If the SitNGo Wizard does not run properly, here are some things to try that may solve the problem.

Install the latest release

You can download the latest release by ((Download|clicking here)). After you install, open the Wizard, go to program options, and set CheckForUpdates to true. Then the Wizard will notify you when a new release is available.

Check System Clock

First, make sure that computer’s system clock is set to the correct date.

Delete the local appdata folder

On Windows Vista and Windows 7 delete this folder:

“C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\In The Money”

where UserName is your Windows login name.

On Windows XP, delete this folder:

“C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Local Settings\Application Data\In The Money”

where UserName is your Windows login name.

Reinstall the .NET Framework 3.5

If that is not the problem, reinstall the .NET Framework 3.5. You can get the Framework by clicking here.

If you are running Windows XP

Make sure you install the Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Reinstall the Wizard

If that does not solve the problem, try this:

1. Un-install the Wizard from the Windows Start menu by selecting Start->All Programs->SitNGo Wizard->Uninstall.
2. Delete the “In The Money” folder where you installed the Wizard. It is probably something like “C:\Program Files\In The Money”. This will clean up any corrupt files that may be hanging around.
3. Reinstall the Wizard by clicking here.

Submit a bug report

If you still have a problem, please do this:

1. Run the debug version of the Wizard by selecting Start->All Programs->SitNGo Wizard->SitNGo Wizard (Debug Mode).
2. Reproduce the problem in a few steps as possible.
3. Exit the Wizard.
4. Fill out the bug report form and press Send.
5. If you do not get an email reply within 24 hours, send an email tosupport@sngwiz.com.

The Wizard is crashing

If the Wizard is crashing when it starts and you cannot get a log file, please do this:

1. Run the Wizard, then exit or let it crash.
2. On the Windows Start menu, select Control Panel.
3. Switch to Classic view.
4. Double-click on Administrative Tools.
5. Double-click on Event Viewer.
6. On the left pane of the Event View, select SitNGoWizard.
7. On the right pane, right-click on the first error event and select Properties.
8. In the Error Properties dialog, click on the copy to clipboard button. It is the third button from the top on the right hand side with an icon that looks like 2 sheets of paper.
9. Reply to this email and paste the copied text into the email and send it to support@sngwiz.com.

Equity, also referred to as expected value (EV), is your share of the prize pool at any point in a tournament. For a given hand, the SitNGo Wizard compares the equity you would have if you fold with the equity you would expect to have if you raised all-in. The difference between these two values tells you which is the better play.

This article has a nice discussion of expected value.

What is Expected Value (EV)? by Scuba Chuck

The Independent Chip Model (ICM) is a method used to determine the value of a chip stack in a tournament. Due to the payout structure of SitNGo tournaments, chip values are not the same as real dollar values. ICM converts chip stack values real dollar values.

For more information, see the following articles:

ICM – what it is and what it does by CrunchyNuts

Using The Independent Chip Model To Improve Your Tournament Performance

ICM Calculator

Absolutely! You are allowed to use the Wizard to review hand histories after you have finished a session.

PokerStars and FullTilt prohibit the use of any ICM calculator while the poker client is running. The intent of the policy is to prevent players from using a software application to get advice on a hand while the hand is active.

The primary target of the new policy is a certain competing ICM program that offers real-time advice while playing. I have made it clear many times that I believe offering real-time advice is cheating. A FAQ in this forum clearly states my policy concerning real-time advice. I completely support the spirit of the new PokerStars policy.

In order to comply with PokerStars policy, the Wizard disables the importing of hand histories and the entering of custom games whenever it detects that the PokerStars client is running. You can still use the quiz mode while playing. PokerStars has approved this action.

In order to comply with the FullTilt policy. the Wizard will shut down whenever it detects that the FullTilt client is running. FullTilt has approved this action.

Absolutely! You are allowed to use the Wizard to review hand histories after you have finished a session.

PokerStars and FullTilt prohibit the use of any ICM calculator while the poker client is running. The intent of the policy is to prevent players from using a software application to get advice on a hand while the hand is active.

The primary target of the new policy is a certain competing ICM program that offers real-time advice while playing. I have made it clear many times that I believe offering real-time advice is cheating. A FAQ in this forum clearly states my policy concerning real-time advice. I completely support the spirit of the new PokerStars policy.

