How to be a bully?

[slapdash]

I've been playing several single-table no-limit Holdem tournaments on Ladbrokes recently ($10+$1, $20+$2, that sort of thing). I've been doing OK, at least partly thanks to some of the advice I've read here. :ok But one area where I feel I should be doing better is taking advantage of a large stack. When I'm the one with the short stack, I feel the other players manage to bully me far more effectively than I can manage when I'm the one with the money. Any tips?

[Jezza]

Re: How to be a bully? Hi Slapdash, Good to see you in here and glad to hear of your successes so far.... If you have aqquired a large stack in these tournmanents early on then thats great - you have to pick the right time to bully tho. When you have a large stack in these things early on you dont need to get involved at all (Im talking when the BB is 100 or less) without a very good holding. I wouldn't be raising preflop with anything less than premium holdings and I would not start warring over a pot unless I again had a good holding. If you want to take on a preflop gamble with someone then pick a small stack. The time to bully is just before the money when the blinds are large. Say there are four people left and you have a large stack (6,500) everyone else has around 2-3 and the blinds are 200 400. The next person out gets nothing. I would be raising EVERY hand almost - putting them to all their chips (apart from possibly first man to speak) with a lot less than premium hands. They will all fold like flies as they dont want to be the one who goes out just before the money and you will scoop 600 a time from the blinds. Obviously you cannot do this if someone HAS to call like they have over half their stack in on the blind. They will all moan at you in chat but when eventually someone does go and you are down to the last three you should have a mammoth chip lead. Of course if someone does call you and you lose you will still have chips to play with (dont bully other big stacks, just the short ones) Jez

[slapdash]

Re: How to be a bully? Thanks Jezza! As luck would have it, I had a chance to put your advice into practice this evening. I had a little under 6k chips when it got down to 4 players. The guy on my right had the second largest stack, and whenever he folded I bullied the others mercilessly. Worked like a charm! By the time it was down to the last three I had well over 8k. I guess it's harder if the other big stack is to your left? I don't know if it was just coincidence, but when it got down to the last three, the other players seemed more reluctant than usual to bet before me. Maybe because by that time they saw me as an aggressive maniac? Do these tactics work as well at the more exalted levels you play at? Or does it require the short-stacked players to be weak and overly concerned with surviving to the money even at the cost of horribly depleting their chips?

[kompressaur]

Re: How to be a bully? Nice one Slapdash yah big bully and good info from Jezza no doubt. sorry i was just saying hello :\

[Jezza]

Re: How to be a bully? NP Slapdash, glad you put that info to good use. I seem to find that no matter what stake/level the game is. Be it a 10 dollar tournament online, your local casino game or the 10,000 dollar buy in WSOP championship that as the bubble (the place 1 before the money) looms, a lot of people become super super tight and fold their way into the $$$. It is a strong play to always take advantage of this, raising weak/short stacked players blinds and watch them tumble - you will see most of the top professionals making these moves if they have stacks as the money approaches and it is certainly one I try to use if I can. You are right tho - a big stack to your left is a total nightmare if you are trying to do this and makes it very hard to do indeed - in the bigger games you also have to watch out for the very strong players who will not be afraid to play back at you. When you reach the last three you will find those that have folded their way into the money will suddenly liven up and call all in with weakish hands, that is not to say you should not continue to blind steal (because at this stage you should) however bear in mind you have a good chance of being called so be a bit more selective in your raises Hi Komp btw - hows it going mate? I have moved on from my yahoo hearts days :o but are you still up for a wee game of cards? Jez

[kompressaur]

Re: How to be a bully? Aye anytime Jezza mate. I've moved on myself and am playing a bit of Scabby Queen for virtual tokenss on a Tamagotchi site. If your up for the pressure of it all then give us a shout. I could maybe do my own Scabby Queen thread and talk tactics etc as you dont wanna be left with the scabby queen. Nah i'll go away and stop being distruptive. Great forum btw with some great threads. Just wish i knew what half of it meant. Go easy on the big fella Gett1n to as he's a wee bit sad a the mo ;)