A Complete Guide To Steps Sit And Go Tournaments
Planet Mark's Article Summary: Finding the most profitable Steps Sit and Go Games + understanding the simple strategy adjustments required to beat them is a great route to quicky grow your poker bankroll.
There are some BIG differences in the skill-level of your opponents in Steps SNGs across the different poker sites. There are also some big differences in 'exit points' - with some sites letting you cash-in Steps tickets for entry into guaranteed multi-table tournaments, and others 'trapping' you in the Steps setup all the way to the very end.
This article shows you where to make the easiest money in these great games, highlights the key differences in setups and shows you where to get that vital information on the strategy adjustments required.
By way of a little spoiler, I think that the 'Hidden Gem' of the Steps SNG world is Titan Poker - now the 2nd largest site after Pokerstars. There are two reasons for this. First you can use your Steps tickets to enter many of the big-money guaranteed tournaments, with several 'exit points' included in the system. Second, you will find a ton of bad players on this site - making it one of the most profitable places to play overall.
You can claim an extra $20 free cash while you check out Titan Poker + a huge 200% welcome matched bonus. Simply use Titan Poker bonus code SNGPLANET and deposit a minimum of $30, and I will ensure that the extra cash reaches your account within 48 hours - choose a button below to check out those easy Steps SNGs at Titan Poker now!
Steps Sit N Go Tournaments were first introduced by Party Poker back in the early 2000’s. For an investment of just $3, players would win their way up a series of progressively higher buy-in tournaments, aiming for the $2,100 prize at step 6.
Since then steps have become available at many of the leading online poker sites including Pokerstars, Titan Poker, OnGame's Red Kings Poker and the US-friendly Cake Poker too.
This guide gives you a starting point to profit from Steps, with information and strategy guides all from one place. From here I will link out to the room-specific reviews and strategy guides - keeping this updated as the main page for Steps SNG info. If you enjoy steps, or any other form of SNG or online poker tournaments, remember to bookmark us today!
Steps Sit N Go Tournaments - Important Strategy Adjustments Overview + Links
Two key factors shape the differences in strategy between steps SNGs and standard 1-table games. First, your opponents – especially at the lower buy-in levels – are far less likely to be experienced in SNG math or overall strategy ideas, requiring you to adjust your own play to effectively exploit their errors. You will need to avoid the common pitfalls of playing against inexperienced opponents.
Second, the prize pool structure changes the ‘play for the bubble then maximize equity’ approach, especially when there are several ‘try again’ prizes and two equal bigger prizes (entry to the next level up). Changing the prize pool to more like a satellite ‘winners take all’ structure makes a big difference to your calling ranges and all-in plays. I have covered this in the advanced steps strategy link below.
Previously we had strategy articles dedicated to the old Party Poker steps – what I have now done is to rewrite these in a way that can be easily adapted to any of the sites offering steps. The 4 articles below cover strategy in more detail - they will all open a new tab:
- Steps SNG Strategy Overview Primer - How And Why You Need To Play Steps Differently To Standard SNGs.
- Advanced Steps Strategy, Looks At ICM and Prize Pool Equity, Epecially At The Bubble.
- Buying In To The Later Stages, Asks Whether Buying-in Half Way Up Is Worth It (made for the original Party Poker Steps games)
- Step 6 Strategy Tips, Again Based On The Party Steps – though can be applied to other sites too.
Steps Sit N Goes – Summaries Of The Steps SNGs Offered At The Major Poker Sites
Pokerstars Steps SNGs - Biggest Traffic And Great Choice Of Games
Pokerstars were not the first site to offer Steps, however they took the concept and made it hugely popular. There are now 2 standard ladders, one in US dollars (Starting at $7.50c) and the other in Euros (Starting at €2.20c), there are even sub-qualifiers for the Step 1 games using frequent player points or from $1. At the top end of the scale, Step 6 (or Step G for the Euro games) cost $2100 and award seats to major live events or online tournaments such as the WCOOP.
