Rules and Guidelines (SnG)

A Single-Table No-Limit Texas Hold'em Sit & Go (SNG) tournament is a popular poker format with specific rules and guidelines. Here are the essential rules and guidelines:

Structure

Number of Players Typically 6, 9, or 10 players.

Buy-in Each player pays a fixed entry fee, which forms the prize pool.

Starting Chips All players start with an equal number of chips.

Blinds The tournament starts with small and big blinds. These increase at regular intervals, known as "blind levels."

Elimination The game continues until one player has all the chips. Players are eliminated when they lose all their chips.

Rules

Dealing A dealer button rotates clockwise around the table, ensuring each player acts as the dealer.

Blinds The player to the left of the dealer posts the small blind, and the next player posts the big blind.

Cards Each player is dealt two private cards, followed by five community cards dealt in stages (flop, turn, and river).

Betting Rounds:

Pre-flop Players act based on their two private cards.

Flop Three community cards are dealt.

Turn A fourth community card is dealt.

River A fifth community card is dealt.

Players can bet, check, call, raise, or fold during each betting round.

Showdown If two or more players remain after the final betting round, a showdown occurs. The player with the best five-card hand wins the pot.

Guidelines

Payout Structure The prize pool is distributed to the top finishers, often the top three. For example:

• 1st place: 50%

• 2nd place: 30%

• 3rd place: 20%

Etiquette

• Act in a timely manner.

• Avoid discussing your hand during play.

• Be respectful to other players.

Time Management Blinds typically increase every 5 to 15 minutes, creating a sense of urgency.

Strategy:

• Early Stages: Play tighter to conserve chips.

• Middle Stages: Be more aggressive as blinds increase.

• Late Stages: Adapt to the number of players and stack sizes, using more strategic aggression.

Additional Rules

Re-buys/Add-ons Some SNGs allow re-buys (buying back into the game after losing all chips) or add-ons (purchasing additional chips) within a certain period.

Time Banks Players may be given a time bank, an additional amount of time to make decisions in critical spots.

Chop Players may agree to split the remaining prize pool in a way they see fit, often when reaching the final stages.

Common Variations

Turbo SNGs Faster blind levels, increasing the speed of play.

Super Turbo SNGs Even faster blind levels with shorter time intervals.

Double or Nothing SNGs Half the field wins double their buy-in, the other half wins nothing.

Handling Disputes

Floor Decisions In live settings, a floor person resolves disputes.

Online Support In online SNGs, support staff or an automated system addresses issues.

By adhering to these rules and guidelines, players can ensure a fair and enjoyable SNG tournament experience.