SNG Wizard Versus SNG Power Tools

In the last featured article posted on PokerSoftware.com, Chris “Fox” Wallace described the drawbacks and advantages of Independent Chip Modeling (ICM) programs, which are essential for any serious sit-and-go player. They provide users with the ability to play nearly flawless poker toward the end of a tournament by making decisions based on mathematical calculations. The math involved is too complex to apply while playing, especially while multi-tabling online. However, there are a few programs that will do the calculations for you and determine the decisions that have a positive expectation value in the long run, and more importantly, the ones that don't.

We've listed a handful of ICM programs on the site, but two in particular stand out. It's no coincidence that Sit-N-Go Power Tools and SNG Wizard are the two most popular ICM calculators among players. Both have the same premise, but each has its own advantages over the other, which I'll go over here:

Reasons to choose SNG Wizard:

1.)    Quiz Mode. SNG Wizard offers a quiz game that asks users to choose the correct play in a given hand. You can elect to push, fold, call or check depending on the situation. This is an extremely valuable learning tool. Although it may feel like studying for a college exam when it's all over, learning your endgame faults is the very best way to make sure you won't make the same mistakes in the future.

2.)    Complex Preflop Situations. Unlike SNGPT, SNG Wizard can analyze situations in which opponents limp, raise or even call a raise in front of you. This is probably the most useful feature of the program, especially given that its competitor is lacking such a vital tool. For example, say we're four-handed in a nine-player sit-and-go in which the top three places pay. Blinds are 150/300. We, along with Player A, have 3,000 chips. Player B has 1,500 chips. Player C has 8,500 chips. Player C limps from the cutoff and Player A limps behind. We're in the small blind with ace-queen suited. What should we do? SNPGT can't even process this situation, while SNG Wizard will break down your next move given the limpers' ranges and even tell you what your action should be with any two hole cards.

3.)    Charts. Who doesn't like charts? They're pretty -- and also very useful. Take a look at an opponent's hand range and study how a decision changes after you tighten/widen their range on an easy-to-use game chart.

4.)    30-day free trial. SNG Wiz gives you a chance to use its software for a month before making a decision to purchase. While SNGPT offers a limited demo version, the SNG Wiz trial version is an unrestricted look at all of the program's features.

Reasons to choose Sit-n-Go Power Tools (SNGPT):

1.)    Straightforward. SNGPT is extremely easy to use once you figure out each of its functions. Manually enter the chip counts of each player at the table along with the blind levels or simply import a hand history from an online site and click the "Compute" button. All of your desired information is laid out in front of you in an easy-to-read fashion.

2.)    Custom ranges. SNGPT allows you to input a custom range, such as 22+, A2+, or K9+. You can also input a numerical value like 25%, which would take into account the top 25 percent of hands and then convert it into a range. SNG Wizard has a slider to adjust the ranges and is much less user-friendly.

3.)    Tutorial. The SNGPT tutorial (while not completed yet) breaks down important concepts to consider while playing. Blind stealing, examining hand ranges, heads-up play, and hand rankings are discussed in depth under the "Help" tab.

4.)    Price. SNGPT can be purchased for only $80 as compared to the $100 price tag of SNG Wizard. Both programs are well worth the price in the long-run, but if it comes down to cost, then SNGPT is the choice for you.

I seem to find myself opening SNGPT more often than SNG Wizard when analyzing a sit-and-go, merely because the program is easier to use. But for someone who is just beginning to understand and utilize the Independent Chip Model, SNG Wizard is the best path to learn and implement the system to your own game.

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