Texas Holdem Poker

When I first started playing live Poker in 2006, one of the first people I befriended was a man that was an absolute master at working a short stack. I sat one night and watch this man navigate his way through a field of 301 and finish in 16th place. The event paid 27 spots. This may not sound very impressive, but there is one fact I left out. He was the short stack of the poker tournaments with about 40 players left. I watched him work a stack in such a way that he was able to survive and cash in this event.

Working a short stack is part luck and part well timed aggression. First, you must know the opponents at your table. Which are the players that you may be able to steal from? Who are the players that will call your bet with any two cards? Are there any chip leaders at your table? You want to try and pick on the players with middle to lower stacks if you can. A chip leader will take a chance to knock you out but someone middle or lower in chips may not risk hurting their stack.

First, when you are the short stack and you pick up a big hand, there is only one move, and that is all-in. Don’t set yourself up with a difficult decision after the flop. Put your opponent to the test now. Make them risk doubling you up. You are getting to the point where you almost have to move in with any two cards, so if you pick up a hand, get as much value for it as you can.

Next, if you are short and nearing desperation mode, if you are near the end of a level, sometimes it is wise to wait until the level change, especially if the antes go up. This will put more money into the pot pre-flop. Don’t do this if waiting will make your shove meaningless. I was in an event once where I had a reasonable hand to move in with on the last hand of the level but with the action, I chose to wait until the next level since the blinds and ante’s would be up. Since I was nowhere near the blinds, I could afford a few hands since the antes were not too bad. The first hand of the next level, I picked up a suited ace and moved in. I was called and actually doubled up, but because I waited a level, I picked up an additional 525 that I wouldn’t have had if I did not wait.

Also, you need to be the aggressor in the Pot Limit holdem. The example above I actually had a better ace the prior hand before I moved in, but there was multiple players in the pot. With this much action, it would be hard to guarantee a heads-up match for all my chips. You want to be the first person into the Pot Limit Texas Holdem or the first raiser. This allows you to at least apply some pressure.

When short stacked you need to make some moves in order to get some chips in the Poker Games. You will not always be successful and will be knocked out, but the times that you are successful will pay off and also help to build your image as a survivor.