Post by Randy C on Jun 28, 2006 22:42:18 GMT -4
One of the biggest problems I had faced when I was a new guy playing poker was going to battle with opponents who had a huge chip advantage over me. I felt almost compelled to do battle with this opponent because a) it was a matter of pride and b) I wanted an easy double up...or so I thought.
I soon found out that I was losing most of my chips to these types of opponents because they knew that they had the advantage over me chipwise and would often call my raises and reraises with little to no thought whatsoever. It became clear to me that I wasn't picking my battles wisely. Folks, I can't stress to you the importance of this enough...Picking your battles is crucial!!!
We have all had those days when we had that mountain of chips in front of us, and if you really think back to that time when you had that huge chip stack, you'll recall how much easier those decisions to call came when faced from a good sized bet from a short stacked opponent.
I like to call this situation the "Samson and Goliath syndrome". Although the fable ends up with little old Sampson besting the towering Goliath, in the real World, Goliath would pave the road with Sampson 90% of the time. The giant has the advantage...those are the cold hard facts. The same holds true for poker...The big stacks have the advantage over the short stacks. They are able to make calls where others would not or could not because they simply couldn't afford to lose their chips.
If you have ever been short stacked, and I know you have, then you may also recall how expensive it can get to do battle with the big stack. Let's say your sitting there with AJ suited. The blinds are 200/400 and you have 1800 in chips. You call in middle position. Then "Johhny Giant stack" who has 12,500 in chips has KQos in late position and he is feeling frisky. So, he raises you 800. Now, you are faced with calling his raise and essentially ending your tournament life right there or folding...Those are your options. You desperately want to see a flop, but it will cost you 80% of your chip stack...and then GOD FORBID you make that call and a K or Q pop up, because then it's all over. Kiss that tourney entry fee good bye!
Point is: Pick your battles. Don't wage battle UNLESS you are absolutely certain that you are willing to risk losing your chips to the giant. The question you will have to ask yourself at that point in the game is: "Is it worth it?" Pick your spots, and choose wisely who you do battle with. It will end up saving you a ton of money in the long run.
There will be plenty of other opponents at your table to do battle with whose decisions will be quite a bit tougher than that of the giant stack at the table. Those are the people you want to exploit. And those are the people whom you will have a much better chance at increasing your chip stack.
For the time being, watch a few tourneys and watch the Chip leader for a bit. See for yourself, how dangerous it can be to do battle with Goliath! This may be the one factor that can get you over the hump of making it to the final table. From my own personal experience, I can attest to you that it has drastically improved my own game.
All In,
Randy C -
I soon found out that I was losing most of my chips to these types of opponents because they knew that they had the advantage over me chipwise and would often call my raises and reraises with little to no thought whatsoever. It became clear to me that I wasn't picking my battles wisely. Folks, I can't stress to you the importance of this enough...Picking your battles is crucial!!!
We have all had those days when we had that mountain of chips in front of us, and if you really think back to that time when you had that huge chip stack, you'll recall how much easier those decisions to call came when faced from a good sized bet from a short stacked opponent.
I like to call this situation the "Samson and Goliath syndrome". Although the fable ends up with little old Sampson besting the towering Goliath, in the real World, Goliath would pave the road with Sampson 90% of the time. The giant has the advantage...those are the cold hard facts. The same holds true for poker...The big stacks have the advantage over the short stacks. They are able to make calls where others would not or could not because they simply couldn't afford to lose their chips.
If you have ever been short stacked, and I know you have, then you may also recall how expensive it can get to do battle with the big stack. Let's say your sitting there with AJ suited. The blinds are 200/400 and you have 1800 in chips. You call in middle position. Then "Johhny Giant stack" who has 12,500 in chips has KQos in late position and he is feeling frisky. So, he raises you 800. Now, you are faced with calling his raise and essentially ending your tournament life right there or folding...Those are your options. You desperately want to see a flop, but it will cost you 80% of your chip stack...and then GOD FORBID you make that call and a K or Q pop up, because then it's all over. Kiss that tourney entry fee good bye!
Point is: Pick your battles. Don't wage battle UNLESS you are absolutely certain that you are willing to risk losing your chips to the giant. The question you will have to ask yourself at that point in the game is: "Is it worth it?" Pick your spots, and choose wisely who you do battle with. It will end up saving you a ton of money in the long run.
There will be plenty of other opponents at your table to do battle with whose decisions will be quite a bit tougher than that of the giant stack at the table. Those are the people you want to exploit. And those are the people whom you will have a much better chance at increasing your chip stack.
For the time being, watch a few tourneys and watch the Chip leader for a bit. See for yourself, how dangerous it can be to do battle with Goliath! This may be the one factor that can get you over the hump of making it to the final table. From my own personal experience, I can attest to you that it has drastically improved my own game.
All In,
Randy C -
This will also give you room to escape if neccesary with minimal losses.