Stack Size Management in Tournaments

Hey you all, interesting topic today. As I’m working on my tournament poker skills, I’d like to share something from studies that you too might find useful. So here we go!

Today’s blog post is all about a topic that can make or break your tournament success: stack size management. Whether you're deep-stacked, mid-stacked, or short-stacked, adjusting your play based on your chip stack is crucial to dominating tournaments. Let’s dive into the strategies that’ll help you in your tournament poker journey!

1. Understanding Stack Sizes and Their Impact
2. Deep Stack (50+ Big Blinds):

• Play Style: Much like in cash games, with a deep stack, you can loosen up a bit and play more speculative hands like suited connectors and small pairs. You have more room to maneuver post-flop and can take calculated risks.
• Post-Flop Play: Deep stacks let you float flops and chase draws more freely, knowing you can win big pots if you hit.

Example: You’ve got 8-7 suited on the cutoff with 60 BB. Perfect hand for deep-stack play, as you can call raises and see the flop, aiming for a big draw or strong pair.

2. Mid Stack (20-50 Big Blinds):

• Play Style: Now, it’s time to tighten up. You want to focus on more solid hands like A-Q or medium pairs. Three-betting becomes an effective tool to put pressure on opponents.
• Preflop Strategy: You can still raise and 3-bet with confidence, but be more selective.

Example: You’ve got A-Q offsuit with 30 BB. Perfect hand to open-raise or 3-bet to take control of the pot early.

3. Short Stack (10-20 Big Blinds):

• Play Style: With this stack size, it's shove-or-fold time! You’re looking for opportunities to shove all-in to maximize your fold equity and chip up.
• Shove Ranges: Widen your shoving range, especially in late positions. Your goal is to steal blinds or double up.

Example: You’re sitting with K-J suited and 12 BB on the button. This is a great spot to shove and try to build your stack with fold equity.

4. Very Short Stack (Under 10 Big Blinds):

• Play Style: Desperation mode. You’re looking for any decent hand to shove. Time is not on your side, and you need to double up quickly.
• Shove-or-Fold: Hands like A-x, K-Xs, or suited connectors become your best friends when you’re short-stacked.

Example: You’ve got A-8 offsuit with 8 BB in the small blind. Shoving all-in is your best move to keep yourself in the tournament.

2. Adjusting Strategy Based on Stack Size
3. Deep Stack Strategy:

• Play a wider range, including speculative hands. You have the chips to play post-flop and apply pressure to shorter stacks.

Example: Holding 9-8 suited with 80 BB in a multi-way pot? You can call a raise to try to hit a straight or flush, knowing you can win big.

2. Mid Stack Strategy:

• Choose your spots wisely. Focus on hands like A-K, A-Q, or medium pairs, and look for opportunities to pressure shorter stacks.

Example: You’ve got A-K and a short stack shoves all-in. You have enough chips to call or re-shove, putting yourself in a strong spot to eliminate them.

3. Short Stack Strategy:

• Time to push or fold. Look for late-position shoves with a wider range of hands like Q-J, K-10, or even A-4 suited.

Example: Sitting on the button with K-Q offsuit and 15 BB? Shove all-in and force the blinds to make a tough decision.

3. Applying ICM (Independent Chip Model) Strategy

What is ICM?
ICM is a tournament concept that calculates the value of your chips relative to the prize pool, not just your chip count. It’s critical near the bubble or final table.

• On the Bubble: Tighten up your range, especially with a short stack, to avoid risking your tournament life.
• Final Table Play: Apply pressure if you're a big stack; if you're a short stack, play cautiously and avoid tangling with the chip leader.

Example: You’ve got a medium stack on the bubble with A-10 suited. A large stack raises. While it’s tempting to play, folding here may be better to protect your tournament life.

4. Exploiting Opponents Based on Stack Size
5. Pressure Short Stacks:

• Raise or shove against short stacks to force them into folding marginal hands, especially as you approach the bubble.

Example: You have A-9 offsuit with 40 BB, and the short stack has 10 BB in the big blind. Raise and apply pressure—they’ll often fold to protect their stack.

2. Avoid Tangling with Big Stacks:

• Big stacks will try to bully you with aggression. Avoid playing marginal hands against them unless you’re holding a premium hand.

Example: You’ve got K-Q offsuit with 25 BB, and a big stack shoves all-in. It’s a tough hand to fold, but preserving your chips against a big stack is the better play.

5. Stack Size and Positional Play
6. Deep Stacks in Early Position:

• Raise with a wide range of hands. You can afford to see flops and play hands with good implied odds.

Example: Holding 9-9 in early position with 75 BB? Raising here is standard. If you hit, you can win a massive pot.

2. Mid Stacks in Late Position:

• Focus on stealing blinds and raising hands that can win preflop or post-flop. Control the pot size and put pressure on your opponents.

Example: With A-J offsuit and 25 BB in the cutoff, raise to put pressure on the blinds and build your stack.

Final Thoughts

Managing your stack size is one of the most essential skills in tournament poker. Whether you're sitting deep or scraping by with a short stack, knowing how to adjust your play will give you a big edge. Keep these strategies in mind, and you’ll be on your way to crushing tournaments!

See you at the tables, 

Alon Marcus