SNG Satellites – Your Guide to 1-Table Online Satellite Qualifier Strategy
‘Standard SNG Strategy’ Will Not Work In A Sit n Go Satellite Qualifier.
Here We Cover The Important Strategy Adjustments.
Most online poker sites offer Sit N Go Satellites, often to their larger buy-in Multi Table tournaments. These have a range of buy-in prices and often have just a single paid place. This article will cover a profitable approach to SNG Satellites and in particular look at how late game strategy differs from a standard SNG.
The first thing to note is a small paradox. Your opposition in these events are less likely to understand ‘good’ Sit N Go strategy… the paradox is that this may actually benefit them when playing against a SNG specialist who has not accounted for their inexperience!
Let me explain, while sound sit and go strategy involves staying tight early to maintain your Fold Equity for the SNG bubble, single table satellite structure actually means you are in more danger if you get ‘left behind’ chip-wise for the late game.
Pushing all-in late in a normal SNG relies on the fact that prize pool equity is bigger than chip equity – which meaning you need a far better hand to call with than to push. In a Sit N Go Satellite paying one place chip equity is equal to dollar (prize) equity… meaning that as long as you feel you have a profitable edge against your opponents pushing range then a call is correct. This in turn means that your opponents seemingly ‘bad’ calls are often correct, mathematically speaking.
Having said that the gap concept (needing a better hand to call a raise than to open raise with) still holds true. The key to single table satellites is to assess your opponents and work out who shows no fear and who will not commit all of their chips in case they bust out early.
Profitable Strategy Adjustments For SNG Satellites By Stages:
Satellite SNG Strategy - The Early Levels:
Suited connectors, small pairs and suited aces become more playable than in a normal SNG… your need to accumulate chips becomes more important than maintaining Fold Equity.
Implied odds are higher due to the fact that, on average, your opponents will be less skilled than in the equivalent SNG - you are more likely to be 'paid-off' when you hit a hand. Use the early levels to watch opponents closely, who overplays ace-rag? Who will go to showdown with weak holdings and who will fold after making a raise?
Satellite SNG Strategy - The Middle Levels:
Start raising and re-raising weak players here (those who have shown that they are able to fold). You need to maintain the chip accumulating strategy.
Having said that make sure you do not pot-commit yourself against weak players by raising too big a portion of your stack without a solid hand. Remember if you raise and are re-raised all-in by a short stack you may be getting odds between 2-1 and 3-1 to make the call, against a desperate all-in range you will usually have those odds with any legitimate raising hand. When you have the odds you need to call, however these situations can often be avoided with some good forward planning.
Open pushing can be effective with stacks of less than 10 Big Blinds – be aware of opponents stack sizes here (very small or very large stacks in particular will call 'lighter'). Use the reads gained from the early game – people who over-play ace-rag are more likely to call your all-in with a similar hand!!
Satellite SNG Strategy - The Late Game / Bubble:
We already mentioned that chip equity and prize pool equity are equal when only one place is paid. This simplifies the calculations for profitable all-in pushes in the late game. Give your opponent a calling range (for example 20%), count the blinds and chances of willing if called then push! It can pay to work out some basic situations when you are between games too.
For example you have KQ and an opponent who will call with the top 20% of hands (your estimate based on his previously loose play), the blinds total 600. If you push then you win 600 chips 80% of the time and have 50% against your opponents calling range the rest of the time. The numbers for 100 attempts assuming 3000 chip stacks after posting blinds look like this.
80 Times you win 600 chips = 48000
10 Times you win 3600 chips = 36000
10 Times you lose 3000 chips. = (30000)
(48000+36000-30000)/100 = 5400 chips
You have a large positive expectation against this opponent. Remember that calling ranges are lighter in a SNG Satellite. If we were dealing with a standard SNG bubble your opponent would need 70% winning chances against your push all-in range to call – here he only needs to be slightly ahead to make the call profitable.
Many Poker Rooms offer Single Table SNG Satellites, we recommend those listed below for a great choice of satellites and some great opportunities to qualify for huge events - that life-changing 'Sunday Major' win could become a reality before you know it!
Recommended 1-Table SNG Satellite Qualifiers: 
Full Tilt Poker – US-Friendly Full Tilt use a ‘Tournament Token’ Scheme for qualification into their higher by in MTTs. The huge number of Satellites available make this a great choice. Use Bonus / Referral Code SNG600 for 100% to $600 sign-up Bonus. Click to visit Full Tilt Poker now and find out for yourself why this is the home of the pros.
 Poker Stars is the number one online poker room and has the largest number of SNG Satellites anywhere- grab your place in the Sunday Million and you could be looking at a payday of more than $150,000. Find out why this site is the most popular online poker room by a huge margin - you can claim your $600 (100%) bonus with Marketing Code PSP3108 when you register and bonus code STARS600 when you deposit - check out Poker Stars for yourself now! Fully US-Friendly.
 Titan Poker – With a reputation for some of the weakest opposition on the net Titan have a good range of Satellites into their larger nightly MTTs and into special events (EPT qualifiers for example). If you have not checked out Titan yet then why not??!?! Bonus Code SNGPLANET will get you the full 100% up to $500 Bonus plus $20 in free cash paid directly to your account - we recommend that non-US readers check out Titan Poker for themselves now - you will not believe those fishy tables until you see them with your own eyes!!
Further Reading For Poker Satellite Players:
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