In this chapter of our Sit & Go school we will try to explain some of the different variations and the strategy adjustments that are needed. With variations we mean tournaments that differ from the normal structure with 10 people and the normal time increment for the increase of blinds.

Speed or Turbo

These variations have different names at different poker rooms but as the name implies they are played in a fast way with faster blind level increments. This will usually make these tournaments into a lottery at the end. No one has enough chips to wait around. But if you are aware of this you can make some appropriate adjustments. You should, as a basic starting strategy, adopt a tight and aggressive style. A lot of players will play way to many hands early in the tournament but there is no need as long as the blinds are relatively low. However, after a while you need to change gears. This point of change come earlier in a speed or turbo Sit & Go than in a normal tourney. Be active! At the end you will be forced to take chances. Some times the chances you take will get you eliminated, but other times they will pay off. Pay attention to the stack sizes. Also notice when blind blinds get very high players will get eliminated very quickly. If you have a decent stack you might take a chance and watch while your opponents eliminate each other hopefully bringing you ITM.

Steps or Ladders tournaments

These tournaments are a special form of multiple level Sit & Go. You enter by first making a small buy into the first level Sit & Go tournament. If you make it to the top two-three places you can then qualify for a new Sit & Go tournament at the next level. When you have reached the highest level Sit & Go you can than compete for a rather large amount of money which is accumulated from the levels below. When playing these types of tournaments your main focus is finishing ITM. You will not get any money extra for finishing first. The only target you have is to get into the two or three spots that take you to the next level. So make sure you do not take any unnecessary risk just to try to accumulate a big stack you won´t need.

In Step Sit & Go you will win special chips, sometimes called tokens. These can in turn be used as buy to the next higher level (step). You should see these chips or tokens as a special bankroll. Do not go to the next level right away. Use some to buy in at the same level and try to accumulate enough to be able to afford to loose at the next level without the need to start at level one again.

If you are successful in these types of tournaments you will climb all the to the top level where you undoubtedly meet the sharks. These are very good poker players that buy in directly for $500 (or whatever the sum might be at this level). They are used to playing tournament with large buy ins and price money. A lot of inexperienced players get to tight playing a this level. They have used a small amount to buy in at the lowest level and now they have a chance to win $3000. The only advice we can give them (and you) are to be focused and play your own game. First get ITM! And then try to win the whole thing!

Jackpot Sit & Go tournaments

Some online poker rooms have Sit & Go tournaments that pay a jackpot if you manage to win a certain number of tournaments in a row.  There is no reason to change strategy in this type of tournament. Focus to get ITM and then do your best.

However if you have a chance to win the jackpot you need to make adjustments. Say that you have won a couple of tournaments in a row and now have the chance to win a jackpot. Now all the players except you are playing for the normal price sum. You are playing for a much bigger sum. This changes your strategy. You should start of as usual but as you come closer to the money you need to do anything you can to win. Finish fourth and missing the money is not an option. In other words you should take some more risks to accumulate chips thereby hopefully ending first. Open up! Many players play to tight in these situations.

Satellites

A lot of the poker rooms, especially the larger ones, allow you to qualify for the larger tournaments by playing small tournaments. It can be a satellite that gives you a seat in another satellite or a satellite that takes you directly to a large tournament such as WSOP.

In many of these tournaments only the winner gets a price. The first place is everything and the other places pay little or nothing. In these cases the buy in is 1/10 of the buy in to the larger tournament.

Your tactic in these tournaments should be almost like in any normal Sit & Go. First sit down and wait for the other players to eliminate each other. Play your strong hands. After a few people have been eliminated you can step up and play more aggressive. Hopefully you pick up a good hand somewhere along the road and double up. Coming towards the end you have to open up and be even more aggressive. Just as in the case of the jackpot example above playing to tight won´t get you in the money.

You need to win about one in eight tournaments to make entering satellites worth your while. This means it will be cheaper for you to play satellites than to buy in directly to the main event.

Usually you can sell an entry to the main event, but if that is your goal you are better of playing regular tournaments than satellites. The reason is simple; you will not get the full amount of the buy in if you decide to sell it.

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