How to play the Big Stack

I have found that in many of my tourneys I play in, I get a rather large stack. After that, I get lost. People start to go all in in hopes of my calling while I hold marginal hands. Im trying to figure out if I should play much more conservatively with a big stack or make big calls because i can afford it.

Thanks

Huge mistake to think that because you are the big stack at the table you are responsible for taking out the small stacks. You just let the cards do the talking and let the good hands nock out players and not your chip stack. It only will take one or two of those "why not, I have the money" calls to bring you right back down.

You got the big stack for a reason and what you want to do is keep playing the same game you have been. You just have to know if you push hard enough someone will just go all in on you. You can't just call because you can afford it. Use your stack to lean on them when they show weakness, not when they go all in and are hoping to double up.

If you have been playing loose and aggressively, it is correct to tighten up when you get a big stack...you will get more action when you have premium hands.

Also, you must use your stack to your advantage in stealing blinds and taking away pots on the flop. However, KNOW YOUR OPPONENTS, you must be able to tell with a reasonable amount of certainty if they are trying to induce a big bet from you or if they are showing weakness.

With a big stack, concentrate on the weaker, tighter players, not necessarily the ones with the shortest stacks.

It's simple, call less and raise more. Enter more pots in position against smaller stacks, enter them with a raise.... if the flop helps you or gives you a big draw, put them to the test. Don't get involved against other big stacks unless you have the goods.

Steal more blinds with decent hands. Don't get involved in any pots with other big stacks unless you're holding the nuts or damn close to em', and make sure you punish the small stacks by keeping all of them in a defensive position rather than an offemsive one. Let them gladiatorily knock one another out, or you oblige them when the card permit, but whatever you do, don't fall into their trap of calling with marginal hands just to knock someone out. 9/10 times you're doing nothing more than doubling them up and making them stronger.

When you havethe chip lead, you have to play 100% smarter and almost mistake proof to maintain it.

Hi all just got back from vacation...I missed you guys.
I agree with everyone, but there is one thing. I was trying to get at this earlier.
Your chips have less value than the chips your opponent has. you can take slightly crappier odds, to try and bust them. Now, I am not describing stacking off on any 2 cards. But, lets say you have a flush draw, your opponent pushes, giving you just less than 2 to 1. In a cash game, you gotta dump the hand, assuming he pushes all-in and negates any implied odds. In the tournament you can take this slight negative expectation, because the value of knocking out your opponent, compensates for the less than required odds. Be careful though, like Diablo said if doubling them through is gonna cause you greif later, wait for a better opportunity.
ALawPoker, excellent summary of deep stack tourney play.

Bill

Always remember to make small staxks pay to see their next card when they're on a draw. You want to force them into bad decisions and desperate moves. All part of keeping as many people at the table as possible on the defense.

Hi All,
I pretty much agree with all the posts but i would say you can afford to raise more often as smaller stacks will be afraid to get into a battle with a large stack incase of busting out. The best for this when its nearing the money...many small stacks will fold all bar the best hands...they might even lay down J J. Stealing is the key here. Sklansky describes this well in his tournament book.

Remember irrvellevant of how many chips you've got you should look for a reason not to play the hand rather than the opposite, this system will keep losses to a premium and look after your stack if its high

This is always a good way to play to the final table. The big stack at the table looks good but check it in relation to the overall leader. And don't let the little fish limp in!

i have learn from a player.if they blinds are high!its enough to steal the blinds 2 times in each level to survive.And its very important that u have always the average!

Thanks all,
This is real help. Basically, I need to stick to the best hands and keep the smaller guys at the table from seeing cheap flops.

Again, Thanks.

when you're big stack, dont be tempted to play weaker hands just because you have the chips to call. If you have a command chip lead, i think your best option is to try and avoid confrontations as much as possible. let the smaller stacks take each other out, but at the same time dont avoid playing as well. Use your stack to steal blinds and push players out of pots. someone mentioned this and its true: dont think its your job to knock someone out just because you can. its like the say "all you need is a chip and a chair" and i dont want to give players even more money.

Play solid early on and continue to play solid until the end. I think thats one thing you have to do...dont be afraid to take chances, but at the same time make sure your game isnt swaying. if your chip lead dont get greedy and if you're short stack dont get desperate...solid smart play.

I like playing tight with a big stack, and of course make it expensive for small stacks that want to move forward.

/dydig

I always find that when I have the big stack I make calls that I never would have had i not had so many chips. I think the best advice is to try and play a level game the whole time and not let the number of chips you have make you think you are invincible!

PLAY THE SAME WAY THAT GOT U THERE

Playing tight to most people may sound easy. To me however, I tell myself to wait for jacks or better but always end up getting K10 QJ or hands like those. Ive been able to change somewhat over the past couple weeks and have been folding those hands more often, especially when youre big stacked.
Big stacks can afford to be patient.

Hi all...

I was in an online tournamentwith about 400 people and I came back all the way from less than the big blind (had about 1,200 chips vs. 1,600) to finish third. One spot from the blind, I went all in with pocket 4s. Somehow, I won a four-way pot without making a set, quadrupling my money. At one point I was the stack leader at the final table, but ended up getting burned in a showdown with JJ vs. A 10. still, third was pretty good.

So remember, you can always make a comeback. I don't believe in being pot committed. If you are down and invested heavily in a pot, don't call all-in just because of that if you know you are beat.

likewise, I've gotten burned badly playing too many hands with a big stack. Once you are a chip leader, you should only play if you are going to raise. and then push people around but be willing to get out if nothing hits.

If it's late and everyone is extremely tight, punish limpers (people trying to limp in with K 10) by putting them all in with pocket 9s or something.