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April 2004



Building a Chip Stack - Part Two

Last month we shared with you part one of the Pro Tip that may help you build your chip stack. This month we bring you part two, a very strong play that will increase your chip stack and reward your play but with relatively small risk.

Last month was a situation that arose when you were in the big blind and again this is a situation that occurs when you are in the blinds.

Imagine this scenario:

You are two tables out in a decent sized freeze-out tournament and you are in the big blind. An early position player limps. You know that he likes to play a lot of pots and that he doesn't have to have a hand. A middle position player limps as well, maybe even a third player. The button decides he must play almost any hand now as he has position and there are so many chips in the pot. The small blind is now almost forced to complete. The chances are as well that some players' cards may be counterfeited by others and they may realise this. This is now an excellent opportunity for you to steal all this free money. The limper will be aware of all the players behind him and as the action has moved all around to the button the holdings most likely get weaker and the players are less likely to call your raise. This is similar to when you are afforded the protection from the small blind as in Part One last month. It is important though that you make it too expensive for the other players to call and it is obviously better if you have some kind of a hand whether only a small pair, an ace or suited connectors.

So you pick up four or maybe five big blinds with probably less risk than if you were to steal in late position. Nice, eh?

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