Playing the Big Stack

You just doubled up for the second time and your still only midway through the second level. How do you play with the big stack early in a poker tournament?

You call, call, call and call. That’s how. Suited connectors and small pairs become your very close friends and you will call any small raises with them when in position. You will also raise with them when in position as well. The concept of playing your stack early in the tourney is simple. You want to see as many flops as is humanly possible so that you give yourself an opportunity to get “lucky” and win a big pot.

No, you cannot win the tournament in the first hour but you sure can put yourself in position to make a run at the money. You can shoot for the Final Table from there. So, if you have chips early in a tournament put them to good use. Raise and re-raise with the nut flush draw after the flop. Raise and re-raise with that open ended straight draw. Raise when you see the table limping to your button with any two cards if you know your opponents are weak and likely to fold. You’d be surprised how many hands you win uncontested. You also enhance your table image as an aggressive player which makes it easier to steal blinds later in the tournament.

The key to seeing a lot of flops when you’re the chip bully is POSITION. Folding a hand out of position is perfectly acceptable whether you have a stack or not but you want to take advantage of your position as much as possible and your having a stack makes for an intimidating proposition to your opponents when they see you raise and re-raise there mediocre holdings.

So, if you have big chips don’t be afraid to raise it up. It’s sound poker strategy for a big stack. You will be glad you did.