The following article is by my friend ”debbiesf” from Ultimate Bet.  She is my buddy at Doyle Brunson’s Forum.  We’ve been chatting about sit n goes on that forum and another member suggested that we would make a good blogging team so she has agreed to publish this article on my blog. 

“Since most of my action is online  sit n goes with some multi table tournaments throwed in, I would like to share a few things that I see some beginners doing in online sit n goes.

The essence of it is that when you are chip leader four-handed, it’ s in your interest to keep a very small stack in (rather than knock him out) so that you can keep robbing the medium stacks. It’s something I have done on occasion – I remember one multi table tournament on Stars around the bubble when I was chipped up, and I passed a rag hand to a small stack’s all in for this very reason.  For the next 10 minutes, the rest of the table talked about how stupid I was, while I stole another 4000 chips.  Hence always, always think ahead about your next move. ”

Drunk Blonde’s Note:  It just isn’t nice to make ignorant comments about other players when you’re at the game.  I’ve been thinking about opening the Drunk Blonde Poker Charm School for these ruffians.  Anyway, back to Debbie’s article;

“It doesn’t come up very often in my Sit and Goes because I prefer to come from behind (so to speak).  Of course I would rather have 3000 chips than 1000 when the crunch time comes, but it’s not 3 times as good, no way.  I’d rather make sure I’m there at the business end than chase too many chips in the early and middle stages.

Nonetheless this demonstrates how you should think ahead. I don’t like being in the kind of situation where the chips are say 4000-3000-1500-1500, and you’re one of the 1500s. The big stacks have a big edge here. If I can foresee this situation developing a level earlier, maybe when 5-handed, I will gamble a lot more knowing that if I gamble and lose, I’m not losing as much as I might do normally (because waiting will lead to this bad situation). Of course I’m gambling as the first one to enter the pot, but gambling all the same. Think ahead and think out of the box when playing on-line Sit and Goes.”

Drunk Blonde’s Note:  I always enjoy reading about the tactics of other good sit n go players.  I tend to smell blood in the water and go for the kill so this is a new concept for me.  I’ll give it a try and see if it can work into my playing style.  I agree that I dislike being a short stack when you reach the bubble stage of the tourney.  It increases the liklihood that I’ll need to rely on luck rather than skill to make it into the money. 

I hope you enjoyed Debbie’s guest article.  Why don’t you take a moment to leave a message to make her feel welcome to let her know your thoughts.