NOVICE VIEW - Tight Play in Sit and Go Tournaments

Things are looking up a little on the Sit and Go side of things. On Marc`s advice, I have played very tight in my last two tournaments and it seems to be working.

Well, at least I have been in the money, and got past the bubble twice in a row now. Don`t get me wrong, there is a long ways to go yet, but I am staring to feel like progress is being made. First of all, I am only playing strong hands. So I am talking about high pocket pairs, AA, AK, KK, QQ, down to AT. I will play suited connectors, but only if I have action late and the table is weak. Even though I am playing tight, I will put in a big bet with any of these cards, but I have not been raising with them if I`m late in the action. After the flop, if I have not made a hand, I`ll typically fold if there has been a bet, or continue betting even if I am not on a hand yet.

The frustrating thing though is to make the right calls later on in the game when there are say 3 players remaining. I feel like my strategy is getting me to this position, but that there seems to be so much luck involved. Most other players in this position seem to throw caution to the wind and call anything. I found it particularly irritating in my last tournament. I hit invaluable pocket A`s. I was last to act and put in a bet, which was called by both the other players. The flop came 7 8 2. I bet again. The one player folded and the big blind called. The turn came 4. I raised all in, and the big blind called. She was holding 9 10 and the River came J!

Thinking about it, I should have made a much bigger bet, or even have gone all in pre-flop. She would probably not have called, as I had a slight chip lead. In the next round I was all in on the blind and that was that. This game can drive you nuts. As you get more and more into it you realize how much more you have to learn.