Playing with the lead

Reel Deal · #1 02-23-06, 10:43 AM

Last three MTTs I've played I've found myself with the chiplead roughly near the mid-point of the tournament (one was about a 200+ tourney the other two were smaller WSOP satties with only about 50 players). Each time I seem to find myself becoming a bit too aggressive and running into hands that cause me trouble. On the one hand I know there is value in bullying around your table with a big stack but, on the other hand, does it sometimes make more sense to tighten up and conserve your stack until you get closer to the FT? I'm sure there's a balance in there that works best but I'm really interested in hearing what the successful MTT players here have to say about playing with the lead.

Thanks,

RD

Aequitas58 · #2 02-23-06, 11:16 PM

Well, I was going to reply ... but then you specified that you wanted advice from "successful" MTT players.

Anyway...

Successful, aggressive players (Toto, Ivey, Negreanu, Matusow, etc) try to accumulate large chip stacks heading into the middle of the tournament so that they can exploit their opponents. Having a larger stack allows for an assortment of plays that are not as damaging if you had an average stack. Re-steals, raises for isolation, larger continuation bets, are not possible - and you can make them with confidence.

So how do you play as the large stack?
You bet and raise more. Don't SIT on your large stack because soon enough, the blinds are increasing and you'll find yourself average. Normally, you'd open AQs for 2.5 or 3xBB from MP, but now, you can confidently raise to 5xBB. Not only are you representing a stronger hand, but you force the other players to throw away their mediocre hands. (Hands they would normally call for 2.5xBB!) Your continuation bets become more feared, because you're represented a stronger hand, AND they have to worry about you (possibly) putting them out of the tournament if they mess with you. LOL.

It's a good spot to be in. Increase your aggressiveness and you should see better results.

eejit101 · #3 02-23-06, 11:28 PM

[quote=Aequitas58]Well, I was going to reply ... but then you specified that you wanted advice from "successful" MTT players.

QUOTE]

Wheres JD and eejit in that list??????????

And i agree with AEQ. The whole point of the big stacks is to bully the short stacks so you can continue to stay in the chip lead, get more people withing touching distance of being out by taking blinds and limps and small raises. Not being agressive with the big stack means that other players will go against each other and youll end up being even with a couple of other players on the table.

The one person i try and stay out of pots with is the guy who has me covered by a long way and i cant bluff him as well as i normally could. he has more collateral to call, and can chase the draws you wouldnt go for if you were a low stack.

Aequitas58 · #4 02-24-06, 07:29 PM

I thought this thread was going to be a good one. Did I sum it all up (lol) or does TP, Mayhem, or JD have any addn'l thoughts?

Talking Poker · #5 02-26-06, 03:30 PM

I thought your post was pretty good, Aeq. IMO, accumulating said big stack is much more difficult that learning how to play with it. When I do get one, I usually crank up the aggression, but not constantly... I kinda do it in spurts, if that makes sense. I'll open my game for an orbit, and then play my usual tighter game for 2 or 3.... Then I'll open it up again, and so on. I'll try to see more cheap flops than usual, and I keep the pressure on post flop.

What I DON'T do (well, shouldn't do - unfortunately I often do) is start getting myself in trouble by playing marginal hands too aggressively preflop. Nothing sucks worse than raising with 88 preflop, only to have someone behind you push in. You've got him covered by a ton and are getting like 2.5:1 to make the call, so you do and sure enough his TT holds up. Dammit... that cost a hell of a lot more chips than it should have.... Know what I mean?

I really like seeing more cheap flops when I have chips to burn and saving the aggression for after the flop.

Reel Deal · #6 02-27-06, 12:09 PM

Thanks TP, I think you hit on what my problem has been which is too much aggression preflop (which, like you pointed out, can lead to trouble). Thanks for the "see cheap flop and save aggression for after the flop" tip... makes good sense.

Talking Poker · #7 02-27-06, 12:34 PM

Sure... I don't know that it's right or wrong - it's not something I've ever read in a poker book... It just FEELS right to me, ya know? If you are a better player than your opponent, you should be focusing on postflop play more than preflop play. Now, if I'm sitting in the big game, I never want to see a flop... I'm pushing in with any playable hand, so as to not get outplayed later in the hand.