Spin and Go Strategy: The 10 Things I Wish I Knew when I was new
Introduction
If you want to get really good at Spin and Go poker, you’re in the right spot! This guide is like a treasure map for Spin and Go Strategy. It’s packed with awesome tips and tricks to help you win more games. And guess what? It’s made by Team Bas Poker, where we’re all about helping players like you become Spin and Go champs. So get ready, because we’re going to help you play your best game ever!
1. Spin and Go Strategy from the HU SB
The Mistake
When I first started, I was playing around 80% VPIP from the heads-up small blind (HU SB), thinking I was being cautious. I would often fold hands that I thought were marginal, missing out on opportunities to exploit my opponent’s weaknesses.
The Reality
In Spin & Gos, the Game Theory Optimal (GTO) approach suggests you should be playing nearly 95% of hands from the HU SB. This aggressive strategy allows you to control the pot size and apply pressure on your opponent. The small blind is a unique position that offers both challenges and opportunities. This should be your most profitable position, second only to the BU 3W, and it’s also the most flexible one. I never play a fixed range from this position but always adapt heavily to my opponent’s tendencies.
The Fix
To optimize your Spin & Go performance, consider widening your range in the HU SB. Don’t shy away from hands you’d usually fold; you’ll often find that you can outmaneuver your opponent post-flop, even with a less-than-stellar hand. At Team Bas Poker, we’ve developed preflop charts that can guide you through these situations. These charts are designed to help you understand which hands have the most potential for profit and how to play them effectively.
Extra Tip
Use your position to your advantage. Being in the small blind allows you to see how your opponent reacts before the flop, giving you valuable information for post-flop play. This is a golden opportunity to gather data on your opponent’s tendencies, which can be invaluable in later hands.
Advanced Strategy
Consider your opponents tendencies when developing an advanced strategy to play vs them. Are they NAI ISO too much? Are they ISO jamming too much? Are they over folding vs MR? These are key factors to determine the best SB strategy and you can adjust accordingly vs each opponent and very fast!
2. Button Play: Tighter Than You Think
The Mistake
When I transitioned from MTTs to Spin & Gos, I was too loose with my button raises. I thought the aggressive strategy that served me well in MTTs would be equally effective here. However, I didn’t consider that there are no antes in play, so there’s less money in the middle to go after.
The Reality
In Spin & Gos, you’re usually playing 3-handed or heads-up, making it a different beast than MTTs. The dynamics require a more nuanced approach, especially from the button. You can’t just hammer away with any two cards and expect to win in the long run.
The Fix
Adjust your button strategy to be more in line with the specific demands of Spin & Gos. This means tightening up your opening ranges and being more selective with the hands you choose to play. Our coaching sessions at Team Bas Poker delve into the complexities of button play in Spin & Gos, helping you understand when to apply pressure and when to ease off.
Extra Tip
Keep an eye on how your opponents are reacting to your button play. If they’re folding too often, you can widen your range a bit. If they’re defending or re-raising frequently, it might be time to tighten up.
Advanced Strategy
Consider your opponents and there relative position when determining your advanced button strategy. Do you have a recreational on the BB? Do you have an aggressive regular in the SB? Knowing this will give you the information you need to open/skip certain combinations for maximum table EV.
3. To Limp or Not to Limp from the BUtton: That is the Question
The Mistake
Early in my Spin & Go career, I was taught to limp the button as a way to see more flops and keep the pot small. It seemed like a reasonable strategy at the time, but it often left me in tricky post-flop situations without the initiative.
The Reality
Limping the button is generally a suboptimal Spin and Go Strategy. By not raising, you forfeit the opportunity to take down the blinds pre-flop and give the big blind a free look at the flop, which can be dangerous.
The Fix
The mantra here is simple: raise or fold. By taking control of the action pre-flop, you set the tone for the hand and put pressure on your opponents. Our video packs at Team Bas Poker offer in-depth Spin and Go Strategies explaining why raising is generally more profitable than limping.
Extra Tip
If you see someone limping the button in Spins, you can be pretty sure you’re playing against a recreational player. I usually label these players as “fish” right after the first hand if I see a button limp.
Advanced Strategy
The only limps we think are acceptable in 2023 is the ones we have to do as humans when we accidentally stub our toe. OUCH!
4. C-Betting Against Recreationals
The Mistake
Early on, I was under the impression that a balanced strategy was universally effective. I would often check back strong hands and even medium-strength hands, thinking I could induce bluffs or get value on later streets from recreational players. Making the opposite mistake with weak hands—by not continuation betting them enough as a bluff on the flop—will also leave a lot of Expected Value (EV) on the table.
