As a new poker player, you might be confused by the number of options available. Most online poker sites offer lots of different game types and tournaments, each offering a unique way to play. Sit and go tournaments are some of the most popular tournament types online, and they’re the easiest to find. If you’re a complete beginner, they’re a great option alongside freeroll tournaments.
What makes a sit and go tournament unique is that there’s no set time for the tournament to begin. Instead, the room fills up with players, and the tournament begins when the limit is reached. They’re often played through quite quickly and are generally cheap to enter. This makes sit and go tournaments a good choice for new players who are still getting to grips with the game.
Contents
Reasons to Play Sit and Go Tournaments
Sit and go tournaments are one of the most popular ways to play online poker. Here are a few of the main reasons why:
Low Buy-Ins
Buy-ins depend on the site and the tournament itself. However, they tend to be a lot lower for sit and go tournaments. This is great if you’re a beginner or have a low bankroll, as you may be able to enter some tournaments for as little as $1. Always check the buy-in before you play, and don’t risk more than you can afford to lose.
Play Whenever
Sit and go tournaments are held every day at all online poker sites. There are multiple tournament rooms to join, and you should be able to take part in a tournament at any part of the day. You won’t ever have to wait around or visit the site at specific times in order to join a sit and go event.
Fast Play
Most sit and go tournaments are completed within an hour, meaning you can fit them into your busy schedule. Also, if you want to play a lot of hands quickly, sit and go tournaments are a great option. You can join multiple tournaments within a day and play many hands throughout.
Lots of Different Versions of Poker
Some of the bigger online poker sites offer loads of different versions of poker tournaments. Aside from Texas hold ‘em, you can also find Omaha, stud poker, and other variants available. On top of this, there are different versions of Texas hold ‘em sit and go tournaments, including limit and no limit.
The Best Strategy for Sit and Go Tournaments
If you want to succeed in sit and go tournaments, your playstyle may need to vary slightly from standard cash games. Here are a few pointers to help you get the most out of these tournaments:
Play Tight at the Start
At the start of the tournament, you should play as tight as possible. This means not playing too many hands and folding all but the strongest hands. At this stage of the tournament, the small pots aren’t worth risking your stack for, so fold and stay patient.
Take Your Opportunities
While you want to play tight and avoid taking excessive risks, it’s important to take opportunities when they come up. If you have a big pair or a strong hand, don’t be afraid to enter the pot and make raises. When the flop brings you a big hand, you should absolutely press your advantage.
Scare Off Weak Players
Players who check pre-flop before raising with the minimum are usually just trying to steal blinds. In most cases, they have nothing hands, and you should be able to scare them off with a big raise if you have something half decent.
Get Aggressive Late On
Later on, during the late stages, when the blinds have increased and there are just a few players left, you’ll want to change your strategy. At this point in the tournament, you should play more aggressively, playing more hands and making bigger raises to take as many chips as possible.
