I find myself getting overly aggressive with big stack

[DimitriT]

I have a problem playing tournaments. I think I'm a pretty good NL100 player and have learned to be TA playing those games. This means I can generally get into the final rounds in most MTTs or MTS&Gs. My problem is (and I have a similar problem in NL100) that when my stack gets too big, I tilt.

My TA game becomes LP and I get killed in some stupid hand. Anyone
experience this? Have any advice for me? I considered just sitting out for
15 minutes and coming back to the game.. but I love playing and that's
hard to do.

[drmcboy]

If I'm reading this right, you're calling more with the big stack? You should go the other way, look to steal un raised pots, not play big huge pots. You have the chips, they need the chips. Don't decide to be a policeman with the big stack - playing cop is for tight players who have middle stacks.

Surely you're not suggesting you post and fold in a tourney? But playing ring I think that's reasonable, or if you really can't help but bleed chips when you get the big stack, get up and play a new table.

[DimitriT]

Yep, I'll call more with the big stack and bet into a strength. I'll also play
hands I shouldn't, especially after a table change. Part of it is the increasing pot sizes with the blinds and the higher level of activity. But,
I think part of it is some feeling of overconfidence and like you said
"playing policeman". If there's anyone who's gone through this and figured
out how to get passed it, please follow up.

[gabe]

you obviously see your problem, just need some discpline. try setting rules for yourself.

"i will play this set of hands..."
"i will only raise with trash if folded to me in this position"
etc etc

[arkana]

Your problem is that you value your chips less because you have more. 200 chips is still 200 chips. A big stack isnt a reason to loosen up, it just allows you to steal more pots when the other people are weak and it will give you more respect because you can bust someone in one hand. Dont be an ATM for the other players.

[DimitriT]

Just wanted to update..

last night I played a 5/50 MTT with 27 players and as usual I was 3rd
or 4th stack going into the final table.

This time I made a conscious effort to not loosen up my play. I still
attacked the blinds and played marginal hands from late position, but
I didn't chace hands and I folded to raises more if I had weaker hands.
I made one mistake where I played A8s for one bet too many but otherwise I can't say I had too many major misplays.

The net result was that I finished 5th due to a 20% bad beat on the river
against the stack right under mine, but I was really happy with my play.

Thanks for all the great comments and support!

[arkana]

Spotting leaks and fixing them is the key to becoming a great player, if you keep working at your game you will reap the rewards.

[Bad Beaten]

Thanks for the help.

I fucked myself from being huge stack with 3 people left in a 1-table $5 + $0.50 SNG at PokerStars and this thread reminded me that there is hope for TAGs who get arrogant with the big stack.

[Chicago_Kid]

you obviously see your problem, just need some discpline. try setting rules for yourself.

"i will play this set of hands..."
"i will only raise with trash if folded to me in this position"
etc etc

One thing I've noticed along these lines is not necessarily related to stack size but duration of my session. I tend to lose discipline in long ring game sessions. On the other hand, I don't experience this in tourneys because I'm able to focus on the blind structure, the number of people left, and the life or death (so dramatic, eh?) nature of decisions to keep me from mini-tilting. Thus, I need to make these kinds of rules during a long ring sessions or when I get up big, or I risk throwing chips around too much. This is probably why I'm currently a better tourney player than cash game player, both live and online.