How Often Do You Check Average Stack?

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neilv93

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How often do you keep an eye on it - in particular, live tournaments?

I find myself constantly checking what the average stack is and then comparing my stack to it, feeling frustrated or whatever if I'm below or worse.

Anyone else like this? I'm trying to drag myself away from it, part of my desire to work on my mental game but I always feel the need to keep track.
 
almanik

almanik

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I'am playing online tournaments and always waching on average stacks. I think it helping me to do right moves. Sometimes I see situation when I can bluff or do good fold.
 
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hffjd2000

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Theres nothing wrong in tracking chip stacks. Whats important, you will not be affected on your play. Dont do stupid things just because of chip stack pressure. Just play your game.
 
westside1950

westside1950

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Don't play much of a live tournaments, but online I do regulary check the averge stack number.

Yea - it can get a little frustrating not doing anything, being carddead and just watching how the average stack number keeps going up... :D
But, I always know not to be too affected by that beacuse everything can change in just one hand :)
 
TeUnit

TeUnit

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i dont really look at it, think that knowing where the bubble is a more important stat
 
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chloebrand

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My thoughts on the average stack...take the time to do the math. The average stack size is all the chips in the tourney divided by the current number of players still in. (It always amazes me how many people disappear from the tourney in the first 15 minutes) I think it is good that you keep track of that the average stack size, but you shouldn't let that number affect your game play. It's just a number. Normally the number to the left of the average stack is the chip leader, how often have you seen an early chip leader win the whole thing, or even final table? The name of the game is survival, not keep up with statistics. So like I said before, I think that it is great that you keep up with the average stack, change the way you look at it.

FOLD often...RAISE with purpose....call, your friends and family, but not in poker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
rock0001

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yes its very important to check the average stack however that shouldnt influence your poker style at all. just wait for a good hand even when your stack is below average and remember that its more important the amount of blinds you have rather than the average stack.
 
teepack

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I think a good player tries to get as much information as he can to inform his decisions, and your stack size versus the average stack size is very important. However, you cannot use it to justify a bad decision.

Early in a tourney, it's really not that big of a deal. I like to be above or at least no more than 25 percent below the average early. I probably don't start checking chip average regularly until after the first break. Then I will check just to see where I am. After the first break, I will start paying a little more attention.

In the latter stages of a tourney, chip stacks become more important. But again, you should never panic or get down just because you are below the average stack, and that's what I see in the OP. Deep in a tourney, I am generally okay if my stack is within 50 percent of the average. Why? Because I know that if I can win one all-in showdown, I will be right back at the chip average.

when your stack size gets smaller late in a tourney, what you should really be looking at it is how many BBs do you have? Let's say the chip average is 45,000, you have 20,000, and the BBs are 2k. You've got 10 BBs, so you've got time to be patient and wait for a good hand or pick a good spot. But if you have the same numbers and the BB is 4K, then you can't afford to be so picky.

The other thing to remember about the chip average is that way more players are below the chip average than above it. Late in a tourney, you will probably have 30/70 ratio - 30% above the average and 70% below it. So if you are just slightly below the chip average, you are probably still in the upper half of the field with nothing to worry about. Just be patient and stick to your game.
 
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