Adjusting play with a big stack in MTTs - Beginning Poker Questions

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Adjusting play with a big stack in MTTs

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02-13-2017 , 02:05 AM

Soebr

enthusiast

Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 98

How should you be adjusting your game when you have a big stack (80bb+) in middle-late stages of MTTs?

I feel like I might get carried away doing things like this:

Poker Stars, $2 Buy-in (30/60 blinds, 8 ante) No Limit Hold'em Tournament, 9 Players
Poker Tools Powered By Holdem Manager - The Ultimate Poker Software Suite.

SB: 4,804 (80.1 bb)
Hero (BB): 11,070 (184.5 bb)
UTG+1: 8,920 (148.7 bb)
UTG+2: 4,968 (82.8 bb)
MP1: 5,569 (92.8 bb)
MP2: 17,794 (296.6 bb)
MP3: 3,479 (58 bb)
CO: 4,690 (78.2 bb)
BTN: 3,584 (59.7 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with A

7 folds, SB raises to 180, Hero calls 120

Flop: (432) T

(2 players)
SB bets 240, Hero raises to 711, SB raises to 2,022, Hero folds

I'm not looking for too much feedback on this example itself (though a quick comment would be appreciated). What I want to know is how I should be adjusting my play when I have a large chip lead over most players?

What should I be doing and what shouldn't I be doing?

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02-13-2017 , 04:25 AM

Tutejszy

veteran

Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 2,663

that's neither middle nor late stage of a tournament, it's essentially the beginning. It matters, because in later stages (in the money) ICM starts applying, so big stacks can and should apply pressure on shorter stacks. However, in the beginning ICM is close to non-existant, so you should just play normally.

as for the hand itself, it's an ok bluff because you have a lot of tens in your range, as long as you don't do it too often

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02-13-2017 , 08:03 AM

ArtyMcFly

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 13,252

I get kind of spewy when I'm deep in tourneys (by deep, I mean 150bb+) and do a lot of check-raising in the BB, but you're in position here. With the A4 IP in BvB, you could just float the flop, as you'll often be able to steal the pot on the turn, or just check it down and win. If you're gonna bluff there, do it with something that has even less showdown value/equity but some sort of backdoor. e.g. A hand containing a 9 or a diamond, preferably both. (Kh 9d, Jd 9s, 97hh, 76dd etc).

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02-13-2017 , 12:38 PM

Kelvis

banned

Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 8,737

If you're going to raise all your offsuit ace rags plus all the hands that actually make good bluffing candidates you're going to be bluffing awfully often. That's fine if you have a reason to believe villain reacts poorly to it but don't just do it because you feel like doing it or something like that.

Like even if you consider any 8x a raise for value there's just so little combinations of value vs clowning around with A4o (16 combinations per ace adds up quickly)

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02-13-2017 , 08:58 PM

Soebr

enthusiast

Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 98

Ok - so the bottom line here is that I shoudn't be wasting a hand with some showdown value/turn equity on a bluff from the BB? It was a random bluff for sure. I don't plan to always bluff with Ax here or any card really. That might be something I need to look into (hands to bluff with BvB).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tutejszy

The example hand was in fact fairly early on in the tournament, but the play is one I would think to try later on as well.

I generally start to worry about ICM once we get close to the bubble. Before that point should your stack size influence your play at all?

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02-14-2017 , 05:20 AM

maxinepivot

enthusiast

Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 61

preflop fold is best, stay tight with a deep stack else you will bleed it.

With a deep stack you aim to play more suited connectors and limp with them.
You want to play top suited hands.

You do not want to fight the guys which are half as big as you, but you have to target deeper stacks like you, obviously when ICM starts in deep stages, you will target the short stacks to accumulate chips.

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02-14-2017 , 09:35 AM

Kelvis

banned

Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 8,737

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxinepivot

preflop fold is best, stay tight with a deep stack else you will bleed it.

Folding an ace in position closing action getting odds is bleeding money really fast.

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With a deep stack you aim to play more suited connectors and limp with them.

Limping would be incinerating money as well.

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02-14-2017 , 09:54 AM

tiltninja

veteran

Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,937

this is just a terrible play. I don't see how it is related to having big stack in a MTT.

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