Play to win or make the money?

[adidas freak 0]

I have a question regarding SNG's. I only play (9 or 10 handed) SNG's and my main goal is to make the money. Obviously, the higher place the better but I often find that I am playing to make the money and not win. I am wondering if I should concentrate more on winning where the payout is greater but risk losing out of the money more often, or should I keep playing to make money even if that means limping into the money with no hope of placing better than 3rd.I've kept track over the last three days and here are my results:Site: PokerstarsBuy-in: 5+.50Game: 9-handed SNG'sTotal games: 15Cashed: 12Breakdown of finishes:1st- 42nd- 23rd- 6Should I focus more on winning or is this a better approach?

[closetwin 0]

The fact is, making the money in a SNG is not far away from 1st place. I imagine three places are paid?Making the money is not hard, and guarantees you didn't lose anything by playing. It is hard to tell whether or not you are taking enough risks...I mean, if you only play kings or aces, you're playing too tight. If you play in situations that you think are profitable to you, then you're playing just fine.The big argument you read about when people talk about "making the money or winning" is usually an issue in large buy-in multi-table tourneys, like the WSOP. In that case, there are SO many chips that surviving might make a profit, but the guy who plays his best, and isn't afraid of any pot (because if he gets sucked out he's gone), will likely gain a chip-lead over the guy who only plays the nuts.In a SNG, you can't wait for the nuts, because the blinds go up way too fast to play that conservatively. You have to take risks, but that's poker.CT

[indianachris 0]

I normally play very tight until 5-6 are left and then loosen up until it becomes down to the bubble. I get really aggresive at this point until I am in the money. Then by that time the blinds are so high I have to take chances.I have a seperate question. What is the relaistic expection to finish in the moeny? I believe I am around 40-50% right now. Is this is a good number? I only play single table tourneys.

[indianachris 0]

I normally play very tight until 5-6 are left and then loosen up until it becomes down to the bubble. I get really aggresive at this point until I am in the money. Then by that time the blinds are so high I have to take chances.I have a seperate question. What is the relaistic expection to finish in the moeny? I believe I am around 40-50% right now. Is this is a good number? I only play single table tourneys.

[indianachris 0]

I normally play very tight until 5-6 are left and then loosen up until it becomes down to the bubble. I get really aggresive at this point until I am in the money. Then by that time the blinds are so high I have to take chances.I have a seperate question. What is the relaistic expection to finish in the moeny? I believe I am around 40-50% right now. Is this is a good number? I only play single table tourneys.

[flyingmoose 0]

Normally distributed SnGs should be played to make the money. 60% of the prize pool is given upon cashing, and your goal is to lock up a chunk of that. After cashing, your goal is to win, period. After you cash, 40% of the prize pool remains. Third gets nothing, second gets 10% and the winner gets a whopping 30%. This means that you want to play for a win once you've cashed, but you should start the tournament trying to make the money. Multi-table tournaments are different because they are much more front loaded.

[flyingmoose 0]

I normally play very tight until 5-6 are left and then loosen up until it becomes down to the bubble. I get really aggresive at this point until I am in the money. Then by that time the blinds are so high I have to take chances.I have a seperate question. What is the relaistic expection to finish in the moeny? I believe I am around 40-50% right now. Is this is a good number? I only play single table tourneys.

You clearly play at Partypoker. And for that blind structure you're playing correctly. When the blinds get high, you want to steal as many of them as possible -- especially when you're in the money. The OP plays at stars, where the blinds don't get as high as fast.

[TwistedEcho 0]

STT you play to get into top 3, then you can gamble.

[indianachris 0]

I normally play very tight until 5-6 are left and then loosen up until it becomes down to the bubble. I get really aggresive at this point until I am in the money. Then by that time the blinds are so high I have to take chances.I have a seperate question. What is the relaistic expection to finish in the moeny? I believe I am around 40-50% right now. Is this is a good number? I only play single table tourneys.

You clearly play at Partypoker. And for that blind structure you're playing correctly. When the blinds get high, you want to steal as many of them as possible -- especially when you're in the money. The OP plays at stars, where the blinds don't get as high as fast.

You guessed right.