Stack size question

If I sit with 100bb, and run it up to 200bb, should I move? Doesn't my stack size now make it more profitable for enemies to play small pairs and suited connectors? Does that lower their chances of making mistakes preflop?

When things are going well I don't like to make changes. Generally I don't move tables or cut a session short when people are throwing chips at me.

Just keep playing with 200 bb,dont stop there...

That makes sense, thanks.

For the record though, am I right to think that my increased stack size makes it harder for them to make mistakes preflop due to implied odds?

Originally Posted by Forefront

That makes sense, thanks.

For the record though, am I right to think that my increased stack size makes it harder for them to make mistakes preflop due to implied odds?

If you're playing someone heads up and you both have 500 big blinds then it's true that more types of hands can be played. Dan Harrington explains this type of thing but it might be in one of his tournament books and we're talking about cash here.

its effective stacks you need to think about and they work in your favour just as they work in the other guys favour.

Originally Posted by Keith

its effective stacks you need to think about and they work in your favour just as they work in the other guys favour.

This makes sense, and I think it's exactly what I was looking for. I suppose if I'd have thought this through I would have realized this. Thanks.

I think the bigger your stack, the tougher decisions you have to make.
So it is not a bad idea to leave the table after you double up to protect your stack.
But if you assume you have an edge at the table, why don't stay and make some easy money

Originally Posted by ducbim

I think the bigger your stack, the tougher decisions you have to make.

rubbish , size of your stack is irrelevent , you play considering your effective stack and the deeper the effective stack the better price you get to make your draws and the lower the value your big pairs are postflop. The decisions aren't tougher , just different.

So it is not a bad idea to leave the table after you double up to protect your stack.

if you always leave after doubling up , how do you ever become proficient at playing with a deeper stack especially with sites anti ratholing measures making it so that you have to buyin to the next table with the doubled up stack. At least with the table you are on you likely have reads on the players whilst a new table may be starting afresh with more money potentially involved.

But if you assume you have an edge at the table, why don't stay and make some easy money

Originally Posted by Keith

if you always leave after doubling up , how do you ever become proficient at playing with a deeper stack especially with sites anti ratholing measures making it so that you have to buyin to the next table with the doubled up stack. At least with the table you are on you likely have reads on the players whilst a new table may be starting afresh with more money potentially involved.

Exactly. Don't rob yourself of those sessions where you buy in for 100 big blinds and get things going your way such that you end up with 500 big blinds or so.

If you ain't feeling comfortable deep then it's ok to leave... but think about that playing deep will improve your game
also effective stacksize is what matters obv

When you have a deep stack, there are two possible cases that can affect anything important:

1. If you have deep stacks on your left, then you'll be at a major disadvantage.
2. Along similar lines, having deep stacks on your right puts you at a comparative advantage.

Originally Posted by spoonitnow

When you have a deep stack, there are two possible cases that can affect anything important:

1. If you have deep stacks on your left, then you'll be at a major disadvantage.
2. Along similar lines, having deep stacks on your right puts you at a comparative advantage.

True. The chips tend to flow clockwise.

I think it depends on each player's comfort level, bankroll, opponents' stack sizes and other factors.

Around 2007, the trend of min-buying into online cash games picked up steam. This was close to the time when ICM got huge and people Push/Fold ranges in tournament play was all the new thing. The concept was to buy-in low to online cash games and play "non-exploitable" poker... typically consisting of picking off opponents with a push/fold mentality.

Personally I was never very good in cash games (I'm pretty sure I was a long-term loser in cash, feel free to look this up). Still, I don't think I would stick around with an oversized stack at a table with a bunch of short stacks (assuming they're playing near-optimally) unless there's a player or two at the table making it worthwhile. I also believe it's best to leave a game at any point you feel like leaving, or are uncomfortable with one of the variables (like having a big stack of chips). While not optimal for a veteran winning player or someone looking to improve his/her deep-stacked game, what each player feels most comfortable doing typically has better results, as uncertainty/lack of comfort can create leaks.

This is being posted in "Beginner's Circle," so I'm assuming the stakes you're playing right now are micro/low. One trend you may notice if/when you decide to move up is a tendency of players doing much more blind-defending than you're used to. This is actually "all the rage" now with one prominent instructor (Alex "Assassinato" Fitzgerald) Twitch-streaming classes and holding private seminars on the concept. When you have mid-high stakes players who are extremely motivated to extract value and reduce leakage in every possible situation, it was logical that a greater amount of focus would be placed on reducing losses while playing from the blinds... especially given all the hand history database statistic capability that's available nowadays. A while back, players would have called such aggressive blind-defending crazy (much like they did Daniel "djk123" Kelly's min-raising circa 2006),

This reply got a little off topic, but my main point is that subjectively speaking, I believe it's more important to do whatever you think is best. If you're asking for opinions here on the boards, the odds are you're looking to improve while consulting with experienced, better players... which is great. In that case you'll probably want to heed the advice provided by those who have proven track records in cash games, which I definitely don't.

Best of luck to you and keep the posts coming!

-David