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In elimination games, it is the duty of the big stack to push the action. This is a delicate situation for the chip leader. If they play too loose, they will essentially be dumping chips and may end up being the one eliminated. On the other hand, by playing too tightly, the chips on the table will become stagnant, simply exchanged from one player to another across the table and back again.
This is a common scenario with on-line multi-table tournaments when the players are close to the payout structure. Players have a habit of tightening up their game to ensure that their efforts will be rewarded, whatever the prize: money, points, entry to another tournament or ranking on the leader board.
Nobody wants to be on the bubble. Take advantage of this weakness. If players fold like dominoes with a pre-flop raise, then it's time to tilt the table. Raise pre-flop on a bluff, then show your hand. Big stack beware…you will be called the next time you raise pre-flop because you have shown the other players you were stealing their blinds. This is exactly what you want at this point. Play will begin to gradually loosen up. If your pre-flop raise is followed by a re-raise and then called by one or more players, politely step aside. You are not obligated to continue playing a losing hand even if you initiated the action. Instead, let the other players fight over the pot and take each other out.
Use the call as a trap.
Another responsibility of the chip leader is to push the short stacks. This is essential during any stage of the game. But be sure that you are the one pushing. In other words, make them come to you; don't call because you have the chips to make the call. Unless you have a monster hand or the nuts, turning into a calling station will put a huge dent in your stack and you'll lose the advantages of the big stack. Use the call as a trap to misrepresent the strength of your hand against the short stack. However, if they do not take the bait and bet into you, throw out the minimum bet. If they only call with the second best hand, you'll rake the pot and the short stack will be in a more desperate situation and sinking fast.
Be disciplined in the big blind position. It is tempting to call an all-in with a bad hand. For example, blinds are $100/$200, everyone folded except a short-stacked player in late position who raises all-in pre-flop for a total of $600. In the big blind position you have 3, 9 off suit. Thinking that you are already in for a third because of the blind, you lean towards making the call. Stop right there! Do you really think this is a smart call? The other player already has position in his favor. Three to four times the blind is a standard pre-flop raise for a good hand. Don't try to use the "pot committed" excuse to justify making the call. A forced bet, such as posting blinds, should not be included when calculating your commitment to the pot. Fold this lousy hand; let the other player steal your blind while your stack remains intact. So he pulled in $300 worth of blinds, if you had made the call and lost, which would be nothing short of expected, the other player would have doubled-up, raking a $1200 pot. Convincing yourself that if you hit your hand (the "any two cards" attitude), another player will be eliminated and your stack would grow, is a recipe for disaster! Although hitting the flop with 3, 9 off suit is possible, odds are not in your favor to take down the hand and the pot.
If they steal a few blinds, don't despair.
Think of the situation with this in mind: Would you make the call with a short or medium stack? If the answer is no, then fold your hand. The call may not damage your chip stack but it would add value to your opponent's position. Anticipate the action of the short stack. They will make a move when they feel they have the upper hand. Make the call only if you are confident that the chances of eliminating them are not only possible, but probable. The last thing you want is to double the short stack up. If they steal a few blinds, don't despair. Eventually they will feel comfortable with the size of their stack and may loosen up their play. It is effortless to put this player on tilt. Under this circumstance, they will eventually take themselves out.
Having a big stack is a double-edged sword. Push the action, but know when to back down. Use different tactics to tilt the table when play is too tight. Remind yourself often that a big stack is not comparable to Superman's cape. You are not invincible. Remind your opponents that you are there to win, but also intend to stay on top of your game to increase your chip lead and retain the advantages of the big stack.
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