t1riel
Legend
Silver Level
This is actually my third attempt on writing an article. I don't know if I'm getting better or worse with it. Let me know what you think.
You're The Short Stack, Now What?
By:
Timothy Riel
You're The Short Stack, Now What?
By:
Timothy Riel
Well, it's late in the tournament and there are about 20 people left. You have some bad beats and some big wins. Through it all, you've gotten this far. However, you're chances of making it even further look slim. You are the short stack and you have only one weapon left. The "All-In." To do this, you need to pick the hands to go all-in with and you don't have much time to be picky.
Before I go into the starting hands, let me first state this: Don't let your chipstack dwindle to about three big blinds left. You need to make a move sooner. The sooner you do it, the more chips you can win. Not to mention, the easier to build your stack.
At this point since you are the short stack, players on your table know your waiting for THE hand to go all in with and you can use that to your advantage. I've highlighted some hands you can use to go all in. I'm excluding Pocket Aces through Nines and Ace King since it's given you go all in with them but the odds of you being dealt that hand are not good, especially since you don't much time to wait for them.
Any Pocket Pair: Yes, even Pocket Dueces. Chances are you're ahead in the hand preflop and the odds of you winning are slightly in your favor. Not much, but any advantage would be good right now.
Suited connectors over 4 but under 10: Let me ask you a qustion: Which of these starting hands have the best odds against Pocket Aces? A,K suited, K,Q suited, or 5,6 suited? Believe it or not, it's 5,6 suited. Now granted you probably won't be up against Pocket Aces but these hands are good to go all in with at this stage of the tournament. I cant tell you how many middle ranked cards come up on the flop. With suited connectors, you have lots of outs. You could have a straight, flush, two pair. You might even win with just top pair. Hell, any pair! These hands are probably live as well since players who call your all in have at least a Jack or better.
A-X suited: Ace anything at this stage is good to make a move. If it suited, it's even better. Your odds are good if your opponent who called your all in doesn't have an Ace. If your opponent has an Ace with a better kicker, you still could have the flush or even get a pair with your lower kicker.
Now bear in mind, your probably not going to be called every time you go all in meaning you'll be able to steal small pots and blinds. Another effective (but slower) way to build your stack. It might happen more often than you think. Remember, the players think you have a good hand or you wouldn't be risking all your chips on it. So, the players will fold their marginal hands.
There is some risk that you will lose the first time you go all in, even if you're ahead after the flop. Well, there is always risk in poker. You do need some luck along the way. Use stragedy, play with the odds in your favor, and pray that luck will be on your side.
Before you know it, you be at the final table and the players will be baffled that you are still around, with a nice stack in front of you.
This is a first draft so there may be some errors and debatable advice in this article.
Before I go into the starting hands, let me first state this: Don't let your chipstack dwindle to about three big blinds left. You need to make a move sooner. The sooner you do it, the more chips you can win. Not to mention, the easier to build your stack.
At this point since you are the short stack, players on your table know your waiting for THE hand to go all in with and you can use that to your advantage. I've highlighted some hands you can use to go all in. I'm excluding Pocket Aces through Nines and Ace King since it's given you go all in with them but the odds of you being dealt that hand are not good, especially since you don't much time to wait for them.
Any Pocket Pair: Yes, even Pocket Dueces. Chances are you're ahead in the hand preflop and the odds of you winning are slightly in your favor. Not much, but any advantage would be good right now.
Suited connectors over 4 but under 10: Let me ask you a qustion: Which of these starting hands have the best odds against Pocket Aces? A,K suited, K,Q suited, or 5,6 suited? Believe it or not, it's 5,6 suited. Now granted you probably won't be up against Pocket Aces but these hands are good to go all in with at this stage of the tournament. I cant tell you how many middle ranked cards come up on the flop. With suited connectors, you have lots of outs. You could have a straight, flush, two pair. You might even win with just top pair. Hell, any pair! These hands are probably live as well since players who call your all in have at least a Jack or better.
A-X suited: Ace anything at this stage is good to make a move. If it suited, it's even better. Your odds are good if your opponent who called your all in doesn't have an Ace. If your opponent has an Ace with a better kicker, you still could have the flush or even get a pair with your lower kicker.
Now bear in mind, your probably not going to be called every time you go all in meaning you'll be able to steal small pots and blinds. Another effective (but slower) way to build your stack. It might happen more often than you think. Remember, the players think you have a good hand or you wouldn't be risking all your chips on it. So, the players will fold their marginal hands.
There is some risk that you will lose the first time you go all in, even if you're ahead after the flop. Well, there is always risk in poker. You do need some luck along the way. Use stragedy, play with the odds in your favor, and pray that luck will be on your side.
Before you know it, you be at the final table and the players will be baffled that you are still around, with a nice stack in front of you.
This is a first draft so there may be some errors and debatable advice in this article.
