Part: Part Nine - Inflection Points: M, Q & the Zones

Q: big-stack leverage

Pre-flop
Blinds 400 / 800 (100 ante)Pot 2,100 (2.6 BB)Q = 3.0 • big stack - apply pressureCOJ♦9♦● 60,000 (75 BB)YOUQ = 3.0, near the moneySB● 20,000 (25 BB)posts 400 (0.5 BB)BB● 20,000 (25 BB)posts 800 (1 BB)D

You're the chip leader: Q = 3.0 (you have 60,000; the average stack is 20,000), near the money. A medium stack keeps folding to survive.

Big Q near the money, a medium stack folding to survive. Best approach?

WhyAttack the medium stacks. A big Q is leverage: near the money the medium stacks are desperate to survive, so they fold too much - raise their blinds relentlessly with a wide range. Ease off the truly short stacks (committed) and other big stacks.
What happensYou apply the pressure your stack earns.  Q is leverage.
Q (your stack ÷ the average stack) measures your standing in the field. A big Q is leverage - especially near the money, you pressure the medium stacks who fear busting.

Q = your stack ÷ the average stack; a big Q is leverage - pressure the medium stacks who can least afford to bust.