short-handed play : basics

Many times during tournaments, particularly with 22 or 21 left , or with 12 or 11 players left in a MTT tournament, tables become shorthanded with 6 or less at a table and blinds are large. Here, one must adjust their play in order to surive.

What is the driving force? The blinds now circle around twice as fast than at a full table of 10, eating away at your hard-earned chip-stack. You must loosen up your play and also play more aggressively.

The reason you can play more looser is that when only 8-10 cards are dealt, as opposed to 20. When you get a high card ,it has more value, as it is less probable that in the remaining 6-8 cards your opponents will get one too. This is particularly the case with an Ace or King.

How loose and aggressive should you play. Well it depends on the nature of your opponents, your position, chips stacks, etc. My view is too loosen from tight requirements until you find you are playing enough hands. It takes practice and hard work. You can then tighten or loosen depending on the other circumstances.

Attacking an opponent who is reticent to play any hands during this time is a good idea.

I definitely use this situation to steal some pots.

You should seek to win at least one hand per rotation if at all possible. Otherwise, the blinds will reduce your stack.

Obv, this means you must play more loose as the number of players at the table reduces - there will be fewer hands before the blinds come around again. Therefore, you must get involved in more pots than at a full table.