How do you play when you are having above average chips

funkymoney

funkymoney

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Recently I have been having above the average chips in tournaments and could have finished in the money but I end up losing early. I couldn't control calling or raising my chips every time and always end up losing even when I had a good chance. Any good methods to control myself and to end up in the money or finish better
 
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fundiver199

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Well you kind of said it already: control yourself. Just because you have a big stack does not mean, you want to gamble it away. Maybe you can take on a few more spots, where you apply pressure to shorter stacks near the bubble. But in general you need to still play good solid poker. Its not suddenly ok to see a flop with K2s, just because you have a big stack.
 
funkymoney

funkymoney

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Well you kind of said it already: control yourself. Just because you have a big stack does not mean, you want to gamble it away. Maybe you can take on a few more spots, where you apply pressure to shorter stacks near the bubble. But in general you need to still play good solid poker. Its not suddenly ok to see a flop with K2s, just because you have a big stack.


Yes, You are right but still, I lose focus sometimes. Any suggestions to keep the mind focussed when playing for a long time
 
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bobor19871987

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bobor19871987

I play disproportionate tokens so that when I pretend I can't do it right away I'll give all in a good card I'll either win or lose:):):)
 
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gwooof

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I still play pretty tight but play a goofy hand time after time liking going for flushes have really good luck chasing them usually don't chase but when you got extra chips I go for it love making my opponent mad
 
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woodeng

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I have a similar problem but I don't know if it is because I am calling or betting to often with an above average stack . . . However, I have noticed if I have a smaller stack later in the game but prior to be in the money I will normally place in the money . . . If I have a large or above average stack I go out prior to placing -- it is frustrating for me an I am trying to figure out what I am doing differently in the hands . . .
 
Sschafell

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when I am above average chips I always play more aggressively, trying to exploit my opponents to the maximum, especially if the table is more relaxed.
 
funkymoney

funkymoney

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I have a similar problem but I don't know if it is because I am calling or betting to often with an above average stack . . . However, I have noticed if I have a smaller stack later in the game but prior to be in the money I will normally place in the money . . . If I have a large or above average stack I go out prior to placing -- it is frustrating for me an I am trying to figure out what I am doing differently in the hands . . .

Yes same situation maybe we need to cool down a bit or sitout and focus our mind before playing again
 
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bioman420

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I play for fear of losing the blind, and without fear of paying for an expected hand at the end, but when I'm below average I become more cautious
 
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1nsomn1a

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Just as usual, aggressive and with the best part of its range given the position. A lot of chips does not improve the probability of collecting a hand, so I think it is not necessary to radically change something.:)
 
Phoenix Wright

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I'm never really sure with myself; I kind of always just wing it on the spot lol

I adapt and change play-style for sooo many factors. Could be me picking up a good chip stack, moving tables, a fish in the Big Blind and a ton of variables. Whatever strategy you choose to elect, I think the most important thing is to not bluff off big portions of your coveted stack. By all means, take some steal attempts at blinds/antes or make bluffs (a larger stack gives you more room to try stuff like this), but I don't generally change approaches dramatically because I got a nice amount of chips. Perhaps this coupled with other factors, but don't forget that whatever you were doing was what gave you that chip stack! It doesn't make a ton of sense to change something just because it worked :D

How do I play after I get a good amount of chips? I guess it depends...depends on too many factors to take into account and what I think I can get away with in the moment :D
 
Goblingerty

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Lots of folding unless a good hand been dealt
 
Jon Poker

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I play proper ranges based upon my stack size and dont deviate - I dont start opening up wider or calling off lighter very much at all, certain situations call for that and too many focus on having chips and end up spewing them off. No need for us to overcall marginal hands and lose pot after pot because we can afford to.

