In a sit-and-go, especially ones where the buy in is relatively low in comparison to your bankroll, it is tempting to play loose. After all, the whole point of a sit-and-go is to play right away. Folding hand after hand is never any fun and with the blinds so low to start, it’s tempting to take a shot with Q5 suited and see what happens. However, the reality is that this type of loose play is unlikely to win you more of your share of sit-and-gos. Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering playing loose.

Every Eliminated Player Increases Your Equity in a Sit-and-Go

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All things being equal, each player has 11 percent equity in each nine-handed sit-and-go. As soon as one player is eliminated, each player has 12.5 percent equity, and so on. The more players gone, the better your chance to cash, regardless of your chip stack. Every hand you don’t get involved in early is an opportunity for two players to crash into each other and leave only one. Don’t worry if one player amasses a huge chip stack. You can avoid this person until you get in the money and when it’s head to head, it takes only a few all in wins to knock down any lead.

Mistakes in Poker are Compounded

Calling $25 with your Qd 5d is not a big deal. However, when the flop comes Ac 5c 3s, someone bets $200, and you call with middle pair because you are sure someone would have raised pre-flop with an ace, things are already starting to get expensive. Even if you are right, someone could end up hitting a flush or back door straight costing you money that you never would have had at risk if you passed on this weak hand in the first place.

Tournament Poker Chips You Win are Worth Less than Chips You Don’t Lose

You can cash in a sit-and-go without ever winning a single chip. On the other hand, you can double up on the first hand and still end up winning nothing. Remember that protecting your chips early is paramount. There’s nothing wrong with playing premium hands for the first few rounds. There will be plenty of chips available for you to go after when the blinds go up.

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Sit and Go Strategy: Avoiding Loose Play