The Reality
Recreational players are not balanced. They often play with unbalanced ranges and make more mistakes than experienced players. This creates an opportunity for exploitation, particularly through c-betting. These players are less likely to adjust to your strategy, and more prone to making errors that can be costly for them but profitable for you.
The Fix
Don’t hesitate to c-bet with a wider range against recreational players. This is especially effective on boards that are likely to miss their range. At Team Bas Poker, we delve into the nuances of player types and how to exploit them in our coaching sessions. We teach you how to identify the signs of a recreational player and how to adjust your c-betting strategy accordingly.
Extra Tip
Monitor how your opponent reacts to your c-bets. If they start to adjust by floating or check-raising, it’s time for you to adjust as well. This is where the art and science of poker intersect, and being adaptable is key.
Advanced Strategy
Having a default limp C-bet strategy against your typical recreational opponent will serve you well on the poker battlefield. However, it’s vitally important to understand the different types of recreational players and adjust your strategy accordingly.
To quote Sun Tzu, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” While Sun Tzu isn’t around to offer Spin & Go wisdom, Sido_Obc is. Check out our “Squeeze the Fish Like a Lemon” video series, where we categorize the different types of recreational profiles and arm you with a maximum Expected Value (EV) strategy for each.
5. Hero Folds Over Hero Calls
The Mistake
In my early days, the allure of making a hero call was too tempting to resist. I’d often find myself calling down large bets and raises, convinced that my opponent was bluffing. This approach led to significant losses and negatively impacted my win rate.
The Reality
The truth is, especially at lower stakes, players are less likely to bluff than you might think. Most of the time, they’re making big bets for value, hoping you’ll call with a weaker hand. This is particularly true in Spin & Gos, where the fast-paced nature of the game often encourages straightforward play.
The Fix
Discipline is the name of the game. Learning to make hero folds instead of hero calls can be a game-changer. At Team Bas Poker, we emphasize the importance of disciplined decision-making in our educ8 video pack. We teach you how to analyze betting patterns, player tendencies, and other factors to make more informed decisions.
Extra Tip
Utilize tracking software like Hand2Note to review your play. Tag hands where you made or should have made a hero fold and review them in your study sessions. This will help reinforce the concept and improve your future decision-making.
Advanced Strategy
In the wise words of Kenny Rogers – “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.”
6. The Power of Group Learning
The Mistake
Initially, I viewed poker as a solo endeavor. I was convinced that self-study was sufficient and that I could learn everything I needed to know on my own. This lone-wolf mentality led to slower progress and missed opportunities for accelerated learning.
The Reality
Poker is a complex game that benefits from multiple perspectives. At Team Bas Poker, we’ve found that group learning environments foster faster improvement and deeper understandingof the Spin and Go Strategies. When you learn as part of a group, you benefit from the collective experience and wisdom of multiple players.
The Fix
Join a community of like-minded players who are committed to improving their game. Our Discord server at Team Bas Poker offers a vibrant community where you can share insights, ask questions, and learn from players at various skill levels.
Extra Tip
Active participation is key. The more you engage with the community, the more you’ll get out of it. Don’t hesitate to share your own hands, ask for feedback, and provide your own insights to help others.
Advanced Strategy
The members in our Team Bas Poker coaching memberships have taken their learning to the next level by forming a dedicated study group. In this group, they assist each other in learning, even outside of the comprehensive content that Team Bas Poker provides. The results speak for themselves!
7. Mindset Matters
The Mistake
I used to underestimate the importance of mental resilience in poker. Whenever I faced a bad beat or a losing streak, I’d go on tilt, blaming everything from the cards to my opponents, without realizing that my mental state was affecting my decision-making.
The Reality
Your mental state can be your greatest asset or your worst enemy in poker. A strong mental game allows you to make rational decisions, even in high-pressure situations. At Team Bas Poker, we emphasize not only a godd Spin and Go Strategy but also the importance of mindset in our coaching sessions and have seen firsthand how a strong mental game can turn a losing player into a winning one.
The Fix
Invest time in improving your mental game. This can include reading books on poker psychology, practicing mindfulness, or even working with a mental game coach. We often discuss these topics in our live group coaching sessions, providing actionable tips to help you build mental resilience.
Extra Tip
Develop a pre-game routine to help you enter each session in an optimal mental state. This could include deep breathing exercises, a quick review of your strategy notes, or even a short meditation session.
Advanced Strategy
Mindset is a tough one, but incredibly important! You can have the best technical skills in the world, but without the ability to apply this knowledge during downswings, coolers, and tough line-ups, you’ll struggle to even bring your B-game to the tables. Fortunately, Team Bas Poker has teamed up with performance coach Stephen Baker to offer affordable and top-quality mindset coaching to the marketplace.
