Do you change your strategy when you have a big stack?

Robert12_12 · 2026-08-19T15:18:52-0400

I’ve noticed that having a big stack can sometimes make me play differently. When I have a comfortable stack, I feel like I can put more pressure on shorter stacks, but I also wonder if it’s easy to become too aggressive just because I have more chips.

At the same time, I don't want to waste a big stack by taking unnecessary risks against another big stack.

How do you guys approach this? Do you actively try to bully shorter stacks when you have a big stack, or do you mostly continue playing your normal strategy and let the opportunities come naturally?

I’m especially interested in how this changes when you get closer to the bubble

alabala · 2026-08-19T15:23:40-0400

Yes when I have big stack I play more hands like suited connectiors low pairs and consecutive cards, also I bet flop and turn more often, and play more aggressive.

thedarkman · 2026-08-19T15:25:06-0400

If you have a big stack you can bully players; this is useful if you are approaching the bubble.

valeski 28 · 2026-08-19T17:46:17-0400

Good afternoon. Of course.you play both more hands and aggressively when having an excellent stack.I´d only put pressure on shorter stacks near the bubble especially if I notice they only want to reach the ITM zone.

GrannySmit77 · 2026-08-19T19:11:13-0400

You are supposed to change your strategy when you have a big stack. Especially if you approach the bubble. Near the bubble most players tighten their range and play very passively to min cash. Whenever there is a pay jump small stacks will wait for other small stacks to jump.
Then, let's be optimistic and assume you make the final table. Say, you are second in chips. You really don't want to bust in 9th or 8th place, so you have to be very careful when playing pots against whomever is chip leader. The difference between 2nd place and 8th place can be life changing.
These are some dynamics you need to be aware of.
Just as an example, this year's wsop final table, the guy that was 2nd in chips ended up 6th for 1.7 Mil. Had he finished 2nd, the payout would have been 6 Mil. The guy who was 6 or 7th in place finished 3rd. Instead of 1.5 Mil, he cashed for 3.5 Mil. That's quite a ladder up and the difference is life changing money.

fernandofcp · 2026-08-19T20:39:51-0400

Playing with a large stack (*deep stack*, generally over 100 big blinds) radically alters strategy compared to short- or medium-stack games. With a large stack in poker, you gain greater profit potential with speculative hands, require more complex post-flop play, and deal with higher variance and risk.

Sintubai · 2026-08-20T01:26:32-0400

Yes, certainly when we have a big stack, we have a wider range for call, raise, bluffs,.. Approaching the bubble is a great time to exploit opponents whose stacks are vulnerable compared to ours!🎯

Nameless14 · 2026-08-20T03:33:39-0400

I prefer to use the big stack to add pressure, if possible, but it’s not always the best move to go after the short stacks every time. It’s a matter of using the pressure wisely. Target the survivors specifically, and try not to get into a big stack vs. big stack fight. It’s all about being smart with that stack, rather than just reckless with it. ♠️

theoxy · 2026-08-20T03:43:13-0400

Hello! Yes i change always my strategy when i i have big stack . Its helps to win more chips and momey , but not a;ways .

Stringy · 2026-08-20T03:46:38-0400

deffo more agressive preying on small stack BBs especially when close to bein itm in a tournament

Kasztor007 · 2026-08-20T03:47:47-0400

I don’t think having a big stack means you should bully short stacks every hand. You can apply more pressure, especially near the bubble, but I think it’s more important to pay attention to the stack dynamics and the opponents. A big stack is a great tool, but there’s no reason to take unnecessary risks just because you can.

Bitmaniac · 2026-08-20T04:13:25-0400

I'm very bad with big stacks. I wan in a low buy in tournament yesterday. I had a big stack at 1st position and ended up losing all. I made $13 off bounty alone and I didn't even make it to 50th

wushibala · 2026-08-20T05:06:53-0400

Yes, definitely. I play a much wider range of hands, I can afford to call an opponent's all-in with a trash hand if they have a short stack, and I play more aggressively overall.

nitesss · 2026-08-20T05:17:52-0400

Yes, definitely. I try to put more pressure on shorter stacks, but I still avoid taking unnecessary risks just because I have a big stack. Protecting the stack is important too.

Luvepoker · 2026-08-20T07:48:02-0400

Personally, if I get a big stack, it doesn't really change my game. I play a good, solid, aggressive game all the way through. I may use a bigger stack on money bubbles and final table bubbles, and it does allow me to play connectors deeper into a tournament versus deeper stacks. But overall, I don't let the stack size change anything. If you ever look at a lot of these tournaments, you'll see players who have double and triple stacks in the first two, three levels, and you'll also see them out well before the money, time after time. Yeah, getting a big stack gives you a lot more opportunities to do things, but too many people get carried away.

Coolcassv9. · 2026-08-20T12:29:20-0400

I don't usually overthink things, but I do fold against players who keep rebuying, while calling with big hands

steve01991 · 2026-08-20T12:30:00-0400

it only makes sense to become more aggressive

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Do you change your strategy when you have a big stack?

Robert12_12

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alabala

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valeski 28

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