It's rare to win a tournament round without having to make a catch-up bet somewhere along the way. Deciding when and how to catch the chip leaders at your table is therefore the most common decision a player must make, but it's also a decision where many players make fundamental errors. This article will look at ways to make the right play.

First, how do you decide when to make your move? If the chip leaders at your table are still within a max bet of your bankroll, you can usually afford to wait a bit, and see if they continue to make large bets. If they're betting large, you can bet small and hope the dealer wins. Of course, your opponents will often extend their lead in these situations. Still, the best way to catch another player is to bet opposite of them. As long as that has a reasonable chance of working, you should postpone any riskier plays.

Usually, one way or another, those small waiting bets just won't get the job done. If the leaders begin betting small, and you're still within one max bet of them, your best chance is winning one large bet to take the lead. You're much better off trying to regain the lead in one hand, rather than hoping to win several of the next few hands with medium-sized bets. If you find yourself multiple max bets behind the leader, you'll need to be lucky to catch up, winning several large bets. In those cases, there's often little strategy involved. Bet big, and hope for the best.

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