strategy guide for Bounty Games

[Assistanc3]

In another thread Dodgey had mentioned Cake Poker and it's ring games, in which I had said the easiest way to make money on Cake is the SnG Bounty Tournaments.

Please allow me to start by first mentioning that I co-host a radio show in which we play a bounty game every weekend. I have had great success in playing them, I can even recall in great detail the tournament I won and took out 1/2 the players on my own.

... this is a strategy guide for Bounty Games


The start of a bounty game will almost remind you of playing a low NL cash table. Players are limping in, hoping to hit a nice board; maybe a set or 2 pair, and have a sucker push all in before you.

You should be limping in with them, from late position. The first couple hands will play out like this till someone is bounced, then things start to settle. They start to settle because someone now has a commanding chip lead at the table, kinda like a freeroll.

Try not to call big pre flop raises early in the tournament with marginal hands, such as KQ, QJ sooted, ect. You don't want to be drawing, or bouncing out with 2nd pair.

If you try to play a normal MTT strategy, you won't have much success. You will have to gamble more times then your use to. Bounty Tournaments are generally fast pace, and end quicker then a normal MTT with same amount of players.

I am typically a tight/aggressive player, that grinds out at the tables. You will find these players generally are not good bounty players. Changing my hand selection, mostly from med to late position is the key to success in bounty tournaments. A great example would be a small x3 raise from middle position with 98s, pocket 5's..etc. Hands you know you can let go over quickly if the board doesn't present itself in your favor.

Don't expect great players or plays. It won't take much time or games to find players chasing down a dream, or gut shot. So don't get to upset with your game when it happens, it will happen.

The short stack all in player, 2 players call.
Normally you might see a check down, in a bounty you are more likely to see a big raise or another all in. Isolation.

Watch your chips. Try to keep it above 1/2 the players at your table to give you a chance at bounties. No worse feeling then taking down a monster pot to find you were the smallest stack in the hand.

The end goal. The bounties are nice, if you pick them up on the way. keep an eye out on the prize pool, 50% of the buy in went towards it usually, so there is still light at the end of the tunnel if you don't get a bounty or two.

Free rollers. Often times you will see a player take down 2 bounties early, and they start acting all crazy. Yes, they are freeroll'n, so now they are going to try to accumulate a lot of chips to keep them covering anyone.

Making moves when small stacks go all in is very common. Players try to isolate more often in a bounty tournament, pushing off a medium stack with less then marginal hands to isolate the all in'er.


Take notes is very important if you choose to take the active bounty tournament playing. Note who will go all in early with Ace rag, who will chase a flush draw, etc.. These notes may not help you in the first game, but over time, when you start seeing some of the same players, pays off with heads.

~Assistanc3

[YellowRoses]

Thanks Assistanc3 very informative and helpful.