Have you ever wonder how the big stack chip leaders keep getting more chips? Well I can tell you from my experience, I’ve been in many online poker tournament final tables with a variety of buy-ins that range from $1 all the way up to $70 in multi tournaments or sit-n-go’s. One of the first things I do is making loose calls if I build a small lead soon, for example, I will make a call if I have suited rags or even suited cards if the bet is still in the minimum or if the raise is small. Let's say the blinds are 15/30. I’m in mid position with K-2 suited. If everyone at table has close to $1k or less in poker chips I will definitely make the call. However if someone goes all-in the there’s no reason to risk your bankroll, so that’s why I will fold if I don’t have good cards, I will risk 30 chips, but not $1k to see the flop.

I’ve also folded many winner hands, it happens all the time and there’s no reason to loose the calm, there will be many more hands, so when I have nice stack of chips, I will change my play and make some loose calls. I have not made big wins online to brag about, but I did have some 1^st place finishes along many final tables. Another advantage of being chip leader is you can bluff to the small stacks. I have seen some crazy players going all-in and with 24k when the pot is not even 300. Now that is a crazy move but it happens a lot, especially in the online poker sites. If I had $24K I wouldn't risk it and go all-in for 300 pot, even If I have good cards to do so. Another factor has to do with what kind of player you’re up against, if the player is loose or tight. You can steal blinds from a tight player, but to a loose player, it’s like a show down. You wouldn't really have a good read on him/her or the cards they play with. So when being chip leader, use it to tour advantage, having a big stack of poker chips in front of you can give you more chances to bluff or steal blinds easily.