Hey all,
Just wondering if anyone had some guidelines for ending a session in poker (game type doesn't matter much) in this specific situation:
Let's say you've had one of those great sessions where you've ended up with all of the big stacks' chips and your stack now far exceeds any other stack at the table, say by multiples with you holding $4,000 in chips and the next biggest stack is say $500 with others even less.
In this scenario, yes you can bully the table with a big stack, but I just get the sense that my upside potential has been severely truncated - I mean I can no longer double up with one or two hands, unless several players go all in and I win, which seems rather unlikely. Moreover, I am no longer playing deep-stack strategy cause everyone else is medium or small-stacked, provided the blinds don't change. I could throw straddles on when I'm near the button but that's only a couple hands a round. So essentially I'm basically forced to play small-stack poker with a big stack. Doesn't the field have an advantage in that other players can double up but I can't, while I can easily be whittled down.
Sure, on the final table of a MTT, this is great, but in cash games, is it ideal to continue playing? You can't really take chips off the table, though a table or game change might solve the problem if I want to continue playing more.
Any thoughts on how you would approach this situation?

Your stack is no different than the second highest stack on the table. You can't use it to bully anyone in a cash game. Keep playing while you still feel you have an edge, which might include leaving if you (or someone else) doubles up someone and effective stacks are something you're uncomfortable with

ItÂ’s a cash game. Winning say $500 to increase your stack from $500 to $1000 is exactly the same as winning $500 to increase your stack from $4000 to $4500. It is $500 in either situation. IÂ’m not sure why you think doubling up means anything in a cash game. Winning money is all that matters.

Think of it this way. Suppose you played somewhere that allowed you to take chips off the table. If you built a $4000 stack then put $3500 in your pocket, then won $500 more, does that increase your bankroll any more than a game with standard rules where you couldnÂ’t pocket the $3500? Of course not - you end up with the same money either way.

If you are playing well and it is a profitable game there is no reason to quit. If you want to increase the stakes because you have more chips, then move to a bigger game if one is available.

Doyle Brunson talks about upside potential in Super System, and it is something that probably doesn't get talked about enough by serious poker players. That being said, I don't think that OP is using the concept correctly. I see no real advantage or disadvantage to being 800 bb deep when everyone else is 100 or 200 bb deep, although there might be some modest psychological implications like being feared.


Now, if you are covered by someone else, or by the whole table, that is a horse of a different color. Never having more than 10% of your bankroll on the table at one time (if someone else covers) is a suggestion I read once, which seems very reasonable.

I also do not think you can "bully the table" with your big stack, and this line of thought is probably going to lead you down a dangerous path. First of all, our opponents at the casino tend to be resistant to bullying, loose callers that they are. Secondly, this effect if it exists at all is illusory. Your opponent is in fundamentally no different a situation vs your 8000 stack as he is vs another 500 stack if he has only 500 in chips.

15+ year micro/low stakes winning player and back when I first started playing for a few years I'd say when I got in that position of being way ahead to the point I didn't feel comfortable playing with that much sitting in front of me I'd simply cashout/leave the table and book the session win. If I wanted to and still felt like playing I'd simply go find another table and buy-in for table max. I always buy-in for table max.

Now after 15+ years experience it doesn't bother me much to play deep or short stacked. Long as I'm playing at the stakes I can afford. Now If I'm taking a shot at higher stake and get ahead by a lot and have been playing awhile 3-4+ hours it likely time to end the session and book the win.

With all that said agree completely with sixfour. Play while you have an edge or until you start to feel uncomfortable with your big stake and sitting with that much in front of you. Everyone has a different comfort level when comes to this. Over time that comfort level will also change.


Cheers!!!