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How to play with deep stacks in a no limit hold'em game

• 30.06.2025 7:52 pm
• Helen
• 0 Comments

There are a few challenging and complex poker games, and deep stacks no limit hold'em is one of them. It is very rarely that a player will be faced with such a game but incase you do, this article will give you a few ideas on the game.

The overall reason as to why this game is so complex is the fact that you are forced to play all three streets with deep stacks with limited all in confrontation. Every decision you make is delicate and as you are at the risk of loosing your whole stack in case you make any wrong moves.

It is all about big river decisions 

If you have from 200 BBs and over, you have deep stacks. The difference of this game to others is the fact that you must play the river and the turn.

When playing with stacks between 50 and 100 BB, you only get to bet or raise when it is going to the turn or the flop. In this case, the river is just a mere card you can dodge as all the betting is completed.

In the case of deep stack poker, you are expected to make huge decisions on the river. The pot is usually stashed and you still have some money you can place bets with. The worst thing that can happen in this game other than a turn bet that is a huge all in is being faced with turn bets of equal size and more money to bet on the river.

This is the reason professional poker players love deep stacks poker as it is an opportunity to make the most of their edge. This is what you would refer to as the thinking man game.

The importance of position in deep stacks game

It is obvious that position is the most important aspect of any poker game. In a deep stacks game, it is even more important. If you think that the situation of being out of position were hardest in any poker game you played before, then you really need to be caught out of position with a pot stacks at 150BB and you and your opponent have 300BB in stacks.

Making a decision in this case is very hard and if you have been in position, you would have an easier time. This is because; being in position gives you the authority of the last say. Therefore, you can decide on whether you want to check, raise, call or bet.

Playing out of position like in the above scenario, the only thing you can do is guess and you are likely to make huge mistakes with big stacks and you ultimately lose a lot of money.

Hand value changes with deep stacks

It is true that the value of hands change much faster in deep stack games. With a little stack as 20BB, an otherwise weak hand such as A –J can be really strong.

This is because, with you hitting a flop, the other player will most probably make a calling on your small stack and maybe they had a worse hand. You will also lose that small amount if you are behind.

In the case of deep stacks, it is hard for the opponent to bet in a lot of cash with a pair hand that you can probably beat. In this case, even if you win, it is a small amount. However, losing is the opposite as you lose a huge amount.

You can try this out by playing 3 streets on high ace boards, you will see that the number of times you win, they are small pots, but the time you lose, you get to lose big pots.

There is a reduction in the value of top pair hands

In this game, the value of top pair hands is low. Nonetheless, this is not to say that you should put an end to playing them, they still hold some value. All you need to do is be a smart player, learn to control pots, make the most of your time when playing in position.

When top pair hands reduce their value, it only means that there are some that add their value. In this case, big pot hands add up in value. Big pot hands are hands like pocket pairs and suited connectors. These are hands that will make straights, sets, full houses and flushes and they all increase in value.

In the game of deep stacks what are to be won are simply big pot hands that come with more money. In this game, the implied odds are generally very high as you are assured that there will be betting on the river and turn. This is to say that hands like are of more value on the button as compared to how can be in early positioning.

The idea is learning to put it all together.

How to put it together

In this case you feel the need to play your big pots with big pot hands in position. You also want to take charge on the pot size the time you have a pair hand as well as build big pots while there are big hands in position.

Here are a few examples to explain this better;

A full ring $1/$2 NL with effective stacks of $600

There are limps by the player under that gun and two other middle position players. You make a raise to $10 on the button and in possession of

The 3 players call and the pot value is at $43

Then comes the flop , the player under the gun places a bet of $20 as the other limpers fold

You put a raise to $65 as your opponent calls. The pot value is now at $173

There is a turn as the under the gun player checks. You then place a bet $135 and he calls

The pot value is at $443 and there is a river

The under the gun player checks, and you all go all in for the last $410. There is a tank followed by a call from your opponent and then reveals as your straight rakes in a large pot of value $1200.

The reason why suited connectors and deep stacks go together

The hand is a great example to explain exactly why these two go hand in hand. With hitting, you stand the chance of wining large pots. With deep stack, you have normal hand value. In this case, it is more of how you play the cards, but less about the cards. This is where skills are handy.

With deep stack, you are given the opportunity to become creative on many hands because the upside is huge.

An out of position weak ace is bad news from the beginning

In the above scenario, your opponent was prone for loss from the time you started. This is because he was playing a weak ace and he was out of position. He also got too attached to his hands and you wee adamant with placing him in tough decision making positions all the way to his loss.

It is hard to know where you stand when you are out of position and deep stacks don't make it any easier. If the case was different as the stacks were less, say less with 100BB, there would have been a big chance that the money would in on the turn.

Due to the deep stacks, he had no choice but to call on what would have otherwise been as all in bet on the turn plus a bigger river bet to try the luck on his hand.

And, now here is an example to explain how things would have turned out in the case of a top pair hand;

A $1/$2 full ring with stacks at $600

The player under the gun limps. You place a bet of $8 having . Again he flat calls as you flop head up. There is $19 in pot value.

There is a board of . He makes a check as you place a bet of $13 and again he flat calls. The pot value is at $45

Then comes the turn and he places a bet of $35 and you call a flat

He displays and he rakes the pot of $115

It is evident that being is position is the determining factor of the game.

By allowing your opponent to get in only one real street of value, you automatically eliminated the turn as being a betting round. You ultimately had the last say.

In the case of your opponent, since he was out of place, he opted to slow play on the flop and the minute you checked the turn, the value of the pot reduced.

It is impossible for him to place a huge bet on a $45 pot, so he just has to place a reasonable bet, which he does. This amount is easily callable all thanks to your ability to control the pot.

You should never be predictable in a game of poker. You may think that by playing top pair hands as weak and the big hands strong, your opponent will be able to read you easily, and they may fold as you place big bet and may call when you place small bets. This is true if you plan on playing in such as predictable manner.

It is important to blend in different types of play. This way, you will get the chance to place 3 street values with TPTK or maybe go with the 3 barrel bluff.

Deep stacks poker is an art that one has to master. The best way to do this is by experience and having the will to learn. Just try and track the hands you play and try to come up with a strategy on how to play your hands and you will be a pro before you know it.

Never forget that the only way you can avoid having to make tough decisions is by placing your opponents is tough decision making spots.