*If we are mid game and not in the $$ yet - i play normally as mentioned.
*IF we are near the stone money bubble (9 players to go or less) and im the big stack on the table, I will start opening ALOT of hands until someone starts 3betting me because no one wants to bust before the $$ and player over fold - me included.
*If we are recently ITM i still continue to play normally.
*If we are deep ITM (30 players or less) i will open normally but start to avoid marginal call offs that will damage my stack utility -- my goal is to make the FT, if i edge pass a few spots i dont care, i am confident i will outplay my villans long term so i dont need to take unnecessary risks/flips that may damage my chances of making FT $$.
*If im the big stack on my table with 11 or 12 left and 9 making the FT -- i will open almost EVERYTHING until someone shows me resistance, because again, players are over folding because they desperately want to make the FT. Pressure is key in these spots - but, pressure does not mean doing anything stupid like shoving all in every hand.

FT play as the big stack changes DRASTICALLY -- basically we have to be the tightest guy at the table, avoid any flips that will have us dropping down the pay ladder, and we have to be VERY passive until it comes down to 4 handed play where we can really open up, and go for the win! ICM is a mother...

In a nutshell, thats it for me.
 
Pimp 007 x

Pimp 007 x

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It seems counter intuitive, but I actually play my best poker with a short stack.
 
killing_random

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Recently I have been having above the average chips in tournaments and could have finished in the money but I end up losing early. I couldn't control calling or raising my chips every time and always end up losing even when I had a good chance. Any good methods to control myself and to end up in the money or finish better

Think of your chips as the time left before you got kicked from a tournament.
If you got plenty of it, then why rush and play out of position when you can just wait for a better spot.
As long as you don't make mistakes, time will work for you. And in position you have full control over your decisions, which means - minimum mistakes)

GL:cool:
 
funkymoney

funkymoney

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Think of your chips as the time left before you got kicked from a tournament.
If you got plenty of it, then why rush and play out of position when you can just wait for a better spot.
As long as you don't make mistakes, time will work for you. And in position you have full control over your decisions, which means - minimum mistakes)


GL:cool:


Been better lately. I am picking my spots and playing according to the situation and players. need a lot of patience and don't have much so until i develop and control my mind i am occupied with other stuff or playing at two tables, that helps me fold a lot and pick my spots when i am having above average chips
 
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ROYALROAD

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Please always keep normal state of mind.
 
killing_random

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Yeah, Poker is easier for calm people, who don't get annoyed by waiting for better opportunities.
 
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Houdini9

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Well, this is a difficult question to answer shortly, but without complicating your strategy too much, your aggression preflop and on the flop should be aggressive and loose when you can spare the chips of you get caught of guard. What I like best about this approach is it loosens up the table so when you wind up with a monster, the table is pretty much already triggered by your aggression and will generally play back at you hard giving you a generous payoff.

GL GL,

HOUDINI9
 
Vitorbismark

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We can risk more!

In my view when we have a lot of chips, we dictate the pace of the table. As soon as I am comfortable and I know that I will not fall as easily from the tournament I prefer to increase my pre-flop opening range further in order to exploit my opponents.;)
 
PackinPat

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looser I want to see more flops. Remember this is fun
 
Sergei 9417

Sergei 9417

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I keep on playing regardless of my chips
 
Dailon Arroyo Blandon

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I think the key is not to fall into excess confidence ... sometimes we could relax a lot when we have a lot of chips ... we get a little careless, we lose focus of what happens at our table ... and we end up losing everything we have won .... a tournament is not won until it is won ... and no prizes are entered until it is entered ...! so you have to be focused all the time ..!
 
Matt_Burns88

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Recently I have been having above the average chips in tournaments and could have finished in the money but I end up losing early. I couldn't control calling or raising my chips every time and always end up losing even when I had a good chance. Any good methods to control myself and to end up in the money or finish better


Ask yourself how you got an above average stack in the first place. I can guess it probably wasn't playing every hand. Stick to what is working and don't try to play too much out of the box.
 
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Comboss599

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I think patience is one of the most valuable feature of poker. I wouldn't do nervous movements and simply wait for my chance.
 
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