I'm a new player to SNGs and after floundering for a while I stumbled upon the nashvegas thread on how to play 10+1 SNGs. I think I'm clear on the stage 1 instructions. However I have a question on the stage 2 instructions. How much should a person's starting hand requirements loosen up from the stage 1 starting hand instructions ???

I know that all situations can not be covered in a starting hand guide, but are there any general guidelines for stage 2 ?

I mostly play SNGs @ partypoker but have also played at UB & pokerstars

There isn't a good answer to your question, unfortunately. You shouldn't loosen up your hand requirements so much as how you play them. When the blinds get up to a level where stealing becomes profitable, you might add suited bigger connectors, A-9s, 66-TT, etc. What you really want to do is start playing more aggressively. This takes more experience because it's more feel and reads than in the first levels.

The reason I asked where you play is it's significant. Blinds at 50/100 on Party are a different game than 50/100 at PS. The difference in starting chips are significant. As you get closer to the bubble, the blinds play a much lesser role on Stars than they do on Party. Party is pretty much push in or fold, where on Stars and other sites with just a couple hundred chips you can do more actual playing.

There really is no form for tactical and strategic play once you get down to 5 or 6 and the blinds start to increase. Getting to that point is fairly easy. They make you earn your money above that.

Post some hands and we'll try to help.

CJ