Sole table competitions or sit and go as they're also known can earn some decent cash with no thought before play. I personally love playing the free online poker sites and also the low stake (up to ten dollars) sit and go websites. I have my methods on how I play these different games which I will share.

Solid and Tight early on.
This means that early in a tournament you only play premium hands. Position is very important. Pairs from 22 thru 99 I only call and then only up to only 3 times the Big Blind. A larger raise and I fold them.

Larger pairs like 1010, JJ, QQ, KK, and AA of course call for a raise on a short table.

Be prepared to call an all in with any of those. Hands like QJ, QK, KJ, and A 10 I play like small pairs and fold to raises larger than 3 times the Big Blind.

Now the hands that can get you into trouble.
AJ, AQ, and AK….you got to know when to fold them!! They are great hands when down to 3 or maybe 4 players left, but early on they are dead to any pair.

It's an important strategy knowing when to put these cards down in the early stages of a free poker tournament. One tactic I believe works well is showing my cards when I win- pulling out these double kings etc shows the other players I haven't blagged once; well this may change once we get down to the final three as I wont be showing any cards then!

This sets up some great steals. All they have seen is winners from you…they have no reason to believe you don't have them now.

As you just played the best cards at the start you have opened the door for the 'bingo' players to put themselves out. The odds are by being strong and rigid the chance will fall for you to knock a few opponents out yourself.

The whole idea in any tournament is to win, however making the money in SNG's much easier. In most cases top 3 pay with 3rd usually paying back at least your buy-in. So making the money is critical to successful SNG play.

One major part of any game is determined by how close you watch the play. You wouldn't believe the amount of games I have been involved with where a knuckle-head keeps picking up the chips due to the opponents being away with the fairies.

These are just a few common sense factors that I employ when playing for cash. I am well over 50 and have played poker in many forms and fashions for a lot of years, but I do have to agree with Doyle Brunson.."No Limit Holdem can be learned in an hour but takes a lifetime to master." You go Doyle. Hope some of this helps someone improve their game.

Remember, all players new to the game or more experienced who have lost there way; go practice on the small stake or free online poker tables. There are some very good set ups and by gaining experience or finding that winning way again, your doing it with peace of mind that you haven't lost a wallet full of cash.