Poker Sng Double Up Strategy

Nicole Gordon

The winning strategies are very similar in these games. You could be posting your articles on the Poker Bankroll Blog. Read all about it here. Similar Posts: Double or Nothing Bankroll Management; Double or nothing poker sit and go; the basics; SNG Poker Bankroll project, update #2; Double or nothing poker strategy; Step SNG.

Double down. Bet it all on black. Flip a coin. What if we told you there was a way to gain an edge on a 50/50 proposition and all it took was a nice helping of patience and some diligent table selection? Meet the double-or-nothing sit-n-go. There is no pay ladder, no money jumps to sweat, only the bubble. If you’re an online poker beginner or seriously short on funds, the double or nothing SNG is a low-variance way to get your feet wet and grind out a workable bankroll at the same time.

What is a double-or-nothing SNG?

A double-or-nothing or “DON” sit-n-go is a ten-handed, single-table tournament in which the top 50 percent of the field wins double their buy-in (less the rake) while the bottom half of the field goes home empty-handed. For example, in a $10.80 buy-in double or nothing, the top five players earn $20.00 apiece and sixth through tenth places leave with nothing.

Where can I play?

PokerStars has by far the widest variety of double-or-nothing tournaments and its massive player base ensures that it will fill up quickly. Here’s a sampling of the buy-in levels offered:

Standard-speed DONs: $1+0.15, $5+0.40, $10+0.80, $20+1.60, $50+4

Turbo DONs: $1+0.10, $5+0.20, $10+0.40, $20+0.80, $50+2,

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How much do I need?

A 40 buy-in bankroll will give most players only a very small probability of ever going broke. If you’re comfortable with making another deposit, relax those requirements to 20 or 25 buy-ins. If you have less than $50 in your account, play the $1 games until you hit the $200 mark. Then, graduate to the $5 games. Once you hit a bankroll of $400 to $425, start moving up to the $10 games.

I know you’re going to tell me to multitable. But how many is too many? And how do I adjust my bankroll requirements?

It’s imperative to multitable double-or-nothing SNGs. Although the variance is smaller in DONs, the payouts are smaller, your overall edge is smaller, and it will take a higher volume of games to build up that bankroll. The good news is that you’ll be able to play more DON tables comfortably than regular SNGs. Because the tournament ends with five players remaining, there is far less short-handed play involved, and you’ll have more lag time between hands. If you typically four-table regular SNGs, try six-tabling the DONs.

Another rule of thumb I’ve adopted (thanks for the most part to the fine folks at Time Warner Cable) is to never have more than 10 percent of my bankroll in play at any given time. That way, if there happens to be a major disruption to my session (internet outage, computer failure, alien invasion) I won’t lose more than 10 percent of my bankroll.

Should I play standard speed or turbo SNGs?

Although this comes down to personal preference, consider the rake, the number of tables you play at once, and your hourly rate when choosing between standard and turbo DONs. Standard-speed DONs take about twice as long to play out as turbo DONs and their rake is double that of a turbo. For example, if you play 100 $5.20 turbos, your total outlay is $520, while 100 standard-speed games would cost $540. If you plan on mass multitabling for hours at a time, the turbos are probably your best bet. Although the variance increases with the turbo structure, you’ll get in almost twice as many games per hour. That, and the lower rake should contribute to a higher hourly rate than if you played standard-speed games.

How much can I earn?

Like any sit-n-go, edges are small. The best DON players win 55 to 60 percent of their games and have a single-digit ROI. That’s why volume is so important. If you can be patient and grind it out these games are beatable and profitable.

Next week, we’ll focus on strategy, paying special attention to optimal bubble play. Stay tuned.

Are you ready to start building your own bankroll? Open up an account at one of our online poker rooms today and get on the grind.

  • Tags

    PokerStarsTournament StrategyOnline PokerBeginner strategyIntermediate strategy

Double Or Nothing poker tournaments are a sort of Sit & Go that's made up of one table of either 8 or 10 players. It plays out like a regular poker tournament until 50% of the original players are left. At that point the tournament ends, play stops and the remaining players get to double their buy-ins! It's a bit like “Survivor”, except that half the players get to survive “Tribal Council”!

To view Double or Nothing Tournaments via 888poker software, click on 'All Games' >> 'Sit & Go' >> 'Special Games' for complete list.

The prize money awarded to the top 4 or 5 players (top 50%) is literally double the buy-in amount for the tournament, and that's how the tournament gets its name. In Double or Nothing SNGs, you either double-up by finishing in the top half of players, or you walk away with nothing.

Don't get too down in the mouth because there's always another tournament seating in the lobby with your name on it!

Poker Sng Double Up Strategy

Why Play Double or Nothing Tournaments at 888poker?

PROS:

  • 50% of players cash, meaning you have a much better chance of winning than in regular SNGs or MTTs.
  • They don’t take very long to finish (usually around 30 minutes).
  • Important decisions are simpler and more run-of-the-mill for this tournament type. So if multi-tabling is up your street, jump straight in!
  • Making money playing these events is very possible; you only need to win around 55% of these tournaments to come out a winner.

CONS:

  • Your overall wins will be slow and small, as the best result can have is only to double your buy-in. In MTTs, you can win over 100 times your buy-in!
  • Variance may be a bit higher than usual, because of the increase in all-in action that happens on the bubble. Think MTT bubble or normal SNG bubble and then double it, and double it again!

Poker Sng Double Up Strategy Games

Is this Tournament Type for You?

Double Or Nothing tournaments are for poker players who have patience. Because 50% of the players get paid, it's not necessary to take as many risks or chances. A big part of playing this type of tournament is waiting – waiting for the other opponents to knock each other out so that you can cash.

Tighter players have a bigger edge than looser players. For example, on the bubble, it might just be correct to fold JJ or even QQ pre-flop, instead of going all in! So if “loosey-goosey” is your middle name, this might not be the one for you!

Timing is everything in Double or Nothing SNGs, as is knowing when to “hold’em and when to fold’em”!

Poker Sng Double Up Strategy Video

Double Or Nothing Tournament Strategy Tips:

Poker Sng Double Up Strategy Download

  • Let Others Get The KO’s: You don’t have to be the one to bust other players in order to win. This is one tournament type where it’s not worth risking your own tournament life to end another player’s.
  • Become a Short Stack Master: Knowing when to get all your chips in pre-flop is key. Pick out the opponents who are playing overly-tight and then shove!
  • Tightness Is Key: Playing tighter is important, as you only need to finish in the top half of the player pool to cash.
  • Aim To Survive To The End: It’s not necessary for you to get all of the chips in play in order to win. Surviving to the end is a win; not having the biggest stack.
  • Steal Blinds To Chip Up: If you do get short on chips, steal blinds from players who are desperate to survive and more likely to fold.