Trouble closing the deal...

[ddss6_99]

I'm starting to get better in MTT's, I can usually get a pretty big stack and be close to the chip leaders, but the problem is that I can never hold on. I get a big stack, the it seems like all the sudden I'm not winning hands anymore. So I get impatient and start playing less than stellar hands. My stack starts slowly declining and before I know it, I go from the chip leader, to average stack, to bust, and I finish just out of the money. Any tips to help me not wither my large stack away and finish in the money?

[Peter Harris]

patience.

[ddss6_99]

i agree completely, but it's tough to be patient when you go from one of the large stacks to having about the average even when you're not playing any hands.

[soah]

[ QUOTE ]
So I get impatient and start playing less than stellar hands.

[/ QUOTE ]

Define "playing". Is that calling raises with ATo? Open-limping with Q8? Those are leaks. Stealing the blinds with marginal hands as chip leader is not.