When is "SHORT-STACKED"

I was once told you were short stacked when your stack was 10XBB or less,

Any thoughts?

Generally that's about right for most tournament play, though you have to consider the stacks of other players as well (in uber-tight tourneys and/or turbo SnG's for example it could be possible that everyone has around 10*BB at some point).

But generally speaking, if I'm down to ~10*BB, it's "push or fold" time.

10 * BB is what I've heard for a long time.

Think about a 2-4 limit game. Would you want to buy in with less than $20? Probably not!

hmmmmmmmmmm,

I have had success in tourneys where I was only 4 or 5 times the Big Bet and still hung around for a good hand. I have even been as low as to barely have enough to feed the blinds and antes to make it to the next round and made a come back.

Not saying this is the best strategy. But, if I pushed in every time I got down to 10x the BB I would be out before I even hit the money the majority of the time I play.

In freerolls I think the name of the game is survival because you never know when you are going to lose to total trash. That volatility is to much to overcome if you push with as much as 10x the Big Bet. Think about being short stacked at only 50/100 blinds and having 1000 left of 1500. That can happen often.

If I get a marginal hand I am not going to push in there and hope.

It is hard enough at that level with the crazies that are still left to win with a good hand. Let alone pushing in with almost anything and praying.

Like I said. I am refering to Freerolls.

In a real tourney you might get QJ off make a big raise and will see only good hands stick with you. You are likely to win the hand outright preflop.

So, 10x the Big Bet is likely a very good number for real tournies.

For freerolls. I would will wait for a really good hand before I commit my chips.

Given the choice between being knocked out playing a marginal or junk hand against a junk hand and being in the Money. I will take being in the money and scratching my way to the final table anyday.

When you realize you are short stacked, its usually too late to do much about it.

i've heard 7X the big blind as a general rule. not like it's all that different from 10X, but at least it gives a little lee-way, and some time to get in there with the best hand possible. i also tend to push a little early, so getting fixated on 7X is way better than 10X...at least, for me

Well,

I used the 10x idea in a tourney the other day. I feel flat when my A suited came up against a pair of 9s and didn't improve.

I would normally have just not bet the hand and folded if there was to much action.

Needless to say I was out of the tourney right there. I had plenty of time to scratch my way back up if I had just like I normally do. Wait for a real hand. Maybe I get blinded out. But, at least I still have a chance if I stick with good hands.

Nice discussion here. Let me make another point. In rebuy tourneys you should consider if your rebuy will help you or whether you'll still be on short stack (soon) after the rebuy.

Say it's the last chance before a break to rebuy with the blinds going up. You're down to the cloth and the # of chips you'll get on the rebuy is only 10 times the next level of blinds. Maybe it's time to just go with what you've got.

On the other hand if the rebuy chips are say 20+ times the next level's BB then depending on how you feel about the tourney the rebuy may be justified.

For example at the wsop, event 7 is a no limit hold 'em with $1000 rebuys. At the end of rebuy period the next level is $50-$100. Since the rebuy amount gets you 20 times the BB a rebuy may be in order.

Another example of short stacked is when both the SB & BB come around to you and when they do, it will eliminate you from the game.

Well,

I did it twice more today. Got short stacked less the 10x the Big Bet and went all in because I was below 10x the Big Bet.

Lost both. The truth of the matter it usually doesn't help me out. I am better off forgetting this idea and sticking with hands I can actually win with.

Ok, I may get blinded out. So bet it. I would rather do that than take a chance on a bad or mediocre hand because so silly rule about being short stacked.

In the end I usually do better just concentrating on play good hands no matter how much money I have left.

Being short stacked is when you don't have enough to swing the big stick or follow through on a play to steal blinds. If you can't afford to lose chips you're short stacked.

When you're not the chip leader you're short stacked. I say this because the chip leader has a formidable weapon at their disposal - which everyone else does not. An effective player with the big stack is a marvel to watch as they bullyall at the table. Of course they can be caught; however, it's a great weapon...

short-stack,,hmm think i would be consideried that with 800 chips,,blinds are 200 and big stack is like 90 grand,,so i catch ace 5 and go all in,,won,,won,,and won till i have 780 grand in chips,,took over the lead just to come in 2nd on a bad bet in the end,,now thats what i call a come back!but i won 60. bucks for my efforts,,so not all is bad lol.

I've heard that short stack is 7X the big blind, but I usually start looking to double up before then.