In poker tournaments, even the best of poker players find themselves short stacked. By playing smartly, you can turn the disadvantage of having a small chip stack into a powerful weapon. By using the power of the short stack, you can prove to be a dangerous poker player, even when the chips are stacked against you.
By definition, one is short stacked on pocker star when their tournament M is at or below five. To calculate your M, add the cost of the blinds plus the antes; then multiply times the number of players at the table. Divide the sum into your chip count. If the result is below five, you are short stacked.
Factors of Effective Short Stack Play
When playing short stacked poker effectively, you have two moves - move all-in or fold. Ideally, you want to be the first player voluntarily opening the pot. When you are the first to enter the pot, be sure to move all-in.
When you are short stacked, you no longer have the luxury of waiting for a superior or premium hand. In fact, a hand such as King - Eight suited or unsuited is a premium hand at this stage of the game. In fact, the shove or fold method of play with a short stack calls for you to move all-in with 10-8 offsuit or higher in most circumstances.
When a player enters the pot before you via either a raise or a limp, you should up your standards slightly. However, you should still utilize the all-in or fold method of play. Many players make the mistake of utilizing this strategy until they get a hand such as pocket aces. This thinking is flawed, as your limp may set off alarms making your opposition wonder, and perhaps even proceed with caution. When you are short stacked, you are aggressing at the pot. You want to take hands down uncontested to increase your chip stack when you can, and you are happy to race when appropriate. Whether racing or stealing, the only correct moves are all-in or fold.