Question concerning shortstackers

I hate them. I really do.

But anyway... I'm considering if increasing my pre-flop raise from 4bb as it is now to something like 7-8 might be a better way to get more money into the pot.

Maybe that doesn't make sense but for some reason I have a hard time with short stackers. I can never seem to get action from them post flop and its impossible for me to use position with a draw play as they don't have a stack enough for me to apply pressure to. Many times the numbers just don't work in my favour.

I hate them. I really do.

Switch to FTP. Kill all shorties!

If they are truely short stacked then that person is basically in a shove/fold situation. you won't get them to play out hands. Usually its all-in pre or post flop or fold. And if they do shove they usually are pushing with a good hand so be prepared to call with a good hand. or just put in enough money to put them all in.

The opponents you're describing are probably profitable to play against. Sounds more like the fish who play above their rolls and think buying in short will make it ok, then play timid.

I think you're going about adjusting the wrong way though. Bet smaller.
If they normally fold too much then when they do come in you're crushed and don't want to make a habbit of playing for stacks against their range.
If they normally shove a lot then making your bet sizes smaller messes up their risk:reward.
Betting bigger actually gives them the advantage both times.

I hate short stackers. I think realistically they limit what you can play against them to your 3/4 betting range because if they enter a hand they're more than likely to shove on the flop.

If a short stacker raises in EP then really your choices are to call the bet IP and be prepared to check/ fold if you don't make an Overpair, TPTK or better or you could just shove with your 4 bet range or just fold. That rules out medium pp's, suited aces and scs completely. Your really looking at QQ+ and AK. You can't profitably set mine them and you won't see 5 streets to draw out on.

If you are in late position and a short stacker is in the Blinds and the action is folded to you you really need to tighten up and raise with your 3 bet range and fold or shove if you are re-raised. To me that means opening with 88+, AK, AQ, AJs.

Of course short stackers are prone to more suckouts IMO because lots of folks will get AIPF with lots of hands they wouldn't play against a deeper stack.

I actually enjoy playing against the shorter stacks, as I find alot of them are easy to crack after awhile. I particularly enjoy raising the exact number of chips they have left. Drives them nuts.

@fx nice info

Belerophon,
Your question gives me the impression that you have never had a short stack. Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, etc. have short stacks. What do you do when you have short stacks ? I have them quite ofter and they are not fun to play with, but short stacks like to be winners also and they need to do what they can to stay in the game. Sort of like those that sign into a game and the sign in to several more and just watch the screen and not play except for the blinds. Short stacks have to go around and around until they hit something that they feel they might get back into the game with. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Thats poker. I was in a game of 6 sit ins recently and I got so involved playing the other two players that before I knew it, a sit in that not played even one hand finished ITM for 3rd place. So I hate them like you hate short stacks. Good luck in the future, but keep in mind that if they were not in the game, there may not be a game.

This thread is talking about ring games, not tournaments.

i gamble a lot with shortstackes, i am playing 10nl and there are tons of people buying in for 2$ at those 20-50 big blind table. these shortstackers will of course shove any high pocket pair, any 2 high cards and medium pocket pairs, but apparently they also love shoving any A and often enough they will shove hands like QJs, i like calling with any pair higher than 8s and almost any 2 high cards.

no idea if i am profitable or not, but i am not going to get pushed around every time i make a 3x raise and they have an A.