The Big Stack
You are in the money and you have the big stack at the table. It doesn't get any better than this! Both the small stack and the medium stack will be making plays to try to build their stacks, and you are the key target for both of them! Many players will sit on their big stacks waiting for the small stack to get knocked out. However, as the big stack, your job is to put pressure on the medium and small stacks. The medium stack will be concerned about going up against you as he wants to survive long enough for the small stack to get knocked out. The small stack is also hoping that you knock out the medium stack so he can slide into 2nd place. Neither one of them (unless they are playing the strategies outlined above) are going to want a confirmation with you, the big stack. So use that to your advantage.
If you are first to act, raise with ANY two cards. You want to put pressure on the other stacks. About 2/3 of the time they will fold to you, allowing you to pick up the blinds. If they call your raise, decide your next play based on the results of the flop. If one of them reraises you or pushes all-in and you have a weak starting hand, just fold and repeat the process on the next hand. If you are able to pick up the blinds 2/3 of the times, your raise and fold is still profitable. Obviously, if you have a big hand, call or reraise them all-in.
Conclusion
I have outlined the basic strategy for in the money play. There are a number of changes you should make to the strategy based on the playing characteristics of your opponents and the situation you are in. I will cover them in detail in the advanced lessons. But for now, when you make it to the money, your goal should be to WIN, not to survive long enough to make it to the next pay level. So play aggressively, even it that means you get knocked out in 3rd place.
As the small stack, first in vigorish is your main weapon. Use it. As the middle stack, put pressure on the small stack and play straight-forward poker against the big stack. As the big stack, pressure, pressure, pressure is the name of the game.
Again, congratulations on making the money. Next I will outline the strategy for heads-up play.