There is a lot to like about Pokerstars Steps Sit n Goes. Firstly these games are always running, you will often have a choice at the lower levels and find mid-level games frequent during the evenings and weekends too. Second there are a good number of 'try again' places, keeping you going those times you do suffer a bad beat! With several different games, and variations such as a 90 player step-1 there is always some action at Stars. While your opponents are likely to be somewhat more experienced than at the sites below, the Steps remain largely recreational - and are certainly beatable for players with some basic strategy knowledge.
Best of all for me is the fact that you can use a Step 4 ticket, which is worth $215, to buy into the Sunday Million or any of the other $215 'Major' tournaments - so that $7.50c could potentially end up in life changing money!!
If you have not played at Pokerstars before then you are elibible to claim a 100% match on your 3 first deposits up to $600 in total, just use Pokerstars Marketing Code PSP3108 when you register! Click Here Now To Check Out Pokerstars And Their Excellent Steps SNGs For Yourself!!
Titan Poker Steps SNGs - Softest Games Anywhere And Lots Of 'Exit Points'
Titan Poker were relatively late in introducing Steps SNGs, however they more than make up for this with famously bad players! As part of the 'iPoker Network' Titan enjoy cross-over traffic from many of Europe's biggest betting brands - ensuring that there is always a healthy ratio between 'gamblers' and poker experts in the games.
What I like about these games is that they start very cheap - just 16c to enter Step 1, and can allow you to win your way up 7 level to grab a ticket to the big Sunday tournament at Titan - the $200k guaranteed. For those who do not make it all the way, you can use tickets for earlier steps at 55c, $1, $3 and $11 to enter some of the smaller guaranteed tournaments at Titan. This is a great way to get into those tournaments cheaply, you'll need to see just how terrible your opponents are with your own eyes before you can really appreciate exactly how easy this is!!
I'm strongly recommending Titan for their Steps games to all non-US readers. I have a readers special offer where I add $20 in extra free cash on top of your 200% matched welcome bonus. All you need to do is used Titan Poker Bonus Code SNGPLANET and deposit a minimum of $30 - I will then ensure that the cash is paid direct to your player account within 48 hours. A great boost to your bankroll while you enjoy those famously easy games. Click Here To See The Titan Poker Fish for Yourself Now!!
Party Poker Steps SNGs - Original Steps, Still Extremely Soft In 2013
Party Poker Steps were the first of this type of game anywhere, first on offer way back in the early 2000’s these give players a chance to turn $3 into $2100 through 6 levels. The good news is that they are still going strong! The even better news is that these games are among the easiest you will find anywhere online.
Prizes are in cash-only at these games and there are no exit points, though you can buy-in direct at any point along the way. I did a detailed series on Party Steps which is still accurate today, this includes an overview, strategy adjustments and some thoughts on buying in to the higher levels rather than fighting it out from Step #1 - Read More on Party Poker Steps Here - to get going with this.
Party Poker continue to attract 1st time players, who keep the games soft - what I really like about Party these days is that they are relentless in their bonus offers! You get 100% to $500 to start, and then they just keep on sending reloads, top-ups and extras - which run on top of their loyalty scheme to keep your bankroll fat and happy!! Claim your bonus with bonus code SNGPLANET, check out the soft games at Party Now by clicking here!
Red Kings Poker Steps SNGs - Steps Qualifiers, A Great Alternative For Recreational Players
Red Kings Poker are a premium site on the OnGame network. Their Steps SNGs are run as qualifiers for their bigger online tournaments, including the "Champion Chip" Sunday Major with a $300k guarantee. While the options are more limited than at some sites, this is more than made up for by easy games you will find on this great mid-sized network.
I'll recommend these (and the SNGs in general at Red Kings) for readers looking for a profitable alternative who are happy with just a few tables - you can avoid the 'pro grinders' and play some cool steps qualifiers at the same time! New players get a choice of up to 6 different sign-up bonuses at Red Kings, and you'll get an extra $300 bonus the first time you get beaten (in a cash game) holding the 2 red kings too! Click Here To Check Out Red Kings Poker For Yourself Now!
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