8. Bankroll Management is Key
The Mistake
I used to think that skill alone and a good Spin and Go Strategy would protect me from the financial pitfalls of poker. I’d often jump into higher stakes games after a winning streak, falsely believing that I was “running hot” and could beat any game.
The Reality
Even the best players can go through downswings due to variance. Proper bankroll management is essential for long-term success. At Team Bas Poker, we often discuss the importance of managing your bankroll effectively to withstand the inevitable ups and downs of the game.
The Fix
Adhere to a strict bankroll management strategy. Determine the number of buy-ins you need for each stake level and stick to it. If you’re unsure about how many buy-ins are appropriate, our coaching sessions provide guidance on this crucial aspect of the game.
Extra Tip
Use tracking software to monitor your wins and losses. This not only helps you keep track of your financial standing but also allows you to identify leaks in your game that may be affecting your bottom line.
Advanced Strategy
An EV pool is the preferred advanced strategy for the majority of serious poker players these days. An EV pool allows you to focus on the aspects you can control without having to worry about financial variance. Team Bas Poker is proud to have been members of Steel Phoenix EV pool for many years now and highly recommends their product offerings.
9. Utilize Software Tools
The Mistake
In my early days, I relied solely on my intuition and observational skills. I thought that software tools were for data geeks and that my natural talent would suffice. This led to missed opportunities for optimization of my Spin and Go Strategy and a slower learning curve.
The Reality
In today’s competitive poker landscape, software tools can provide a significant edge. They offer real-time statistics, post-game analysis, and other features that can help you make more informed decisions. At Team Bas Poker, we’ve developed multiple HUDs and pop-ups that integrate seamlessly with software like Hand2Note, providing you with invaluable insights.
The Fix
Invest in quality poker software and take the time to learn how to use it effectively. Whether it’s mastering the basics of a HUD or learning how to analyze your hand histories, these tools can provide insights that are impossible to obtain through intuition alone.
Extra Tip
Regularly update your software tools and customize them to fit your specific needs. The poker landscape is always evolving, and your tools should evolve with it.
Advanced Strategy
H2N, GTO Wizard, HRC – the list seems endless. These tools are widely accessible and affordable. The only question is, are you prepared to put in the work to reap the benefits? GTO Wizard is rapidly ascending to the pinnacle of the poker market in terms of GTO solutions and innovative product offerings. The capability to access pre-solved solutions, without the need for endless solving time, allows for a much more effective method of study. Highly recommended and an integral part of Team Bas Poker’s daily study routine.
10. Table Selection: An Overlooked Aspect
The Mistake
I used to jump into any available game, thinking that my skills would carry me through. I didn’t pay much attention to the composition of the table or the skill levels of my opponents, leading to suboptimal win rates.
The Reality
Table selection is not just for “bumhunters” looking for easy games; it’s a legitimate strategy for maximizing your hourly rate. By choosing tables with weaker opponents, you increase your chances of winning. At Team Bas Poker, we often discuss the importance of table selection in our coaching sessions, emphasizing its role in a well-rounded poker strategy.
The Fix
Be selective about the tables you join. Use software tools to identify weaker players and tables with higher potential for profit. If you’re not sure how to go about this, our coaching sessions and video packs offer practical advice on effective table selection.
Extra Tip
Consider the playing styles of your opponents when selecting a table. Some styles are easier to exploit than others, and understanding these dynamics can give you an additional edge.
Advanced Strategy
When you log on to the poker software to commence your session, set your ego aside and approach it with the same discipline you would apply to a full-time job. If the tables at your accustomed stake level are heavily populated by skilled regulars, consider moving down a stake. Maximize your hourly earnings and be the savvy player who, at the close of the month, is tallying substantial earnings!.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the top 10 things I wish I knew when I started playing Spin & Gos, all wrapped up in this comprehensive guide. If you’re serious about upping your game, be sure to check out the free trial we offer at Team Bas Poker. You’ll also have the opportunity to receive our educ8 video pack free of charge, featuring top-notch group coaching sessions.
Remember, mastering Spin & Go strategy is a journey, and every step you take should be towards becoming a more skilled and mindful player. Happy grinding!
P.S. For those of you who have made it this far, we would like to offer you an exclusive 11th top tip: Rakeback – Always endeavor to maximize your rakeback benefits and leverage the expertise of an affiliate to achieve this. Team Bas Poker entrusts all of our affiliation requirements to VIP Grinders. Join the Team Bas Poker family and do the same by visiting VIP Grinders.
