Big Stack Reactions

[Station_Master]

I had a very good day yesterday at the cash tables, including running up one table to 550bb at 25NL.

I sensed that players started playing differently against me once I had 400bb or so. Even though the effective stack is still 100bb I seemed to get plenty of folds when bluffing or 3betting, but on the other hand some players would sometimes seem to run crazy bluffs.

In theory they shouldn't be playing any different but I think the extra bb I had at the table influenced their play.

Do you play differently v a very big stack (even if your stack is 100bb)? And do you think others play different?

Personally I tend not to adjust but I at least give the big stack credit for being at least half decent (even though I have seem plenty of fish run up big stacks too!)

 

[fundiver199]

I think, its a psycological phenomenon. People tend to instinctively think, that the big stacked played must be very good, so they will try to stay out of his way a little bit. For some it might be superstition. They think, the big stacked player has a "lucky run", and if they play with him, his luck will continue. Finally even a 100% rational player might think, that someone, who has just won a lot, wont be afraid to lose some of it again. The winning player might be "playing the rush" and as such is not a good target to run a big bluff.

And for all these reasons my experience is, that life at the tables is usually a lot easier, when you have build a big stack. You will typically get played back on much less, and many players will overfold to your aggression. So when I was a cash game grinder, I loved to continue on those tables, where I had build a big stack. The only thing, that might get me to leave, is, if there were no more fish left, or if a good reg on my left had also build a large stack. Especially if this would result in me potentially risking more than 5% of my bankroll in a hand against him.

 

[Station_Master]

Yeah I definitely agree, somehow when you have built a big stack it seems everything goes well and the stack keeps growing! But, as you say if another deep stack is on my left then it's not so good and I would potentially leave if they were a good player

 

[Aballinamion]

I had a very good day yesterday at the cash tables, including running up one table to 550bb at 25NL.

I’m very glad to read it mate! Congratulations, you are a solid and disciplined player, you will get to NLHE 50 and NLHE 100 sooner than later.

Do you play differently v a very big stack (even if your stack is 100bb)? And do you think others play different?

Yes, I play differently depending on my stack sizing. Even if I had 110 BB or 120 BB I try to adjust my opening ranges and 3-bet ranges.
In this sense Cash isn’t much different of tournaments, when we have more stack we gotta attack more the blinds, because it’s natural for opponents to respect our raises more often, so we end up having more maneuverability, because either opponents will respect us more or they will try to level against our ranges more often, both situations tend to be good for us.
Best of luck to you, keep grinding!