i've been having this problem lately...

[Al Smooth 0]

As some of you know, I enter some of the bigger live tournaments and play a bit online. Well, lately, I've been playing badly (in my opinion) when I get a large stack of chips (3 to 5 times the average in play).This has happened in two online tournaments in the last two weeks, as well as in the big tournament at the Commerce Casino today ($2500 buy in). I was playing really well through the first three blind levels, and had about 7500 in chips (you started with 5000). I took out Rob Mizrachi who I barely had covered giving me almost 15000 in chips then I won another smaller hand. We were at the mid way point of the third level at this point (60 minute levels), and this is EXACTLY when something went haywire...and it's the same point that things have been going horrible wrong for the past couple of weeks for me.Here I am, table chip leader, good table image as a tight aggressive player after a couple of hours and then for some reason unbeknownst to me, I start opening up and playing a little looser. I play some hands I don't normally play...I bet a little more aggressively post flop and/or get outplayed for a couple of pots after the flop...I make a downright lousy call when I really feel that I'm beaten. I NEVER do these things, I don't play like that, but for some reason the past two weeks, I've been losing concentration at the table in this critical stage and my chip stack starts going in the wrong direction and FAST until eventually I'm out of the tournament.Ayway, I just wanted to know if anyone else has fought through a time like this and what they did to pull themselves through it and right the ship. I've tried all the things I can think of while in the tournament...taking the time to visualize making the right decisions, telling myself to play tight, standing up and walking away from the table for a few minutes in the middle of a level just to calm myself and try to get what can best be described as "poker ADD" under control. Basically, any tips would be greatly appreciated.Signed,Donk of the week

[nikatha 0]

I dont play that kinda big tournaments. I usually play in smaller ones. But when i have trouble protecting my chiplead (ie making "stupid" plays, giving away chips for no apparent reason) i try to get back to the basics.I start concentrating harder on what happens before me if im in or not. Iif im in the pot, and someone is betting im gonna see what potodds i get. If they arent good enough im gonna muck. Well i guess you do that to but...Usually that helped me get back into contention.Hope that helped a little.Good luck

[DrZebra 0]

Stamina.Go play at the same table for 20 hours.No joke.It takes practice to concentrate for so long. Do you listen to headphones while you play? Maybe concentrate on hitting on a waitress or figuring out your hourly rate over the past 25 days. Anything to get your mind off of being bored.

[Al Smooth 0]

Good advice, and thanks, but I don't know if the answer is me being bored. I've played deep into the second day in two seperate three day events (totaled 22 hours of play over two days in one tournament and 14 in the other) and didn't get myself into this "problem". This is something new for me, has only been happening over the past couple of weeks and I think it has something to do more with the size of my stack in the early stages of a tournament rather than the length of time I've spent at the table.I guess it's just a current flaw in my game I've just got to work through.

[Producer_2 0]

I dont play that kinda big tournaments. I usually play in smaller ones. But when i have trouble protecting my chiplead (ie making "stupid" plays, giving away chips for no apparent reason) i try to get back to the basics.

I totally agree with Nikatha here. It's a very simple statement but I think it's extremely important. If I read between the lines correctly it sounds you and I play a similar tight-aggressive game. However, I think there's a fundamental draw to a "sexier" kind of game... playing any two cards... hitting concealed big hands and taking people out. That desire, along with having a big enough stack to take a few gambles, sometimes mixes in a very bad way.So as Nikatha said, I like to take a deep breath after I win a big hand and remind myself what kind of player I am. Just because I now have a big stack doesn't mean I should start dabbling with iffy hands hoping to fill in straights or flushes. Because you know what happens, inevitably you end up hitting top pair with an iffy kicker... stay with it too long and end up shipping a bunch of chips to some guy for no reason... all because you decided to fool around with a hand you would normally fold without thinking about it.Remember: If you're having success then you've likely found a style that suits you. There's nothing wrong with changing gears, but that doesn't mean you stop playing smart poker.P2

[Al Smooth 0]

Producer you've pretty much hit the nail on the head. I also see it as me being all alone in these tournaments. Some of the pros recognize me from having played with them in the last few months, but none of them know my name and we're not friends. My friends can't afford the entry fees and it sucks to sit there live and watch people play poker (for me at least...I love to watch it on TV where you see the hole cards and the plays, but to watcfh people just play, I can't stand it)...so basically I'm just there by myself to deal with the bad beats by myself, and to talk strategy...by myself. I'm suddenly starting to think that this is part of the problem...I either need a friend or two around to shoot the poop with during the tournament while on breaks or when I walk from my table to blow off steam, or I need a mentor...one or the other to help me save me from myself.

[blakheart 3]

I think there is a subliminal impact of building a big stack that can work against you. When you are early in one of these tournaments you are in danger of busting out on any hand you play. It keeps me sharp and focused, I seldom get involved in pots where I don't feel I have an advantage. Anytime I have a medium stack I play the same way, tight aggressive trying to pick spots carefully.As a big stack, sometimes I sometimes lose that danger factor. Not saying to play scared, but there is no mistaking the fact that one hand can't bust you. Therfore, something works on you that says, Hey, maybe I can really build a big stack here, and if I miss I am still in this thing. So more recently, I try to decide what play I would make if my tournament was on the line. If it would be to fold, I lean towards folding. I need a big price to chase or call from behind. In otherwords, I try to minimize the advantage my stack has on my decision process.I don't know how many tournaments I busted out of where I could look back at a key hand or 2 against a small stack where I made a bad play or worse a bad call. Remembering that those plays lead to a quick exit help me to remain vigilant.