Short Stack Betting Technique
24 June 2008How To Bet If You Have A Short Stack
Often in home poker games you will see people misplay their short stack. They have a short stack, the bet gets around to them, they forlornly push in the bet and toss in their last few chips for a minuscule all in raise. The result ? They get called and go to a show down.
There are several reasons making an all in raise is a bad idea preflop if you have a short stack
1) Any one already in the pot will call – If you make a tiny raise, do they really have any incentive to fold? They have already put in the big blind, they will definitely toss in a couple more chips to see the flop. So if you aren’t going to be pushing them out, why raise?
2) You will induce other callers – Many people will call a bet if they see someone all in. They get a chance to knock someone out, increasing their chances of making the money. Often times, people will call the bet and then check it down just to make sure the person with the best hand stays in the pot to knock you out.
3) You don’t want a showdown, even with a good hand - Even if you have a good starting hand, like AK, you don’t want to go to a showdown if you have a short stack. You are much better off winning the blinds and doubling up that way. Winning without competition is 100 % guaranteed, if you go to the showdown, even an AK has a 33 % chance of being knocked off by a 7-2
So if you don’t want to go all in preflop, what should you do?
The key to playing an extremely short stack in a tournament is stop and go betting. If you have a short stack, less than 3 big blinds, instead of putting in your chips preflop, just smooth call the bet. Then, on the flop, push in all your chips regardless of what comes. If you are playing against one opponent, there is a 60 % chance that a flop will come which doesn’t pair his hand. If that happens, and you bet, you can often get him to lay down the hand, even if the flop didn’t improve you either.
If you push all in preflop, and your opponent calls, you are guaranteed to go to a show down. If you save some of your chips for the flop, you have another chance to move your opponent off his hand. If the worst thing happens, and your opponent calls, then you are going to a showdown and you are no worse off than if you had pushed all in preflop.
The basic idea is that using stop and go betting gives you one more way to win with a short stack. Instead of relying solely on the cards, it gives you another chance to win with a bluff.
How do you play on the other other side ?
So what do you do if you have a large stack and someone tries to use stop and go betting on you ? The best approach is to call post flop, no matter what you have. If you go to the flop with a person with a short stack you should be prepared to put him all in on the flop, regardless of what comes. If you are first to act put him all in. If you are second to act, call no matter what. Your opponent won’t be betting as a sign of strength, he is betting to avoid a showdown. You gain value in your tournament by avoiding that play, and forcing your short stacked opponent to have the best hand or be busted.
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