This week the fantastic Eric Koskas lends us a few handy hints on how best to approach the 125€ satellites.  Finishing fourth in the San Remo EPT, Eric Koskas is one of French Poker’s biggest hopes so pay attention, to what is sure to be some very valuable advice.  Notebooks at the ready!

START OF THE GAME:  ACCEPT THE COIN TOSS

“The first important thing to remember with this kind of satellite: choose your hands very carefully.  There is no use in wanting to steal blinds that are still very weak.  Don’t worry about folding good looking hands like 9/10 of the same colour, or even 10/jack.  On the other hand, the sole objective is to win, so folding with a mediocre pair has to be considered.  Most of the time this will be like a coin toss.  The risk of being eliminated is high (Ed.note: 50/50) but in order to win a sit’n go, what you need to understand is that you need 2 or 3 turns at the table”!

MIDDLE OF GAME: GET READY TO IN POSITION

In the case of a weak stack, it’s then necessary to steal the blinds which have become important. At this stage of the game we can start to expand our range of hands, subject to the state of play.  Also, never forget that there many hands that justify going “all in” that then become mediocre hands when it comes to following an “all in”.

END OF THE GAME:  FORGET ABOUT TACTICS!

“At this stage of the game, you don’t have many solutions:  it’s “all in” or “fold”.  There is no point in relying on “tells” either: the chances of your opponent having two Aces are just as high as him having 7/3 unsuited.  Don’t forget either, the fewer players there are at the table, the more chance a hand considered to be average, can win!”