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Short Stacks

Our Short Stack Guide is your go-to resource for all things related to playing as a Short Stack and facing opponents with small stacks. Discover comprehensive insights into Short Stack strategy, along with a plethora of useful tips and information to elevate your Texas Hold'em tournament or cash game experience. From understanding the dynamics of playing with a smaller chip count to effectively navigating your way through different stages of the game, this guide has got you covered. Arm yourself with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the face of adversity and make the most out of your limited resources. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, our Short Stack Guide is designed to equip you with the tools necessary to confidently tackle any poker table. So dive in, explore, and elevate your game to new heights.

Definition Short Stacks

A Small Stack refers to the situation where one has relatively little money or chips compared to the opponents at the table, as well as in relation to the buy-in and current blinds. When a player has only a small stack available, they are referred to as a Short Stack. The available chips or budget directly impact the playing style of the Short Stack and their opponents. As a Short Stack, one cannot afford costly and intricate moves, and can only win as many chips from opponents as they possess. In tournaments, there is pressure to quickly increase one's stack and not wait long for a playable hand, as the remaining stack will otherwise be devoured by the blinds.

Short Stack Strategy (SSS): Basics

Question: What is meant by the so-called short stack strategy (SSS)?

The Short Stack Strategy (SSS) is a poker strategy that has a relatively straightforward concept. The objective is to buy in with a small number of chips (= Short Stack) at a table and play strong hands aggressively, aiming to achieve a minimum of 25% return on the initial buy-in. Afterward, the player switches tables. The main idea is to maximize profits by capitalizing on favorable opportunities while minimizing risk. This strategy requires a disciplined approach and strong decision-making skills, as it revolves around exploiting advantageous situations and quickly adapting to changing dynamics at the table. By employing the SSS, players can effectively navigate the poker landscape and increase their chances of success.

Question: How much money does one buy themselves with? How short is the stack?

Answer: The stack size must be 20 times larger than the corresponding limit's big blind (BB), which generally matches the minimum buy-in at most online platforms. So, if you sit at an NL10 (0.05 / 0.10) table, you would buy in with $2 (0.10 x 20 = 2). If you join an NL50 (0.25 / 0.50) table, you would buy in with $10 (0.50 x 20 = 10), and so on.

Question: When should one leave the table to move to a new one?

Answer: One leaves the table and sits at a new one when they have achieved a 25% return on their initial buy-ins. Therefore, if someone buys in for $2 at a table with a limit of NL10 (0.05 / 0.10), they will leave the table as soon as they have won $2.50. Similarly, if someone buys in for $10 at a table with a limit of NL50 (0.25 / 0.50), they will leave the table once they have won $12.50, and so on.

Question: When is the best time to make a purchase?

Answer: If you have lost 25% of your initial buy-in, it is advisable to top up your chips. So, if you buy in for $2 at a $0.05/$0.10 limit table, you should replenish or top up to $2 when your chip stack drops to $1.50. Similarly, if you buy in for $10 at a NL50 (0.25/0.50) limit table, you should top up when your chip stack reaches $7.50, and so on.

Question: Which hands should one play?

Answer: Depending on the specific position at the table, the hands one plays can vary greatly. When seated in an early position, only high pairs or monster hands (JJ, QQ, KK, AA, KA) are played. When seated in a middle position, it is also possible to play middle pocket pairs such as 99 or TT. However, when seated in a later position or in the blinds, both small pocket pairs like 77 or 88 and the following Ace combinations are played: AK, AQ, AJ, AT.

Question: When does the Short Stack Strategy work?

Answer: The Short Stack Strategy only works when there are at least seven opponents at the table, with no more than two players also applying the Short Stack Strategy. Otherwise, your chances of winning are significantly reduced.

Game against Short Stacks

Most of the time, when you're online, you'll encounter players who are playing with the bare minimum at the table. However, this is not due to a lack of bankroll, but rather a widely adopted strategy. The Short Stack Strategy is particularly popular among beginners, partly because it is recommended by a well-known online poker school.

The strategy adopted by these players is exceedingly straightforward: they opt to play only a select few premium hands, but often engage in an all-in scenario before the flop. When facing such opponents, there are a few key considerations to bear in mind: even if an all-in situation doesn't arise prior to the flop, these players are highly likely to become pot committed thereafter, compelling them to push all their chips into the center. Consequently, one must contemplate the strength of their own hand, in relation to the opponent's stack, well before the flop, to determine whether it is formidable enough for a showdown duel.

Before paying the short stack's raise, it is crucial to keep a few things in mind.

1. You need a strong hand: Your own hand should already be strong before the flop. Only if you hold a decent hand should you even consider playing against the short stack. Do not play hands that you would not also play against an opponent with a higher stack.
2. You should be sitting behind the short stack: The position at the table is always important. If possible, sit behind the short stack so that you can see their action after the flop. If you are the first to act and haven't hit the flop: Absolutely no bluffing! You should only continue playing if you have a realistic chance of winning the pot, meaning you have hit the flop.
3. There should be fewer players in the pot: The problem arises when the short stack has multiple callers. Since the all-in amount is relatively low, it is not uncommon for three or four players to call. This becomes problematic, for instance, when holding a medium or even a small pair. Generally, it is better to fold such hands because against such a large number of players, one is likely to be at a disadvantage after the flop. Ideally, one should have a premium hand like KK or AA. In that case, it is crucial to raise significantly, aiming to make as many players as possible fold their cards. Since the initial raise by the short stack was so low, one should multiply that amount.
4. How to counter the Short Stack Strategy: Short Stack Strategy (SSS) players typically follow fixed charts provided by poker schools. They only play certain hands and follow a specific pattern. Here are a few examples of how one should behave:

   In the beginning stages of a poker game, players in early position are advised to only raise with strong starting hands like pocket Jacks through Aces and Ace-King. As a result, it is crucial to exercise caution and only continue playing if you have pocket Kings or Aces, in which case a substantial re-raise is recommended.

