another great post.

Jason

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I'm Not Lucky, I Have Good Karma !

Yeah Mark, great post!

Like Karma said, spot on!

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"You will succeed far more by capitalizing on your opponents mistakes than you will by the greatness of your own play." --- I am not sure who said this but it is a great quote and piece of advice.


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Kickboyswoop

Be very wary as well if it is out of character for the big stack to limp. If he's been aggressive and pushing a lot he is probably trying to slowplay a monster. There tends to be a lot more people limping their big hands in the lower limits.

Also look out for hands they limp then called a raise (esp. an all-in) earlier on in the tourney and make a note on them. This usually gives you some idea of their range. Remember some players and inexperianced players in particular, tend not to want to give up on chips they have already put in the pot.

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