Hi all. Love this forum as I get a ton out of it. You guys are very knowledgeable - it is appreciated.

I started with $6 Turbo SNGs on Stars. Over 86 tourneys had 50% ITM and 41% ROI. Moved up to $15 Turbos. Played 71 and had 31% ITM and -4% ROI. Found I was a bit too loose and adjusted.

Over the last month (still in $15 Turbos) played 81 tourneys with a 42% ITM and 18% ROI. I'm not disappointed in the results but would like to improve. Here are other stats and my analysis. Opinions welcome.

Finishes
1st - 11 (13.5%)
2nd - 12 (14.8%)
3rd - 11 (13.6%)
4th - 10 (12.3%)
5th-9th - 37 (45.6%)

Blinds.....Hands.....VPIP.......VPIPSB.......PFR
10/20........407........21.13........52.94........3.69
15/30........406........22.66........51.06........6.16
25/50........426........26.53........55.74........9.39
50/100........498........21.69........45.95........9.64
75/150........507........24.26........48.24........13.61
100/200........866........35.45........64.85........20.32
200/400........325........44.31........66.33........29.54
300/600........169........52.07........73.85........31.95
400/800........47........44.68........72.22........31.91
600/1200........15........53.33........85.71........13.33

My analysis:
a) VPIP - A bit too loose in the early going. Should be closer to 20% in the early stages. Suspect it's forcing me to play more hands in the later stages (short stacked)

b) VPIPSB - Playing too many hands from the small blind. However, not sure what the "right" % is.

c) Finishes - Far too even. Should be more 1st or 3rds. Be more aggressive in the later stages (at the risk of increasing my 4ths).

d) Going broke in unraised pots. I think Doyle preaches never to do this. Some of my examples may show this. I will attempt to post some examples as well.

Thanks to all in advance.

Mikos

1st - 11 (13.5%)
2nd - 12 (14.8%)
3rd - 11 (13.6%)
4th - 10 (12.3%)
5th-9th - 37 (45.6%)

Your biggest percentage of finishes are 5th-9th? You're most certainly playing too many hands early on too far.

Thanks FF, EP, CJ for the replies/feedback.

FF,
1) My unraised pot comments are based on playing 73o from the SB and flopping K72 - then getting hung up in the hand and losing $ early. I'll send an example through after this.

2) If the odds are right, I do play weak hands from the SB. You're right sometimes they are a goldmine.

EP/CJ,

Understand this a limited sample size so can't go too crazy with the analysis. After my post, I dug into PT a bit more and found two potential leaks.

1) VPIPSB seems very high (esp in the mid levels). Again, should be focusing on playing it if the odds are right.

2) Also found (under Misc Stats) that my W$SD% is 35% when holding 1 pair. Obviously calling down too many winners.

A few other questions for ya.
1) When to move up? Obviously, I'd like to have my ROI higher.

2) What is a good W$SD%? Greater than 50%?

Thanks again.

mikos

You do not flop two-pair or better often, so I personally don't find it profitable to complete the SB with any two after limpers. I like completing with the better suited connectors, AXs, KXs and any pair. This way you're more likely to flop top-pair or strong draws than 73o and the likes.

When to move up in limits? I am relatively new to SNG's but I have seen posts that suggest the following:

1. When your bankroll grows to the point where you have 30 buyins for the next limit.
2. you have played at least 200 SNGs and have an ROI of 25% or more.
3. The variation at the next limit will not bother you (are you confortable losing several 20+2 SNG's in a row). The last thing you want to do is play 'scared'.

-ShoeSnatcher

Playing from the SB is one of the trickiest things in hold 'em. Let's say you have only one limper. You are getting three to one on completing the small blind. There are very few hands that are 3:1 behind any two random hands. As flafishy says, cards like 96 are certainly not a bad hand to take a shot on.

However, and it's a big "however," you are always out of position. This is huge. And you must be willing to let it go. Both of these are risky for most players. If the BB raises, can you throw your hand away? If you flop a small piece, what do you do? When it's suggested that you not play from the SB unless you've got a good starting hand--as in one that could be played from UTG--or you are experienced and better than average player, it's probably the best advice you can take.

The object of playing from the blinds--Lose the least money you can. This means throwing away any but premium hands is most likely the best thing to do.

(However, again with the however, if I catch any of you NOT completing the SB when it's folded around to you, I'll beat you with a rubber hose and sentence you to a month of reading 2+2 posts!)

CJ

According to the 2+2 forums the following ROI's are achievable:

11s - 25% ROI
20s - 20% ROI
33s - 16% ROI
55s - 13% ROI
109s - 10% ROI
215s - 7% ROI

Obviously the level of play should get better as you move up so your ROI will go down but overall money made should go up. I think at the higher levels you will see a flatter 1 2 3 4 finishes too.

Party Poker?

I think these are pretty conservative. While those guys play thousands of SNGs, often 8 tabling, they are playing a very different game than we play. I'd be pretty careful about what you take and what you take to heart on the STT Forum.

CJ