Posted Sun Jan 09, 2005 12:06 pm GMT by Grim
I've become quite adept at gaining a chip lead...but always seem to lose it. I have a couple of reasons why and I think they are legitimate.
1) I'm scared to lose my chip lead and bully.
2) I'm not sure how to fend off those who try to get chips from the leader.
I tend to get at least double the chips on everyone but can't seem to do anything with that unless I get the nuts. We all know that you can't survive on the nuts and be successful. I would like some advice on how to play a large or even semi-large chip lead.
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Posted Mon Jan 10, 2005 12:17 pm GMT by suitedaces84
Early chip leads are overrated. I wouldn't put too much on the line to get an early chip lead, but if the opportunity presents itself take it. If the blinds are worth stealing 75/150 or so, bully. If the blinds are still 25/50 or so, don't bully. If you take the early chip lead sit on it until the blinds become more significant or you get a monster hand. Figure out who can be bullied and who can't. Never raise preflop from early position unless you want to be called. Don't bully ever opportunity you get, most players will stand up for themselves if you do this.
Posted Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:12 am GMT by Grim
i was thinking along those lines. tonight i notoriously gained the chip lead early in the game. this time however i played conservatively as if i wasn't chip leader except for when the time was right to steal or put someone out when i had the nuts.
I also found myself a sucker...and he bit the bait everytime. I smoked him with an A2345 straight and he had trip Q's to finish him off. I red him like a children's story book.
I would still like some chip lead strategies if you guys have any.
Posted Mon Jan 17, 2005 5:30 pm GMT by QuietOne
I've noticed a lot of times a guy will start out with the huge chip lead and not even making the final table. I tend to think it's because they play loose and a bit reckless and the beginning and a lot of players play tight. Once the other players real start getting a feel for the table, the chip leader falls quick.
We had a guy last month at our monthly game who is not a regular. I'll call him Dale because, well that's his name. He was playing every hand early and betting big, winning a lot of pots early by scaring people away. A friend of mine was eliminated by this guy, who stayed in with a horrible hand but caught cards.
But he didn't even make the top 50%. Once he started losing, he went from a chip leader to a chump.
The cream always rises.
Posted Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:02 pm GMT by saper88aa
With a big stack you can see lots of flops if the blinds are low. Try to bully but don't try to make huge bluffs.I have had good sized leads and totally f-ed my self trying to make the monster bluff
Posted Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:27 pm GMT by Bleakill
for me its usually like this: in the beginning i lose a little, then get some good pots and either lead or second in chips...then there may be swings but either i keep my lead and win or bust out on some unlucky all-in 8) early chip lead doesn't mean anything really...
Posted Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:21 pm GMT by Ensano
for me having an early chip lead gives me kinda a buffer.. in the beginning it doesn't really give me much strategic advantage.. but it does help my nerves so i'm more comfortable with my play knowing that any one hand can't put you out does wonders for you play.. if i got a lucky and and doubled up quick in a tournament i usually try to sit on it.. play tight straightforeward (like i do at the start of any table).. once you get a feel for people and you find your fish.. then you start to lean.. and you can lean harder than you normally would.. also it allows you to play more draws than you would (your odds are 3.5-1 and the pot is only giving you 3-1) bah.. still go for it.. you have that cushion to fall back on.. too many people get too wreckless with their chips.. they get a little extra in the beginning and they lose their mind..
Posted Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:55 am GMT by markusgc
What I've been doing lately is playing only PREMIUM hands in early position and raising with authority. I'll call the blind a little looser late or on the button.
After the flop, if I'm fairly certain that I've got the nuts, I'll raise pot sized plus a tiny bit more. If I'm in late position and there's a bet, I'll raise to put that person all-in. That puts 'em to a tough decision, especially if they're on a draw. Even if I lose a couple of these, I don't usually lose much of my stack and it makes people think twice about whether they want to get involved with me because I have a VERY solid hand when they get shown down.
Now all I've got to work on is taking advantage of this image and occasionally bluffing to steal a pot or two, but damn, I hate losing chips on a bluff!
Posted Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:26 am GMT by tame_deuces
Bad players as chip leaders are like guerilla fighters with automatic weapons. Dangerous, but they'll probably mess it up because they don't really know what to do with them.
With this clever analogy, I'll leave you too your discussion.
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