How to play against the big stack

[maverik]

Can anyone tell me how to play a guy or group of guys with stacks of chips much bigger than yours?

I mean they just bully you out, not that i'm complaining, it is all part of the game, but any advice would be great!

[bobf111]

You have to wait for a strong hand.
Tip Of The Day

[I_GOT_YOU]

Well sometimes you have to stick it out at some games even if it meens going back in again with 1000 chips. i done that and took out 9 players, ended up with 40k . . . . . it felt goooood

[nicklebag]

You gotta wait for a good hand and then aggressively bet. You have to act strong. Be sure you have a decent hand. Good luck.

[jim69]

I have found that a lot of the time they dont even have a hand ! call their bluff. I went to a table with 2K and watched the players and the hands they were betting with and came away with 15K in a few hands.

[UseTheFork]

Learning patience is the key. Don't play little hands by little hands, because big stack will automatically raise to get you to play more chips, even if they don't have anything. If they manage to scare you, you fold (hoping for a better future hand) and they win with nothing... Your stack is reduced and the stress goes higher. It is a vicious circle, you tilt !!!

One solution is the following: wait for AA, KK, QQ, AK or AQ and go ALL-IN !!! Don't play pussy, scare them first !!! Even if they call, statistically you will win more often than other players... This means you may have to wait 10 or 15 rounds before you get these cars. You will need to fold many many times, even at the small bling or big blind. Patience. Patience. Patience. After 8-10 rounds, it gets on the nerves of other players, which is good for you, because they start to make mistakes or to attack other players...

Now if there are only 3-4 players left at the table (in a tournament), or if you play against top players, that won't be enough. You will need to learn other tricks, like putting pressure when you are at the button, the small blind or the big blind. Learn to play position (google this). Learn about the M value of your stack and how to play it...

It is virtually impossible to win a tournament (even a mini-tournament) without having to go all-in at least one or twice. But you have to do it at the right time for the right reason... and accept that from times to times, you will be rivered, even you played all your hands correctly !!!

This should improve your average survival rate....

[RedRaven]

Originally Posted by UseTheFork

Learning patience is the key. Don't play little hands by little hands, because big stack will automatically raise to get you to play more chips, even if they don't have anything. If they manage to scare you, you fold (hoping for a better future hand) and they win with nothing... Your stack is reduced and the stress goes higher. It is a vicious circle, you tilt !!!

One solution is the following: wait for AA, KK, QQ, AK or AQ and go ALL-IN !!! Don't play pussy, scare them first !!! Even if they call, statistically you will win more often than other players... This means you may have to wait 10 or 15 rounds before you get these cars. You will need to fold many many times, even at the small bling or big blind. Patience. Patience. Patience. After 8-10 rounds, it gets on the nerves of other players, which is good for you, because they start to make mistakes or to attack other players...

Now if there are only 3-4 players left at the table (in a tournament), or if you play against top players, that won't be enough. You will need to learn other tricks, like putting pressure when you are at the button, the small blind or the big blind. Learn to play position (google this). Learn about the M value of your stack and how to play it...

It is virtually impossible to win a tournament (even a mini-tournament) without having to go all-in at least one or twice. But you have to do it at the right time for the right reason... and accept that from times to times, you will be rivered, even you played all your hands correctly !!!

This should improve your average survival rate....

Thanks Fork! this is good, clear, useful advice. Shea

[maverik]

Thanks for the advice guys!!

[Jmahoney]

Being aggressive for sure. Being the small stack and being aggressive is scary too. Big stack doesn't want to lose the lead so going all in against them with a good hand will be a real coin toss for the leader.

[italia]

Either fold fold fold and wait for a good hand or wait a bit and go all in even with marginal ... no one wants to call and lose that many chips so bluffing often works in the little guy's favor several times