Limping with a big stack in later stages

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Caissa

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I really new at real money poker and I'm playing only super-micro stake tournaments and freeroll so sometimes I cannot tell if what I am seeing in viable strategy or simply fishy.

What I've noticed in late stages of the tournament is the big stacks limping in at almost every hand. Then either everyone folds and the bb checks and the big stack crushes him preflop. Or in the rare occation someone raises and the big stack calls happy to see a relatively cheap flop and either folds quick or plays hard and fast usually taking down the pot. Sometimes another big stake calls and they price out the bb but basically play a pretty controlled pot.

I ask this because a whole lot of the time these guys limp in front of me when I am in a position to make a steal and I'm hesitant about shoving with less then a premium hand (a simple raise doesn't work at all unless I am trying to trap which I haven't attempted yet in that situation) because these can really damage me. I have shoved and gotten about a normal distribution of results. Problem is I think I have to have a much better hand then I would when stealing the blinds.

So, is this a viable strategy for a big stack? Can I use it myself? What is the best response to it?
 
Slawa1986

Slawa1986

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In the late stage of the tournament, when it is very large stacks, the rate of 2-3 BB already does not fit against the chip leader! In such situations, if you are the chip leader and you have a good hand, it is better to make a push! But in any case not to bluff!
 
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hffjd2000

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Let the big stack overextend his aggression until you show him a big hand and double up.
 
horizon12

horizon12

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What you mean big stack ? If 80bb its fine limp , if you mean 15bb this easy shove...
Need know how much you have big blinds and how much other opponents at the table....
 
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losties

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This might be the case with freerolls and microstakes but I will guarantee you it doesn't work as often as you think. It might work against inexperience players but once you encounter a intermediate to pro player they will see you this tactic very easily, unless u have the nuts every time and you're on a heater then that's a different story.
 
TeUnit

TeUnit

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not a fan of the limp, why not min raise at least?

when you limp deep you just give your opponents odds to hit trips, its kinda like you are forcing your opponent to make the correct play
 
Jacki Burkhart

Jacki Burkhart

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I have noticed this as well lately, and it does seem quite effective.

I'd completely agree with your assessment. The big stack tends to get HU with the BB and then crush him with aggression, or out flopping him.

Then it makes me gun-shy to "steal"....essentially the big stack is "c0ck-blocking" every single pot announcing to the table "if you want to play a hand it better be good because you have to get past me.....muahahahahaha" (in a demonic voice....)

So...I think it probably IS an effective strategy for a big stack to employ. I have never tried it myself, I generally despise open limping but maybe I should change my tune in situations like this.

As for what to do about it when you are an average or smallish stack...it's tough. I think you can sometimes limp along and try to play a pot vs. the big stack in position with some of your "playable" hands that you might have tried to steal with (like KTs) and you can jam the top of your range.

I was in this exact same situation last night and it was tough. I was too short to wait for premiums so I just kept jamming hands like ATo and 33 over his limps, fully expecting him to call. He did keep calling and I kept doubling up through him (with luck) finally my luck ran out and he finally knocked me out on the bubble after doubling me up 4 times! I didn't like playing it that way, but I couldn't think of any better plans since he was in pretty much every single pot...
 
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