One of the most fearsome player images to hold is the merciless chip leader. If you have a huge chip lead that means tangling with you could mean game over on any hand. That is enough to make most people pause before they call your raise. That doubt can be used to make people lay down good hands close to the money bubble as they would rather try and hang on.
This is a huge advantage to use for your enrichment. This is when you can raise with garbage and get away with it.
But a truly fearsome reputation is that you have such a huge chip lead AND you will call someone with any hand just to knock them out. If the other opponents watch you call with bad aces, suited connectors, and hit hands to wipe out short stacks, then they know they can't reraise your raise - you're calling. They can't desperation shove your big blind - you're calling. They take their tournament life in their hands playing against you.
Of course if they have a premium hand they will want you to call. And they will see you double up players some of the time. But if you are also wiping players out in rapid succession then that's just too much for people. They will want to give you a wide lane. They will take their chances against other players they think they will have a chance against.
This is the perfect time to raise and take down pots with junk hands. Keep pushing till they push back.
Poker wisdom, stories, and anything that runs into my mind. I used to talk tactics, but now I use tactical thinking applied to poker.
