How to be a Benevolent Chip Leader

Poker isn't a game of being nice to other players. You want to bust them, you want to take their money, steal their blinds, but a hurt on them – and they want to do the same to you. Some players take this "take no prisoners" attitude to heart when they are the chip leader and start steam rolling the entire table. This can work, but it can also fail fairly often. A better tactic is to be a benevolent chip leader, and bide your time. Then you can crush the other players.

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The major problem with running over the other players when you are the chip leader is not that you are going to hurt some feelings, or that you are going to knock other people out of the game (that's the point!) but rather that your tactic may just backfire. Putting out heavy handed raises and re-raises is a great way to say "if you want these chips you are going to have to fight me, and I'm bigger than you."

But it is also a great way to lose all those chips if you make a miscalculation.

When you are the chip leader check the attitude of the game and what your position is in it. Are you close to making the money, the final table, or some other landmark? If so, consider floating for a while. You don't need to be in every pot as the chip leader.

You may think you need to capitalize on your chips stack and start stealing blinds and other pots, and you are right. But you don't have to do it every hand – and should not. Wait for the right time, and THEN leverage your chip muscles.

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