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 usually have just the single paid place. This article will cover your approach to SNG Satellites and 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!

Let me explain, while sound SNG play involves staying tight early to maintain your Fold Equity for the bubble, single table satellite structure actually means you are in more danger if you get ‘left behind’ chip-wise for the late game. Pushing late in a normal SNG relies on the fact that prize pool equity is bigger than chip equity – meaning you need a far better hand to call than to push. In a Sit N Go Satellite paying one place chip equity is equal to dollar equity… meaning that as long as you feel you have an edge vs your opponents pushing range then a call is profitable. 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.

The adjustments can be summarized as the following.

Satellite SNG Strategy - The Early Levels:

Suited connectors, small pairs and suited aces become more playable than in a normal SNG… the 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.

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 opening a pot?

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 solid values.

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). Use the reads gained from the early game – people who over-play ace-rag are more likely to call your push with such a holding!

Satellite SNG Strategy - The Late Game / Bubble:

We already mentioned that chip equity and prize pool equity are equal when only one slot is paid. This simplifies the calculations for profitable pushes in the late game. Give your opponent a range (for example 20%), count the blinds and chances if called then push!

For example you have KQ and an opponent who will call with 20%, the blinds total 600. If you push then you win 600 80% of the time and have 50% against your opponents calling range. The numbers for 100 attempts assuming 3000 chip stacks after posting 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. If we were dealing with a standard SNG bubble your opponent would need 70% vs your range to call – here he only needs to be slightly ahead.

Many Poker Rooms offer Single Table SNG Satellites, try out some of the recommended rooms below.

For US Players

Full Tilt Poker – 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.

$600 Referral Code = SNGPLANET.

For Non-US Players

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??!?! $500 Bonus Code = SNGPLANET.

Party Poker – Still maintaining a huge player base despite their exit from the US market Party offer many satellites. Qualifiers to their big Sunday tournament are a popular choice – you can gain entry into this $215 MTT for an outlay as small as $3! Bonus Code = SNGPLANET.