Playing A Bigstack

S

Scrover

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 26, 2014
Total posts
198
Chips
0
I have one of the biggest troubles playing a bigstack. I usually spew my chips away and give them away. I play usually turbo's (not hyperturbo's), so I like playing with around 30BB. I place higher usually in tournaments being third in chips at a final table than being first in chips. What leaks do I need to cover up to improve this?
 
W

waterboy73

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 25, 2009
Total posts
533
Chips
0
One simple solution, if you like playing with a certain number of BB's, is to simply sit back while you have a bigger stack "then you like." Since you are playing mostly turbo's, it shouldn't take long for you to be back to 30 BB or so. As the blinds (and antes) will eat up your stack if you simply fold every hand. WHen you attain that big stack, just play uber tight, and if and when you blind down to 30BB's, you will have exactly what you want. A wise man once said, "there's no such thing as a bad fold." (Not that I completely agree with this.)
 
T

TheNoobie

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 11, 2014
Total posts
159
Chips
0
Thats because you take way too many chances, first if you were playing tight you'd be first rarely. 2nd in mid stage of the tournament it really wouldnt matter to me if I was just on average or even below, because those that are in top 10 rarely even make it to the money. I used to play like that, until I found this forum. I played too many hands, which used to boost my bankroll in the beginning and in the most inapropriate time, on the bubble usually, I was losing everything and it was happening fast. As the signature of one of our forum mates said "Luck doesnt give, it only lends". So, everyone in the top 10 in early stages pretty much have taken unnecessary risks to get there, because they are playing loose. You can do that, but you see the results in you. If you take a few chances and become the leader of the tournament it will be the worst spot for you to keep testing your luck. Remember - just become youre the leader doesnt mean that you should eliminate as much players as you can. They will do that themselves for you. Your job is just to survive. When you are 5 or 6 on the final table you need to loosen your playstyle a bit and wider your opening range, steal blinds as often as you can but do that without taking any chances ( All-in pre-flop with 2 4o for example ) You would want to look for hands that will have some value post flop if it comes to there. But mostly youre losing money because you play too many hands, in the beginning you do just aswell more than likely, but they you have too many bb's to take notice of it, late game that changes. So, just play tight. Thats the answer.
 
el_magiciann

el_magiciann

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Total posts
1,971
Chips
0
It is so obviously. You should change your image. I am sure in the begining you play a lot of hands, no matter what your position is and win a lot of good pots, even against premium hands. When you make that big stack you talk about, you should stop playing suited small conectors, you sshould stop playing small pairs and even middle pairs in EP or you can get in the pot only if it is cheap enough, you forget raising with air, or trying to bluff someone (you can do that only if you are again tight player and you see him unwillingness to play the flop or river). In one word you start to play tight, and mostly IN POSITION, thats what u can do. Good luck!!
 
E

erlanditas

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 27, 2014
Total posts
253
Chips
0
U dont need to be agressive with big stack, imagine that u have 30BB when u Big stack :D
 
Arjonius

Arjonius

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Total posts
3,167
Chips
0
At the lower buyin levels, possibly the most common mistake with big stacks is making poor or mediocre decisions because "I can afford to". This is seldom a solid enough justification for doing things you wouldn't do with a mid-stack.
 
H

hffjd2000

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 6, 2014
Total posts
2,329
Chips
0
Then its already good if your at the big stack especially on a final table compared to a short stack. You said you have leaks in giving away chips. Meaning you become loose.
Even at big stack, just maintain being a TA I believe will solve it.

Goodluck...
 
twan2630

twan2630

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Total posts
52
Chips
0
Say the samme hffjd2000 : Then its already good if your at the big stack especially on a final table compared to a short stack. You said you have leaks in giving away chips. Meaning you become loose.
Even at big stack, just maintain being a TA I believe will solve it.

Goodluck...
 
S

Scrover

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 26, 2014
Total posts
198
Chips
0
Thanks for the advice everyone. I tend to get my bigstacks because I am willing to take flips when I get hands (A10+ KQs+ 99+ and maybe wider depending on situation). I play tournaments that are incredibly top heavy (think of it like a winner takes all tournament) so that I make the final table less, but when I do I will have a huge chip stack and probably get in the top 3 a lot more of the time. As for the statistics, I am installing a program that will track my stats.
 
pwning666hellmuth

pwning666hellmuth

Rising Star
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 27, 2013
Total posts
21
Chips
0
heres what I do.....when you get a big stack, look to isolate more often...don't start playing hands that you norm would not...pikc your spots and crush evrything
 
Arjonius

Arjonius

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Total posts
3,167
Chips
0
don't start playing hands that you norm would not
You can and probably should play more hands. This doesn't mean playing looser to a degree where you're not comfortable, so how much looser isn't the same for everyone. It also doesn't mean putting in more chips than your hand strength warrants.
 
T

Tiltt2424

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Total posts
78
Awards
1
Chips
1
As the big stack at a final table or late in a tourney you want to pick spots that put pressure on your smaller stacked opponents. When the pot comes unopened to you in the CO or Btn always raise. Apply pressure to your opponents and force them to make mistakes. The key to this is AGGRESSION, whereas in your case it sounds like you may just be limping or calling a lot and playing passively. Your calling range shouldn't change all that much but your opening and raising ranges should open up significantly. I think this may be why you're play is very leaky when you have the big stack.
 
rock0001

rock0001

Legend
Bronze Level
Joined
Oct 23, 2013
Total posts
1,098
Awards
19
Chips
62
maybe you play loose passive against them and thats not a good strategy in almost any situation. If you are facing a big stack, you should be having at least a decent hand, because you dont want to risk your entire stack with a marginal hand. if you dont hit anything on the flop, try not bluffing a lot against these players as they wont have any trouble to put you in a difficult spot by re raising your bet if they think you dont hit anything. make strong value bets as they are more willing to call big raises and take more risks and dont get intimidated and fold good hands because that will cost you lots of chips. dont be afraid to go all in against them if you think you have the best hand. they will respect you more if you have an aggresive style.
 
T

terryg642

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 23, 2013
Total posts
141
Chips
0
playing a big stack

My gues is your playing a loose, aggressive style to build your chip stack,nothing wrong with that it's like some one who is young needs to invest with high risk ,high reward because the young and they don't have much to lose,but the rich they want to maintain what they have so they invest conservative.So when you think you have a pretty good stack switch to tight,POSITION poker,and know my caps lock is not broken .Position will save you from throwing bets away to big preflop raisers and you will also be able chose your battles ,whether it's a multiway pot ,a little or a big stack,you can make the decisons when your in position.
 
Top