Comments – You don’t have to have a good hand to open a pot.  The most important part here, was that I opened the pot for a raise.  This forces the rest of the table to react, as they cannot act from here on out.  Even if they raise me, that is a reaction.  I made the first act, and forced everyone to react to what I wanted to do. 

Options – I could easily fold here, obviously – but at this stage of the game (50/100 blinds), it is time to turn on the jets and start raising more.  I want to be feared and respected as people start getting knocked out, and raising (showing no fear) commands that respect later in the game.  This is one of the biggest keys to winning at No Limit Hold ‘Em – not just for SNG’s.   You absolutely cannot be scared of being reraised, or knocked out.

Decision 2 – Bet 400 into the 650 pot with my chip stack at 2255 and his at 2505. 

Comments – Even though this was a pretty good flop for our hand (which is the bonus with raising with cards people wouldn’t expect) we would bet out at the flop probably 95% anyways.  Unless we felt like we were being set up, or the board was structured in such a way that he HAD to have caught a piece – we would always continuation bet.  It is an optimal way to pick up small pots, especially later in the SNG.  Position helps, as we have the advantage of acting after him.  He will almost always check (regardless of flop) so than it becomes a matter of betting, and the only way he will call/raise in most cases is if he caught a piece of the flop (which he doesn’t the majority of the time.)

Options – I don’t really want to see another card (even though we are pretty sure we’re ahead on this flop).  I don’t want to make a same sized continuation bet – just in case he feels for a split second we missed the flop.  We want him to believe that we hit the flop very hard, or that we’re protecting our overpair. 

You almost always have to bet, especially at this flop.  If he comes over the top – I probably still call here, for a few reasons.  A)  I never want my opponents, ever – to think they can play back at me with anything.  I want them to fear that if I bet, I will be willing to call their reraise.  B) Even if we don’t have the best hand, we have a few redraws to make the best hand.  So if he has A8 – we are not really that huge of an underdog.  C) He very well might be thinking we missed the flop with two overs, and make a move with a pair of four’s or less.  The great part about low limit SNG’s is that people generally don’t take the time to think about your cards, but only play their own.  So you probably won’t see any funky reraise all in’s with nothing very often at all.

Lesson –  You don’t necessarily need a huge hand to be the first one to open the pot, from any position late in a SNG.  Make people react to you.