In business, leverage usually refers to what you have to push against someone who is trying to get the better of you in order to assert your position. If someone is trying to push a lowball job offer on you, having another job offer gives you leverage to push back. In poker, leverage refers to a bet that has more force because of the advantage created by the promise of future bets.
Using Leverage in Poker
Leverage in poker is most effective in a no limit game when you have a deep stack. When you make a bet at the pot, an opponent may be reluctant to call not because of the initial bet, but because he may be anticipating bets on future streets. Depending on the situation, you may win many pots on the flop or turn with minimal risk, simply because an opponent is not prepared to call bigger bets down the line.
However, if you wish to gain leverage, you must be sure that your opponent fears losing his chips. A bet made in later stages of a multi-table tournament with large prizes is not the same as a bet in a free poker tournament.
How to Gain Leverage in Poker
The way you gain leverage when you play poker online is by showing your opponents that you are an aggressive player who is willing to make big bets and are controlling most pots you're involved in. If you are the type of player who makes one bet, then gives up and checks it down to the river, you will not get any leverage on your bets.
Similarly, if you are a short stack, you have no leverage because opponents know exactly how big a threat you are. In the same vein, if you are facing a short stack you have little leverage because this player is much more likely to be willing to commit himself to the pot if he likes his hand.
Notes on Leverage
Leverage is only one tool in a poker arsenal and should be used wisely. Try to determine which situations will create fear in your opponents and use your loose, dangerous image to push marginal hands. When you have strong hands, try to play in such a way that keeps your opponents relaxed and unsuspecting until the moment you bring the hammer down.
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