   Middle Position: In this spot, the short stack opts to raise with pocket pairs ranging from 99 to AA, as well as with AQ and AK. If there is a re-raise, it is advisable to continue with QQ through AA. However, if a third player calls the short stack's raise, it may still be viable to play JJ and AK.

   In the latest stage of the game, commonly referred to as the late position, players with limited stacks tend to raise with hands ranging from 99 to AA and AJ to AK including KQ. Consequently, it is viable to consider re-raising with a fairly wide range of hands, specifically JJ to AA and AK.

Comparison of the two "major" strategies:

In conclusion, it can be said that SSS is not real poker. If one is familiar with the charts and the strategy, short stacks are easy to calculate and play against. The most challenging part is to recognize whether one is truly facing an SSS player or if a BSS player has already lost a significant portion of their stack.

Why the SSS is not a panacea

One frequently encounters individuals who are convinced of the merits of the Short Stack Strategy. The underlying idea is to buy in at the table with as little money as possible, thus putting pressure on the opponents. With a small stack, one can easily go all-in and, if the opponent does not adjust their game, snatch some money. It is a tactic that relies on leveraging the advantage of a limited amount of chips, enabling players to exploit any weaknesses in their opponents' strategies.

There's no denying the advantages it brings, but many players turn a blind eye to the two major shortcomings associated with the SSS.

By employing the Short-Stack strategy, one forfeits the utmost advantage that exists in the game of poker.

By immersing oneself more deeply in the game, one often becomes a superior player compared to the opponent. This enhanced understanding of the game does have some benefits before the flop, to a certain extent. However, its true value lies in the presence of community cards on the board. This fact can be easily illustrated: in the vast majority of cases, the advantage of having better hole cards preflop is quite limited. For instance, when holding a pair against overcards, one wins approximately 55% of all showdowns. When holding a dominant hand like AQ against A3, the winning rate increases to 70%. And even when one has a higher pair than the opponent, the victory rate is only 80%. Hence, it is evident that most matchups are pretty close, involving relatively small amounts of money. In a heads-up match, placing a $1 bet on an 80% favorite yields an average profit of 60 cents. Therefore, poker is definitely not a path to riches.

Significant profits can only be achieved through good gameplay in later rounds.

Now let's take a look at the possibilities in later game rounds for comparison. Firstly, the advantage can be much greater. With a favorable flop, the opponent quickly becomes a massive underdog, for example, with a probability of only 16%. Once the turn comes, their chances of victory with the same hand can drop to just 8%. And on the river, the winner is determined with 100% certainty. Any money wagered on the river is therefore also 100% profit (or loss, if one makes a mistake and misjudges the opponent). Additionally, the bets in the later betting rounds are often significantly higher. Since the bet size usually depends on the size of the pot, it is common to see bets on the river that are multiple times higher than those before the flop.

The following example is well suited to illustrate this fact.

In a NL25 game, one finds themselves holding JJ as the button and decides to raise preflop to $1. The Big Blind, on the other hand, chooses to call with ATo. This puts one at a 72% advantage going into the hand and results in a profit of approximately 33 cents from the preflop bet.

The flop reveals T94, and the opponent chooses to check while you decide to raise by $2 into the $2 pot. The opponent calls your raise. As you become an 80% favorite at this point, this bet earns you $1.20. The turn brings another 4, and you bet $5 into the $6 pot, once again getting a call from the opponent. At this moment, you are already 89% sure of victory, resulting in a profit of $3.90 from this bet. The river brings a third 4, and with your remaining $17, you decide to go all-in. The opponent calls your bet, resulting in an additional $17 profit for you.

It is particularly striking how much money was made in the different betting rounds: only $0.33 preflop, but a whopping $17 after revealing the river card. It should be noted that if one were to go all-in preflop and somehow get called with ATo, the expected profit would only be $11. That is less than what the river bet alone brings in if the hand is played out until the end. The reason for this lies in the high likelihood of losing due to a suckout, which no longer exists on the river.

2. The short-stack strategy hinders our ability to become a better poker player.

This second point is likely even more crucial than the previously mentioned one: SSS is solely a preflop game. One patiently waits for strong hands, places hefty bets before the flop, and pushes forward regardless of the community cards that appear on the flop. By acting in this manner:

• You never have to worry about your post-flop strategy.
• One never has to learn how to assess the strength of an opponent's hand.
• Reading skills are not necessary in this case.
• One never needs to learn to see different options to further improve their hand.
• There is no need to design overall strategies for one's entire game.
• In short, as a poker player, one does not need to further evolve.

Because everything is predetermined and mindless, one should never fully engage in the game, and most SSS players do not do so. To become a better player, one must embrace situations that take them out of their comfort zone and face the challenge. In doing so, one is unlikely to make significant profits in that very moment, but in the long run, it has a very positive impact: when you improve yourself and your game, the profits will follow this trend.

In summary, the Short Stack Strategy is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it guarantees a few dollars in the short term, but on the other hand, it hinders the potential for large future profits. If one is playing NL-Poker to improve and learn, it is essential not to undermine this learning process by neglecting the most challenging and profitable aspect of the game!