Using a big stack (outside the bedroom)

[Soulless]

A common problem for me in the mtts where i actually get to build a big stack is that i tend to burn it away trying to bully the table and shortstacks.

THe last mtt i played i had around 18k chips when the second highest at my current table had 6k (at the time i was second in chips overall).
Whenever i got a fairly decent hand i tried to push the smallstacks around, but whenever i tried they seems to welcome the chance to double up, and a few of them did.

My stack dropped, and i went tight again but all went bad at the bubble.

BUt id love to hear what people think about bigstack bullying? Is it better to just continue playing tight and solid or is it usuly okay to open up slightly when you have a big stack advantage?

[chardrian]

It depends on your opponents and the stage in the tourney.

In your situation, it sounds like you picked up a big stack early. But you don't win a tourney in the first two hours. In that case, I just sit back and play my normal game - you sort of need the short/average stacks to pick each other off and gain chips for your stack to have a scare effect.

Later in the tourney: on the money bubble, on the FT bubble, when there are like 5 left and you have twice as many chips as anyone else - these are the times when I am being a big stack bully.

[DBL0SVN]

Having a big stack is great and you can push others around - blind stealing, pushing limpers off and RR is a lot of fun. However, unless you have a really solid hand you must be prepared to fold if someone plays back aggressively at you. They are putting their tournament on the line and will almost always have the cards to back it up. So make sure your bet sizes are big enough to pressure the other guy but leave yourself room to fold. Sometimes you can't, due to the pot odds, and you have to showdown with a high chance that you'll be dominated - not a situation I like.

[Sprayed]

Make sure that you are not raising into 20-15bb stacks with junk. They tend to resteal lots. Some might say that without antes, blinds aren't worth stealing. But for me, I don't mind raising from HJ+ at any blind level hoping for a call. Most of the time the blinds will check and you can c-bet and take down a bigger pot than just the blinds. You have to know what flops are good to c-bet and when weak TP is not good to get your chipies AI with.

Also, an amazing thing that has opened my eyes is raising with any two when in position after a couple of limpers. The important thing to remember with this is your stack size and the limpers. Most of the time this is effective when effective stack sizes are ~30bbs+. If you have 20-15bb stack and you are in position or in the blinds after a few limpers, shove any two.

Went on a ramble there but I think that it applies to your question.