In order to comply with PokerStars policy, the Wizard disables the importing of hand histories and the entering of custom games whenever it detects that the PokerStars client is running. You can still use the quiz mode while playing. PokerStars has approved this action.

In order to comply with the FullTilt policy. the Wizard will shut down whenever it detects that the FullTilt client is running. FullTilt has approved this action.

The 10 big blind rule is only a suggestion, not an absolute law. Here are some guidelines to use when you are first to act or everybody in front of you has folded:

• If you have less than 10 big blinds, you should either push or fold. Any other action pretty much commits you to the pot so if you are going to play a hand you may as well push and maximum your ability to get others to fold.
• If you have more than about 15 big blinds, you should either raise a standard amount (about 3 BB) or fold. Stealing the blinds does not affect your stack enough to risk pushing.
• From 10 to 15 big blinds is a gray area. Depending on your opponent or your hand you may push, raise, or fold. If you have a really strong hand like AA or KK, you probably want to raise to encourage action. If you have a marginal hand like a small pocket pair or AJ, you may want to push to encourage opponent to fold.

The Wizard will analyze just about any hand, but you must keep in mind that it only compares pushing to folding. If you have more than 15 BB, pushing is probably not your best option and you should use the Wizard’s recommendation with caution.

No, the Wizard does not provide real time advice. Besides the obvious ethical reasons, providing real time advice is against the terms and conditions of most poker sites.

If anybody could play near perfect end game strategy just by following a software program’s advice, then everybody would buy the program. That would be good for the program’s author, but the games would soon become unbeatable.

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to learn end game strategy, but it takes more effort than most players are willing to put in. That is why it works. You make money off the players who do not put in the effort to improve.

Here are two terrific collections of SitNGo articles and message board posts:

NL-Holdem.net

Jennifear’s Recommended Reading and Tools

Here are some good SitNGo strategy articles for the beginner:

3k Post: How To Learn Good Them SNGs (tl;dr)

DavSimon’s SnG Strategy Guide

Common Beginner Pitfalls To Avoid by TLR

Once you have the basics down, you can move on to some more advanced concepts.

ChrisV’s Partial SNG Book

Sit and Go Moves by vqc

ICM calcs: Calling AI after Raising/Pushing Over Raise

Low buyin SNG dos and don’ts

These forums offer excellent discussions about SitNGo tournaments:

The 2+2 Forums

2+2 Favorite Threads and Links for STT FAQ v.3 (long)

STTF Tools – Software, Videos, & Link Collection

FlopTurnRiver.com

Third party reviews of the SitNGo Wizard:

PokerSite.org

PokerSoftware.com

Two skills you must develop to beat no limit hold’em single table tournaments are:

1. The ability to put your opponents on fairly accurate hand ranges.
2. Knowing the correct action to take based on the current game parameters.

The SitNGo Wizard can teach you skill number 2. Unfortunately, skill number 1 can only be learned through experience. It is important to understand that your ability to determine the correct action to take is only as good as your ability to estimate opponent hand ranges. The SitNGo Wizard evaluates push/fold decisions based on the opponent hand ranges it is given. If the opponent hand ranges are wrong, the Wizard’s advice is likely to be wrong.

The SitNGo Wizard uses a feature called opponent modeling to estimate opponent hand ranges based on player actions, stack sizes, and position. Opponent modeling is intended to provide a rough starting point for opponent hand ranges. This feature is extremely dangerous if you do not understand that the estimated hand ranges may not be accurate. The software simply does not have enough information to make accurate estimates in all situations.

Every week I see messages posted on various poker message boards that say something like “SngWiz told me to fold AK!” without giving any opponent hand ranges. The author of the message has usually concluded that the Wizard gives bad advice and cannot be trusted. The real problem is most likely that the author does not understand that the opponent hand range estimates are not correct for the hand in question.

When reviewing a hand in the Wizard always make sure the opponent hand ranges are reasonable. They are easy to change. Just click on the opponent model to pick a different model or click on the hand range itself.

In summary, failure to review the estimated opponent hand ranges will cost you money!