The Mid-Game in a Poker Tournament begins as more and more players' stacks come under blind pressure. Some tables may actually go into the Mid-Game a round or two before others. Now we should modify or normal solid poker play significantly. During this period most of the hands are two or three handed and you seldom have multi-way actions. As short stacks become more desperate, all in moves will become more frequent. Just as we modify our play, other players will modify theirs and often for the alert player this yields some excellent opportunities for stack building.

Your stack size should cause you to modify your play:

Short Stack: (under blind pressure) Become more aggressive look for situations that might make good use of marginal cards. Attack the other short stacks when possible. If you are in a situation where you would call an All-in, bet or raise first. Put the decision in the other guys lap. It is a big risk, but look for a multi-way pot where a play might increase your stack size three or 4 times.

Short Medium Stack: Keep your starting hand standards high, but when you can bully a short stack do it. Be prepared. During this portion of a tournament short stacks will go all in with any hand. If you aren't prepared to call an all-in, don't play. Steal the blinds to support your stack but do so carefully.

Large Medium Stack: Restrict your starting hands to the absolute best, you are in a situation were you could probably blind into the money. In Late Position steal very cautiously. Avoid equal or bigger stacks like the plague. Try no to get involved in multi-way pots. Don't play anything in early position, if you can't go all in with the hand. If several players have already moved all-in, before the flop, folding pocket aces in this situation might be the best move,

Big Stack: You have a big stack when you a have a large multiple of the average stack. A single loss would not change your chip position. Often, there may be no big stacks, not even the chip leader. You have the power. Beat 'em mercilessly. Get them to call you bad names. Steal the blinds as often as possible with good cards. Don't play if you aren't prepared to cover an all in. Don't call in an attempt to put another player out, if your cards are poor. Often you will double an otherwise vulnerable short stack. You should know by now who will fold if faced with a raise. Pay attention to the players.