Having a big stack in poker is both a privilege and a responsibility. Here are five essential tips to maximize your advantage and dominate the table when you’re the chip leader.
Three-bet More From The Big Blind
This is a high variance play which shouldn’t always be used with a medium stack, as it could easily leave you shortstacked and unable to maneuver. However, this play works great when you have a big stack and can threaten everyone else.
Most of your opponents are too scared to be great poker players. They flat with 7-7 and A-J out of the big blind, so they assume when someone three-bets it must be a hand like A-Q+ or 8-8+.
That doesn’t mean they will fold preflop. That makes them feel weak. However, if you keep firing on them postflop, eventually they will find a fold.
Their opening range was too wide to begin with. When they call preflop, they still have too many hands. They make mostly vulnerable pairs postflop. Those pairs can’t stand the heat if you keep firing.
If they pick you off? No sweat. You had bonus chips to work with. Just go back to a solid game. You gave yourself a chance to get into the stratosphere.
Three-bet More From The Small Blind When You Have a Big Stack
Another good play you can do with a large stack is to three-bet more from the small blind. Again, this is a high variance play, but if you have the chips to gamble with then use them.
Your opponents open too much from the hijack, cutoff, and button. When you three-bet, they assume they have to call with everything because they are in position. However, they don’t know how to defend themselves post-flop.
Most of the hands they will flop will be vulnerable pairs. If you keep pushing them until they have to risk their final chips, many of them will wither away and fold.
Keep applying pressure.
Double Barrel More
When you have the big stack, a large percentage of the poker playing population will not trust your opens or your continuation bets. They assume you are trying to bully them. They will cold call you more preflop and they will refuse to fold to your flop continuation bets.
If you run into these poker players, keep betting turns. Don’t play into their game. Let’s see how brave they are when you put most of their chips at risk.
However, if you do have a value hand, go for more traps on the turn. Many of your opponents will fire absolutely everything on the turn after you check to them. They’re stressed out about playing versus the big stack, and they want to end the hand as quickly as possible. Let them bluff when they shouldn’t.
Triple Barrel More
Let’s continue the discussion we started in the last section.
Many of your opponents will not want to be bullied by the big stack. It offends their honor. They will cold call you more preflop and float you on every flop.
On the turn, they will have a hard time folding. You should still fire more turns, because they have tons of garbage high cards on the turn or mediocre third pairs. However, once they call you, it’s more likely you’re dealing with a second pair or top pair.
If the board has a flush draw on it or a flush draw and a straight draw, there’s a good chance your opponent would have raised on the flop with a set or two pair to protect their hand. It’s more likely they have one pair when they call you down.
If the river is bad for top pairs and second pairs, then apply pressure on the river. If you can put them all-in, even better. That will put them in an awful position. Again, if the bluff doesn’t go your way, you’ll be back at a normal stack, and you can play normal again. However, if this bluff succeeds, the table is yours. You’re headed up the chip ranks.
Overbet More
Another way to bludgeon your opponents with a big stack is to overbet more. If your opponents are calling with too many hands preflop, you can exploit that. If you continuation bet and they call you on a board with flush draws, straight draws, or a combination of both, it’s likely they would have raised their best combinations for protection.
Since you know they are sitting on one pair, you can overbet the turn if the turn isn’t great for their pairs. If the turn is an overcard or completes a draw, fire big, especially if you have some blockers. Many of your opponents will complain about how stupidly you’re playing, but they’ll fold eventually.
Summary
Mastering these five strategies will help you leverage your big stack to its full potential. By increasing your aggression with strategic three-bets and well-timed barrels, you can apply pressure and control the game. Implement these tips, and watch your dominance at the table grow.
Want to read more from APT Head Pro Alex Fitzgerald? Try his article about the 11 Tips for Handling Bad Beats and Variance