Double or Nothing on Pokerstars

[gorden71]

Anybody playing the double or nothing SNGs on Pokerstars? I have played 20, and cashed in 17 of them. If anyone is interested in playing them, this is a tried and true formula to boost your bankroll:

Here is a simple strategy for you to try, if you want to give these games a go:

First, and foremost, realize that you don't have to play very many hands, and the hands that you do play, need to be winners ! I would expect that there would be no need to be involved in any more than 10 to 12 hands at the most, to get your share of the cash. Even though these are turbo games, you have time to wait for good starting hands, DO NOT play speculative hands in this format, if you don't have a top 10 starting hand, there is no reason to see a flop unless you are in the big blind and the pot has not been raised !

Patience is the key here, and even though the blinds raise quickly, you have enough starting chips to see several orbits around the table before you will start to feel the blinds are eating your stack.

When you do find a good starting hand, raise the pot somewhere around 3 times the BB, if someone has already raised the pot, re-raise them at least the minimum with the last half of the top ten hands, and at least double their bet with the top 5 starting hands.

What I saw was people are afraid of confrontation for the most part, and will fold rather than put many chips at risk, so when you play a pot, don't be timid with your betting, but then again, don't do anything stupid like re-raise all in with AK !

Good luck!!!

[Fictive]

I've played some of those at Ongame. So far it seems like that it's pretty easy to make the money/top5.

[frob23]

Anybody playing the double or nothing SNGs on Pokerstars? I have played 20, and cashed in 17 of them. If anyone is interested in playing them, this is a tried and true formula to boost your bankroll:

I've thought about these games but I'm not sure right now.

[USFDoh]

I finally got my PS working again and think I will give these a shot.

I watched a few so far and it looks like the original post hits it spot on when it comes to cahing in these.

[GainerRakeback]

Just wanted to say thanks for the heads-up on these "Double or Nothing" tourneys at PS. I finally got over to one $5.40 buy-in this morning. Basically followed the strategy of playing only solid hands and cashed pretty easily. Was at risk once with another player's all-in w/A2 to my AJ but I won, and still wouldn't have busted if I lost. You're not playing to win, just to finish in the top 5. (PS tables are normally 9 seats, but these tourneys have 10 seats). You don't need to attempt bluffs or fancy play; eventually you'll get good hands.

I played the regular format tourney with 10 minute blind levels, not the turbo with 5 minute blinds. I avoid turbos since I think it takes some of the skill out of poker and injects more luck -ie: who gets the better hands first. There are plenty of these Double or Nothing Sit 'n Goes in all formats and buy-ins available. I'd recommend them. Of course I wish there was rakeback...

EDIT 11/12/08:
Since my original post, I've cashed in 6 of 8 of the $10.80 Double or Nothings at PS (10 min blinds). I recommend them but I just wanted to modify my suggested strategy a little. You see many of the same players at these tourneys. They don't play it like a regular tourney at all > it's defensive poker by the players. They just play to hang on, and in early rounds they only play premium hands. Typically a raise followed by 9 folds. Few call a raise with 6/7 suited like you might see in a regular tourney. Chips are too vaulable and the blinds go up every orbit or so. But you can't wait for only premium hands. Not enough time. For this reason, you need to be semi-aggressive in the early rounds to chip up and take advantage of the tight play. Since the players don't want to risk chips calling with a marginal hand - you can raise (3xBB) with a marginal hand (like K10 or 66) and almost always gets folds. As blind levels increase, the short stacked plays must push, so you need to be aware of their position.

Finally, if you enter a pot, always go in raising, even if it's 2.5 xBB, or don't go in; never go in just calling. Giving the SB and BB a cheap/free flop leads to disaster.

[Mika Ollila]

These double or nothing pokerstars tournaments are news to me, but look like fun when looking for quick games. I'll try a bunch of them tonight with your strategy tips, and see if I can turn in a profit.

[Alex3733]

Thanks for the great strategy...I have played a few and I'm even....but now I will do better!

[okeedokalee]

Cashed in 5 of these straight, thought i was god.Since then it has been all bad.When the table is all tight i raise and all my raises have been murdered.

Still in front so will give them another go, but be warned it is not easy

[AkaFlash]

http://www.railbirds.com/blog/203857...heres-how.html

if your going to present someone's work at least give them credit. Especially when u take it word for word.

p.s - i do like these tournaments.

[Brooklynbum]

I don't play the double or nothing SNGs.

I think it's bad for your regular SNG game. You're forced to play defensively and that's not good poker IMO.

If you had to play the double or nothings, i would suggest you just play your normal game.

Since the players are playing defensive, you ought to be more aggressive and pick up pots as much as you can.

It's like the normal SNG strategy when you're on the bubble, just play good aggressive poker and that will take care of the rest.

[FundelMental]

I have been burning those games up. my buddy staked me $2.30 to try these .i like them alot now that i have built that to over $12.00 im playing the .50,.25,.10 cent buy in tournys. there so easy to cash in too .

[ajtoulson]

I like these games. I like to be selectively aggressive in them, I will generally lie low the 1st few orbits til about 50/100 where normally 1 or 2 donks have staked off, from here on you are gonna be left in a defensive battle to make the money cut. For this reason people will be giving up there blinds and ante's easy, so I put in a few raises in position and pick up many pots uncontested as a lot of players will refuse to get involved with little but the best hands. (if they play back at u easy lay-down) I find this is enough on its own normally to make the money and u can get dealt crap hands all game and still consistently cash in these. its brilliant!

[C4R15]

Would love to give these Double or Nothing tourneys a go, but unfortunately Absolute don't seem to have them.