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The Unpredictable Successful Sit 'n' Go Tournament Player
By http://www.card-game-poker.com/

In most poker books, you will find personal playing styles defined according to an opponent's behavior. First, the behavior of aggression is ranked from passive to aggressive. Second, tightness is ranked from loose to tight. And then, trickery is ranked from straightforward to tricky. By the way, these personal playing styles are not the same as game playing styles, such as push or fold. Game playing styles are somewhat dictated by tournament circumstances, like blind size, your stack size, and the number of players remaining. While personal playing styles are mainly the result of experience and temperament.

There are several common names that we use to describe the various personal playing styles:

• Nit,
• Donkey,
• Shark,
• Maniac,
• Fish,
• Rock,
• Calling Station,
• Mouse, and many more.

Think about it. Every name above is a stereotypical label. In other words, the player's style is so established, and thus predictable, that you can describe his playing behavior in a single word. Predictability is a tournament player's achilles heel. And, this applies to any player in any poker game, even to sharks.

If you know what to expect from a player because of his predictability, you also know what to avoid. Thus, you can easily out maneuver your predictable opponent. Staying just out of harm's way, while you safely move his chips to your stack.

Now an important question. Which player type do you fear the most? One that is entirely predictable, or one that is entirely unpredictable. And, which would you rather be? The unpredictable one, right? Because even a novice, but unpredictable, player will be respected, if not feared.

So, here are a few ideas for becoming unpredictable:

• Think and practice being opposite. Do not follow the crowd. For example, when everyone is playing tight, then loosen up. And, vice versa.
• When
  
  
  

  everyone is cowering to the bully big stack, fight back. Lay a big trap.

• When everyone is amicably limping, spoil the party. Get aggressive.
• Switch gears as often as possible. Limp for awhile, then start raising. Play tight for awhile, then loosen up. Fold to aggression for awhile, then reraise, and re-reraise. Play like a rock for awhile, and then like a maniac.

Granted, there is not enough time, stack sizes are not deep enough, and there are not enough hands in a sit n go poker tournament to be too creative. Consequently, some of these ideas if applied in the wrong situation could lead to disaster. But, all you really need are a few unpredictable plays to confuse your opponents. And, that is the goal, to confuse your opponents. Opponents do not like to play against someone whom they cannot put on a narrow range of hands, nor predict their behavior.

With experience you will know when it is past time to become unpredictable. For example, you will sense or see that your opponents are:

• making successful plays against you,
• standing up to or avoiding your plays,
• stealing your pots, and
• ignoring your raises.

In other words, your opponents will seem to be able to do what they want, when they want. And, you will seemingly not even be a factor. The problem is that you have become too predictable.

Before you begin to feel like you are pounding your head against a brick wall, shift your playing gears and become someone else. Someone who is opposite of your present self. Someone who, with his unpredictable playing style, confuses his opponents. And, puts them on the defensive for a change.

R. Steve McCollum is a long time Hold'em player. You may read many more Sit 'n' Go tips, tactics, secrets, and strategies on his poker blog at http://www.SitnGoHoldemPoker.com

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