Deep stack poker is a type of poker where players have large amounts of chips in front of them and play more aggressively. It can be played both live and online and is very popular in tournaments. It is also a great way to get some practice and improve your poker skills. The best way to learn how to play deep stack is by playing a few tournaments. This will help you develop your strategy and build your confidence. It can take a while to master, so it is important to play deep stack tournaments early in your career as a tournament player.
Deep stacked poker is very different from short-stack and regular stack games. Short-stack players have a relatively small amount of chips and usually call re-raises with any kind of hand. While this is a profitable strategy in regular cash game games, it is much less so in deep-stack tournaments because of the lower pot-to-stack ratio. Moreover, in a deep-stack game, a re-raise of 200 BB will only represent 10% of the effective stack, which is much less than what you would encounter in a normal 100 BB game.
One of the biggest problems that new players face when playing deep stack tournaments is deciding when to increase their aggression. It is a natural inclination to increase your aggression as the tournament progresses and you get deeper, but this can be dangerous if done too early. Trying to go all-in with any kind of hand too soon can backfire, as the opponents will see through your attempts and adjust accordingly.
Another factor that is important to understand when playing a deep-stack tournament is the fact that top pair hands become weaker. This is because you are competing against calling stations and weak opponents, who will not want to put a lot of money in the pot with their good hands. You will need to use your superior knowledge and experience to single out these opponents and force them to make a difficult decision or fold.
Similarly, suited connector hands will be more valuable in your deep-stack poker arsenal. These types of hands can be used to make straights and flushes, which will add a significant amount to your stack as the tournament progresses. This will allow you to control the size of the pot and maximize your time in position.
When the final table is assembled in a deep-stack event, it will be necessary to increase your aggressiveness. However, this should be done gradually and only after the table has become more familiar with your style of play. Doing it too soon will lead to a chaotic and confusing post-flop session, which can severely reduce your winning chances. This is why it is crucial to keep your emotions in check at this stage and to be patient. It will be worth it in the end.