Definitely. Pros play tournaments small ball style and often don't gamble the 55/45's. A slower structure gives them time to gradually build big stacks without necessarily needing to stack someone. A faster structure necessitates riskier play.
Well, not always...(from today's
wsop Event #2 $40,000 NLHE tourney via Pokernews.com)
With the board showing
, Tony G just got it all in with
versus Erik Cajelais'
. The turn was the
, further improving Tony G's hand. And the river was the
, giving Tony G the large pot.
Tony G is quickly up to 248,000, while Cajelais falls to 3,800.
Or this...
We already have a man down only thirty minutes into this event and unfortunately, it was 1993 Main Event Champion Jim Bechtel.
Bechtel, David Chiu, and Per Ummer saw a flop of
. Bechtel checked, Chiu bet 6,000, Ummer folded and Bechtel called. The
cameon the turn and Bechtel checked again. Chiu fired out 9,200 only to be met with a shove from Bechtel for his entire 119,000 stack.
Chiu made the call and flipped over
for a flopped full house, cracking Bechtel's
. The river was the
and Bechtel's tournament was over while Chiu doubled up to 245,000.
Of course these are some extremes, but just cause it's deep stacked doesn't mean people don't look for early advantages/double ups. Even in a $40K buy in event.