Short Stack Strategy in Online Poker

[scrawnybob]

hi all

feel free to discuss this ...

Short Stack Strategy in Online Poker
In the game of poker, there is literally a strategy for every situation. While strategies such as starting hands, bluffing, and bankroll management seem ...

cheers scrawnybob

[PokerJonny]

A very good article and a key part of poker as it will happen to us all in 99% of tournaments that we play.

A stragegy I use when I have less than 3BB and little fold equity is I like to get myself up against the big stack as in the following example situation:

SnG 10plyer blinds t100/200

UTG t2500 limps t200
UTG+1 t1100 folds
MP1 t5500 raises to 600
Hero t550 ????
MP2 t1000
SB t1850
BB t2500

This is an ideal situation for me to push all in with a half decent holding for the following reasons:

The raise of the big stack will most likely force UTG, MP2 and the blinds to fold meaning I am very likely to be heads up with the big stack.

If I push the pot will be t1600 (my 550, 550 from big stack, 200 from UTG and 300 blinds)
giving me pot odds of nearly 2 to 1
to make this a +EV play I only need to win 33% of the time

The big stack may be raising with with marginal hands, and even if he has AKo, if I have a hand such as 87s I am still only a 40% dog.

If I take down this pot I am back in the game.
If I fold the blinds will hit me in 4 hands, (when I post the BB the SB (big stack) will prob push with over 50% of hands).

By passing this opportunity I am likely to be a 40% dog to only double up which is clearly -EV.

[hojediade]

Great resource Bob.

I was wondering why don't sign all articles you're writing with your real name Mister L.
Anyway i can't follow all advices you'll give us, but i'm trying to get better each time we'll meet.
Keep the good stuff.

[NoWuckingFurries]

Thanks for that, helps to put things into perspective a little more clearly.

[Whatsthepassword?]

Nice article on shortstack play and good post, PokerJohnny. I know when I'm the shortstack I'm always thinking about the best time to go all-in.

It's about timing, position and which opponents you're up against. I've come back from being a short stack to win games - but it takes a big dollop of luck along the way.

[Metlz]

Ah the shortstack...another way to remedy this is to make sure you don't end up in that situation

[NoWuckingFurries]

Everybody ends up in that situation sometimes, due to variance. Poker inevitably involves an element of luck.

[PLAYFUL1]

YEP YOU GOT TO PICK YOUR SPOTS.... SMALL BLIND , BIG BLIND AND BUTTON TRY TO PROTECT THEM AND IF U MUST GO ALL IN.... AT LEAST HAVE SUITED CONNECTORS OR HIGHER POCKET PAIRS... IT CAN BE DONE

[LombardiStix]

I think one of the most important points of the article is the idea that you must be the one to force the action. Pushing first is crucial. The only exception to this would be if you came up with a monster AA or KK. You could entice more callers by not forcing the action.

Stix