Daniel Negreanu: How to Play a Big Stack

(Photo: Pokerstars.com)

If you've been watching Daniel Negreanu's weekly YouTube videos that provide tips on improving your game, you know that he often likens poker to boxing and advocates taking jabs at your opponents.

The Poker Hall of Famer's advice for this week on "How to Play a Big Stack" follows that mindset, with Daniel jabbing his fists toward the camera to demonstrate. An admitted "Rocky" fan, the only thing missing from KidPoker's short video was the theme music from the film franchise playing in the background.

Yo, Daniel

While perhaps lacking inspirational music, Daniel's poker advice certainly lacked for nothing. DNegs gives three solid tips to poker players who have managed to accumulate a large stack of chips during tournament play in an effort to keep them from spewing that big stack.

In addition to throwing lots of jabs and playing small ball, the Team PokerStars Pro suggests avoiding confrontations, "especially against other large stacks."

In essence, the two tips overlap. Covet your big stack and aim for the smaller pots, taking advantage of players with smaller stacks who are in protect mode. All the while, steer clear of putting a lot of your chips at risk versus big stacks.

Tip #3

Lean more toward taking those jabs pre-flop with an aggressive approach, and then duck and cover with a more passive style post-flop, KidPoker recommends. Don't turn that big stack into a small stack with an ill-advised bluff or reckless play.

For an example of Negreanu taking a three-bet jab post-flop, but then altering course and avoiding a confrontation with a big stack, take a look at the video below. The action was during the 2015 WSOP Main Event, and as you'll see, KidPoker makes the right play.

Follow Negreanu's advice and, like Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa character, who wanted to be somebody, not "just another bum from the neighborhood," you have a shot at going the distance. Not in the ring, but in a poker tournament.