We have talked about the Double or Nothing SNGs and different ways to approach them to become more successful. This article will focus more on the early stage and how to play it accordingly to the two different strategies.
The tight approach:
One way to play the DoN SNGs is to play tight early on. This means you fold all inferior holdings and only play monsters. You continue to fold you way through until the blinds have increased a certain amount and a few players already busted. This of course is easier said than done. If you play very tightly, you rarely increase your stack and this also means, you might be one of the shorter stacks if not even the shortest stack, when it is time for the bubble. That is the time during play where there needs only one players to bust, for all other players to reach the money. Naturally, this situation isn't the greatest, because the big stacks will keep the pressure on you. Nevertheless, you have to get used to this spot, playing the tight strategy for DoN SNGs.
The logical conclusion leads to stick to tight play, but try a move from time to time and make use of your tight image. Play hands that are less than monsters and try to keep your stack at an even level and attack the blinds.
If you only play AA, KK, QQ and AK, you will reach the bubble without ever having played or won a hand. You can avoid this unfavorable situation by playing aggressively in certain spots. Let's take a look at an example: You are sitting on the button and it is folded to you. In this situation you can attack the blinds even with a hand like 87 suited or KT. If you get called, fire you standard continuation bet on the flop and try to take down the pot. Most of the time you will win chips this way, because in a DoN the blinds usually play very tight and won't mess with you with less than premium holdings.
Moves like this are necessary to build your stack while playing tight. However it is important to know when you are beat – say your conbet was called and you have air.
The loose approach:
As already noted in the article about DoN strategy there is an alternative to the tight approach. Using the totally different strategy makes you play a lot more loosely and aggressively and risk a lot early on. This way you try to build a big stack right from the start. Regardless of the gear you are running in, you have to know when to apply aggression and don't overdo it.
That is the difference between a good loose-aggressive player and a maniac – the latter doesn't know when to stop.
An example from a loose-aggressive (LAG) player:
One player limps in early position and the LAG sits at the cutoff with 65s. He raises the pot, the button and the blinds fold. The limper calls. The flop comes A-4-3, his opponent checks and he fire a continuation bet about 60% of the pot and takes it down.
A LAG player never plays hands like Q2 or J5, but hands that have tricky play potential and can improve tremendously with the right flop. His hands are well concealed like 65s, QJ or A3s. These hands have the potential as we saw in our example to flop a strong draw, which makes it easier for the player to represent a strong hand.
In the early stages of the Double or Nothing Sit'n'Gos is it important to get into a good position. There is nothing against playing tight, just be careful not to play too tight and then hope for your best at the bubble. Stick to your tight play but attack pots that nobody wants or try to steal the blinds.
If you want to have more fun action and join the loose side of playing Double or Nothing Sit & Gos, you should be aware of your raise button and try to control it. Fine-tune your aggression and choose the right spots and starting hands. Don't push your luck but keep putting the pressure on weak opponents. Surely you will fail sometimes, but when you are successful, you can look at the bubble as relaxed as no one else.
View more on similar or other topics in our poker strategy section:
Double or Nothing Sit and Gos
Double or Nothing - Bubble Play