Playing with the Big Stack
Big stack is like a blessing bestowed upon a player by the poker gods. Use it wisely or you might be eliminated shortly.
Many a times in tournaments, players end up winning huge pots early on. It is very important to make good use of such a situation if you find yourself with a big stack. For if you don’t take precaution you might relax, play lose, take higher risks, and make yourself vulnerable to losses.
The biggest mistake a player in such a situation commits is playing too many hands. In cases you would have always folded you tend to call and spend chips to see a flop. It is really unwise thinking, that since you can afford it, you will play it. There is a thought of further increasing the chip count leading to playing more hands which are not really likely to be winners. This leads to the chip count decreasing consistently and by the time you realize it, you would have wasted a great opportunity.
Another often committed mistake is calling players with short stack when they go all in. Trying to eliminate a player if you win and thinking even if you lose you still have a huge chip count, can lead to a loss of large number of chips since you might be playing with marginal hands. As if that is not enough you run the risk of giving your opponent a second life by helping him double his chip stack. When you have a larger stack apart from the stack, you also get the time to use patience. Try and use it wisely.
Amongst a few things you could do in case of having a big stack is slow down. Call hands only when you are in a good position. Raise only when the weaker players limp into the pot. Maintain equilibrium between being patient and aggressive. Learn to know the difference between two of them. Don’t hesitate to re-raise if you have medium level pairs and if the player you are heads up with has only a quarter of your stack amount. Also be prepared to have to make a decision in the cases where he pushes all his chips into the pot. Most importantly realize that you are in a very advantageous position and ensure to make use of the situation to your advantage.
Don’t forget time is by your side. Remember not to take unnecessary risks which might bail out your opponents. The best position would be to let your opponents fight for the remaining chips and you maintaining your chip count. Continue to be patient and you would do well in the tournament.
However this does not mean you do not leverage the advantage you have and let the stack be dormant. As when you find a opportunity utilize it. A weak opponent can be dealt with and made to get out of the way. Remember you are in a strong position and by acting first you might get away with the betting even when you may not have the best hand. Make sure when your opponents do see your cards they don’t see it without spending a huge sum. Play mind games and force them to make a decision before making their hand. All you need to do is to make sure that you make the shots, you pick your spots. Ensure the opponent is on their back-foot and the situation is best for you, not for the opponent.
Last but not the least, having the big stack in a tournament is not a pleasure enjoyed by all. It gives you a huge advantage, be patient and don’t force anything. Remember to stay tight and aggressive, and you should be able to carry your stack throughout the tournament.
