How To Play Against Big Stack Bully: Advice from Chance Kornuth

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Vasilisa Zyryanova Pokerlistings Author
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: January 10, 2025

Battling against big stacks who relentlessly attack you in tournaments is tough. However, you can handle it if you know how. Professional poker player Chance Kornuth knows the way and is eager to share it with you. His thread on X (formerly Twitter) from last November is dedicated to this very goal — and we’ve summarized it for you in the form of an article. Enjoy!

Why Big Stacks Are Dangerous

Players with big stacks have plenty of opportunities to make you uncomfortable, as Chance explains:

“They keep raising your blinds, betting big, and making it seem like they’re trying to bully you. But when a big stack applies pressure, it’s often because of tournament dynamics — like the bubble, pay jumps, or ICM. They expect you to play conservatively and fear busting. And sometimes, they’re right.”

If that sounds intimidating, don’t worry — Chance has the key to handling these spots effectively.

The Best Move Against Aggressive Big Stacks

Chance believes the best strategy against a big stack’s aggression is often to fold:

“While getting ‘run over’ feels weird, it’s often the right move when the risk of busting is high. The aggression isn’t personal. It’s just a good strategy on their part.
Instead of feeling bullied, shift your focus to the process.”

As part of this process, Chance suggests answering three key questions:

  1. How does my hand interact with the opponent’s range?
  2. Does it make for a good hero call candidate?
  3. Is this a spot where I should tighten up or play back?

After considering these questions, you can approach these situations with the following psychological mindset:

  • Shrug and fold your weak hands, knowing it’s the correct decision.
  • Wait for value and capitalize when the right opportunity arises.
  • Play post-flop with confidence, recognizing that big stacks often bluff at a high frequency.

Chance also recommends following three steps every time you feel pressured by a big stack:

  1. Recognize the situation — it’s a calculated attack, not bullying.
  2. Adjust your mentality so you don’t feel bad about folding.
  3. Stay patient for big hands that will allow you to take advantage of their aggression.

The Connection Between Ego and the Fear of Folding

As Chance explains in a video on X (formerly Twitter), he views poker as a war where folding is a crucial weapon. Yet even he struggles with using this weapon because of ego:

“Ego at the poker table is both a good and a bad thing. Having an ego and waiting to go to war and play pots can definitely help a lot, but sometimes, you have to take the back seat and let someone else be the table captain.
That’s one of the hardest things for me because I just love going to war. So when it puts my ego in check — it’s super hard for me. Of course, it’s something I’ve learned to manage over the years, but I still struggle with it sometimes.”

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