Short Stack Tournament Strategy

Okay, I am back. I hope that you missed me. Probably not, but I have missed posting and promise a more active blog. Hey, we are entering the best poker time of the year, the WSOP!!!

As we enter into the tournament sweet spot, let's review the potential for having to survive a short stack at sometime during a tournament. First, it is important to determine what a short stack is. Remember this above all else, short stack is never an excuse for being reckless.

The universal benchmark for short stack in tournament is 10x the big blind. I take a little exception to this level. In all honesty I think true short stack strategy starts at around 6-7x the big blind. It is at this point that a player can open raise enough to protect his hand from a call with "any ace." However, at 7x or 10x, if someone else has opened the pot, you will be called. Even a pure bluff opener will have to call you with any 2 cards at this level.

Second key point, always remember, you are always allowed to wait longer. Every tournament, either live or on line that I have made it deep in has included a made rush at some point. Any tournament player that has played and done well will say the same thing. At some point you will go on a card rush. With that in mind, getting down to 4-5x the big blind will not stop that rush from happening. What will stop that rush from happening, is not being there for it to happen.

Below is my response to a beginning player who pushed his 5x stack after an opener and a caller with K9 offsuit. I honestly think he pushed too soon. Let me know your thoughts on this situation:

Here is my stance on short stack poker, which I think is a very strong strategy. It is two-prong and I live by it religiously.

When a pot is open already. When I have 4x or more in my stack, and a player has opened, then my standard calling/raising rules apply, which K9 is not in either camp. Even though the opener has increased the “bounty,” it is such a risk to get knocked out against a guaranteed caller, it is just too risky with a mediocre hand. Less than 4x, then the rule changes and I probably make the call. Most likely though, I am not going to find myself in this position because of number 2 below. I have seen 1000s of players that are short stacked go out with suited Ks and Ax when they know they are behind and likely WAY behind. It is the biggest reason that the middle levels of tournaments lose so many players, these players push too soon.

When the pot is not opened yet. This is where the K9 plays well because of the other players’ fold equity. If I have 5x or less in my stack, then I open all in with any ace, any pair and any suited king. See my entry in the blog (www.griprippoker.blogspot.com) as this happened on Saturday to me and I did the move twice at 300-600/75 ante. If I have 5x to 10x the BB, then I open all in with any pair 88 or above, A-10 or better and KQ or KJs. Any more than 10x the BB, and I play a standard hand selection which is more detailed and not relevant to this issue.

Don’t take this as anything other than constructive criticism. The move was a mistake in tournament strategy. With a raise and an all-in, I do not call with ANY non-pair less than AK – Yes I would fold AQ here. AND I would not call with any pair less than 88. If this were a cash game, then I may like the move as you are getting a good price and you can always rebuy (and making yourself look like someone that gives action – which will pay off later with a monster). In a tournament, you’re done when at the felt. That one aspect of it makes this move wrong at this time.

You had 7-8 hands to find a playable hand. At the WSOP this past summer, I got down to 4x the BB, made the money and then double up 4 times and then build on that stack even more to end the day (using the above rules) in great position to make a run at the final table. Even players with multiple tournaments feel rushed with a short stack when they can honestly wait for a hand. You cannot wait forever, but you cannot use this as an excuse to get your money in very bad. I would have liked you play better, but not much, if NEITHER of your hands were in the betting zone (A, K, Q, J), such as a suited connector, which you more than likely are not sharing, and thus not as big a dog.

I hope to not wait as long to discuss ideas. Please email with thoughts or questions about poker and I will be more open to posting. Until next time,

Good Luck and See You at the Felt...............