Stack Size is Important

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Stack Size Introduction
As you should already be aware, the size of your stack at any given time will play a vital role in your decision making in poker. If affects what type of plays you can make, if you should call a bet on a draw and also has various psychological effects on your opponent. Whether you have actively thought about the importance of the size of chip stacks or not, it is likely that you have made decisions based on this principle.

Stack Size in Tournaments
The first thing we want to take you through is the importance of chip stacks in tournaments. The decisions you make in these will be different to that of cash games because people can just rebuy with more money. One of the fundamental things you have to learn in tournaments is to be aware of the chip stacks around you.

If you have an average amount of chips you don’t want to get caught up with short stack all in or being caught out against a big stack. It is common sense that if you are playing a big stack that you don’t try and make a move on them because they are much more likely to call you down than another player at the table with more chips.

If you are a short stack you should be aware that your game strategy should change dramatically. If you only have 40 big blinds or less you should be looking to pick spots to shove your chips in the middle. Your play becomes limited because you can’t afford to lose a pot. I can’t reiterate that point enough. You can’t afford to lose a pot. This pretty much means if you are involved in a pot you don’t want to fold to a bet. Get your chips in the middle in the best spot that you can so you can double up. Don’t continue to let your chips dwindle away by calling and then folding on a flop. Play strong and go for glory.

When you are a big stack, as you may or may not have noticed, people become far too liberal and end up throwing their chips away. The thing to remember when you are a big stack is that you don’t have to be involved in every pot, but you can still pick your spots to use your stack as a weapon. The thing to remember when you are a big stack is that it is the players with an average to better than average stack that will hurt you. Don’t be too concerned over the other big stack(s) because they are easy to avoid and they will be trying to steer clear of you as well. The middle stacks are where the damage can be done. If you double a couple of these guys up it can bring you spiralling back towards the rest of the field. These players will also target you when they have strong hands as well because they know you have the chips to play with and can pay them off.

On the other hand you can use your chip stack to your advantage. You can get players off their draws by over betting and making it impossible for them to call you without the odds severely stacked against them. They can also give up their chips when they simply ‘don’t believe’ you because you are the big stack. Depending on your table image and the types of players you are against you can continue to get paid off and take lots of pots down if you play sensibly. Bet aggressively but try not to overplay mediocre hands.

Stack Size in Cash Games
The last thing we want to take you through is the importance of stack sizes in cash games. This is where you really begin to use your stack as a weapon. By observing the types of players around you and their stack sizes you can have massive sessions and win copious amounts of money. If you have a big stack you can get the tighter players off their hands. The ones that think about the money and not the hand are the ones that you can exploit. If they don’t have the nuts or close to it you can take advantage of them by putting them in doubt. On almost all occasions they will give up the hand, allowing you to take down the pot.

If the player you are against is pretty loose and is likely to call you down, this is where the big money comes in. You can play ultra aggressive and over bet the pot to be paid off. You might take some beats by doing this, but the money you will make from people missing their draws will far outweigh this.

When you are a short to medium stack in cash games the principles are relatively similar to that of tournaments. If you are a short stack you should be looking to pick a spot and take pots down or double up. You cannot afford to lose a pot so get your money in good and hope for the best. If you have an average stack you should be playing your natural game. Take into account the table dynamics around you. Think about the stack sizes and how they are playing. Use this information to your advantage to make the best decisions.

General Guideline
When we talk about the stack sizes being short, average or big we are referring to the amount of big blinds that that player has. Below we have listed a general guideline for judging the category your chip stack comes into:

Small: 40 Big Blinds or less
Medium: 41 – 100 Big Blinds
Big: 101 – 200 Big Blinds or more
Deep: 201+ Big Blinds

Summary
In summary, you really have to take into account the table dynamics. The stack sizes will heavily influence the way people play and you have to take this into consideration when you are making your own decisions. Not only that, your own stack size will be a major component in your decision making process. Observe the players and their chip stacks around you to get the best possible information. This information will prove vital to your success as a poker player. If you want to extend on this concept and develop your understanding we highly recommend the book ‘Kill Everyone’ written by Lee ‘Final Table’ Nelson. This book is outstanding in quality and well worth the money.