Playing the big stack in a tournament

medeiros13

medeiros13

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Okay, so here's the downside of poker. I'm sitting at work last night fairly bored so instead of paying attention to my work, my mind wanders to my poker game. I start to think about my strengths and weaknesses and this one slapped me in the face. I completely suck at playing the big stack in tournaments!

Most of my successful tournaments are when I'm in the middle of the pack midgame and then (not boasting) outplay the competition to chip up. It seems like when I'm the big stack, I feel like I need to call the short stack all ins and usually end up doubling them up. I'm calling them down with hands like KQ and they show AQ...things like that. In an odd way, I feel more comfortable playing suited connecters vs. all ins than higher cards because I'm usually dead to a 4 outer. This could very well be a psychological thing going on with me that I need to get over....that's kind of why I'm posting this...to check in with others.

The more I thought about my issues, the more I realized I'm not alone. I've played with and watched many chip leaders be in a dominant position midgame and lose their stack. So, my question is why and how do you CC'ers play a big stack. Again, I think some of this maybe psychological with me...I feel like I need to carry the big stick and punish the short stack all ins with hands I'd never call with if I wasn't in that position.

I used to have problems playing heads up as well until I got some advice from others on how to handle that. Now, I'd like to think I've plugged that hole in my game. So, I ask everyone to please chime in with their thoughts so I can plug up this hole in my game. To me, one of the more impressive things is watching a good chip leader dominate a table by knowing when to bully and when to back off AND I want to be that :)
 
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wobble

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IMO the best way to profit from being the big stack is with aggressive raises rather than passive calls. Nobody wants to call their entire stack without a monster, so you should be raising big over limpers when in position.

Instead of calling a short stack all-in, put them all-in yourself and give them the option of calling. They will almost always fold, especially on the bubble.
 
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swingro

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IMO the best way to profit from being the big stack is with aggressive raises rather than passive calls. Nobody wants to call their entire stack without a monster, so you should be raising big over limpers when in position.

Instead of calling a short stack all-in, put them all-in yourself and give them the option of calling. They will almost always fold, especially on the bubble.

U can bully others. But at the same time u also can pay for your arrogance. In early or midle stages you have to be moderate in the way you play the big stack. I myslef see no big diference in early or midle stages in being the big stack or average stack because there are still 9 ppl at the table and they do not bluff that much. It is not the big stack's job to take out the others.

In late stages(near the bubble or after) when blinds are high, being the big stack pays off. U can steal more pots than the average stacks and you can see more flops, raising after that and making others fold often when they miss.
 
8Michael3

8Michael3

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The big stack gives you freedom to play tight or to make moves. But more importantly, you should be adapting to the players on your table who will no doubt-in decent buyin tournaments-be adapting to you. I normally tighten up with a big stack because people tend to get angry and jealous (IMO) and start to play back at my opening raises, but I love to 3 bet and put some serious pressure on medium stacks (when Im in postion) because tehy rarely double barrle without the goods if I can knock them out!
GL
 
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cam84

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i feal too keep that big stack you should raise big every time because every whould be sared but not me ill call sometimes but ill all so be carefull so yeh raise it make since
 
dj11

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You are under no obligation to call. Without something you consider good playable cards you don't have to do a thing. But you can't be passive either. So I would think you would want to exploit most situations where you are first to act. Being 2nd to act sucks.
 
cardplayer52

cardplayer52

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i use a big stack to pressure small stacks. i make lots of small raises and bets to threaten the rest of their chips. the trick here is to threaten an allin but not actually get them allin without a hand. i try bet sizes that will get them to put in close to 1/3 of their chips. another thing i do is figure out what an average stack will be when in the money. if i get this size stack i tend to try to preserve it till i get to the money. i'm not calling allins loosely unless i feel the shorty is shoving very wide. you got to consider he must think you'll call loosely as your the big stack.
 
Daniel72

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Use your big stack to steal and resteal the right stacks, don´t call unnessecary the all-ins of smaller stacks with marginal hands - it means spewing chips ! And use common sense - you don´t always have to be the table bully, it depends on the players, the stacks and so on....
 
doops

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I have the same problem. I keep trying to bust small stacks and end up whittling down my big stack. So I am interested in the replies here.

I especially like the concept of being the raiser, not the caller, when it comes to the small stacks. But if the small stack is tiny and desperate, I will probably still call light. I also like the concept of bullying the medium stacks, but being careful to recognize when they feel really strong.

The other thing I must remember not to do is confront the other big stack. That's the killer.
 
Kountess

Kountess

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Hmmm.. Yess same here. Played a SnG today was the chip leader for a while & called some guy & yeaa he doubled up forgot what the hands were anyways I was the bubble girl to the money =(. Good way to learn. We have to play with premium hands never limp in either. Thanks for posting this!!
 
Luan

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play solid and secure and keep the maximum of your chips in hand!
 
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