Shortstack strategy: basics

1. Introduction

The short stack strategy (SSS) is easy to learn and therefore ideal for beginners in No Limit Hold'em. It is an independent strategic approach for the game with small stacks (few chips at the table) resulting in playing few hands very aggressively.

This article identifies the basics and answers important questions concerning the Shortstack strategy.

You will learn...

...on which principles this strategy is based

...with how much money you buy-in at a table and when you have to leave it again

...in which positions you buy-in.

...what you have to consider when you select the tables.

2. How does the short stack strategy work?

The Shortstack strategy is based on two basic principles:

1. You only play very strong starting hands. For this reason you only play very few hands.
2. You play with a small stack, the so called short stack. You only take less than average money to the poker table.

Question 1: Which hands do you play if you follow the shortstack strategy?
a) Exclusively a pair of aces or a pair of kings.
b) Exclusively very few but very strong starting hands.
c) Every hand where I have a psychological advantage over my opponent.

Answers in the appendix

3. Why does the short stack strategy work?

For a player with a big stack it is very difficult to get an advantage against a SSS player because he only plays the strongest hands. In addition the opponents do not see the small stack as a threat. Because of this psychological trap they also play weaker hands against SSS players meaning that most of the time these players have better cards.

Because of the small stack you do not have to consider actions for the later betting rounds. You will almost always bet all your money pre-flop or on the flop - you go all-in. By doing so you can avoid a large part of the post-flop game, which is way more complex and troublesome than the pre-flop game. That means you have the opportunity to learn a solid, aggressive pre-flop game without risking to get overrun in a complicated post-flop game.

Question 2: Why is it difficult for an opponent to get an advantage against a SSS player?
a) Because he only plays very strong hands.
b) Because you cannot bluff him.
c) Because he always has better cards.

Question 3: Why is the short stack strategy suitable also for beginners?
a) Because you seldom lose a hand.
b) Because you can play at many tables simultaneously.
c) Because the game is limited to the early betting rounds and less complex situations occur. These complex situations can only be handeled with sufficient experience and theoretical knowledge.

Answers in appendix

4. The size of the stack

The amount of money which lies in front of you on the table is called stack. Often the size of the stack is not stated in absolute numbers but as the number of Big Blinds (BB). If for example the Big Blind at one table is $0.25 and your stack is $2.50 then you have 10BB.

Stacksizes
buy-in	You always buy-in with 20 Big Blinds.
rebuy	With 15 Big Blinds or less you have to refill your stack to the original 20 Big Blinds.
leave table	You leave the table as soon as you have 25BB or more.

Limit	buy-in	rebuy	leave table
Each Limit	20 Big Blinds	15 Big Blinds	25 Big Blinds
NL10 ($0.05/$0.10)	$2	$1.50 (to $2)	$2.50
NL25 ($0.15/$0.25)	$5	$3.75 (to $5)	$6.25
NL50 ($0.25/$0.50)	$10	$7.50 (to $10)	$12.50

It is absolutely necessary for the success of the short stack strategy that you stick to the rules for the stack sizes. It is most important that you leave the table as soon as your stack exceeds the amount under "Leave table".

Question 4: How much is the buy-in at a NL10 table following the short stack strategy?
a) $3.50
b) $5.00
c) $2.00

Question 5: When do you have to leave the table?
a) If I have 25 or more Big Blinds of the particular limit at the table.
b) If I have 20 or more Big Blinds of the particular limit at the table.
c) If I have 15 or more Big Blinds of the particular limit at the table.

Question 6: When do you have to rebuy at a NL10 table?
a) If I have $2 or less at the table.
b) If I have $1.75 or less at the table.
c) If I have $1.5 or less at the table.

Answers in appendix

5. When do I have to buy into the game?

If you buy into the game at one table you have two opportunities. You can wait until it is your turn and pay the Big Blind or - if it is possible - you can wait until you are in the Cutoff position (the position on the right of the dealer) and pay the Big Blind.

Question 7: In which position should I buy into the game?
a) As soon as possible.
b) Either you wait until you are normally in the Big Blind or you buy into the game on the position right to the dealer - the so called Cutoff position.
c) Only in the Big Blind.

Answers in appendix

6. Table selection

One of the most important criteria you have to look at is that the tables you are sitting at have as many players as possible with a big stack. You definitely want to avoid that you sit at one table with four, five or more Shortstacks at one table.

Just as important for a profitable SSS game is the fact that you only sit down at tables with 7 or more players. As soon as the number of players drops below 7 you have to leave the table.

Secondly you look for tables with a high Average Pot (Avg. Pot) which means that at these tables the pots are bigger. If the players at these tables like to play big pots your chances of getting paid off with your good hands are higher.

Select tables with...

...as many players as possible with big stacks.
...at least seven players
...a high average pot.

Question 8: How many opponents have to be at the table to make the SSS profitable?
a) At least seven.
b) It doesn't matter as long as I have a psychological advantage.
c) At least five.

Answers in appendix

7. Conclusion

Now you became acquainted with the basics of the short stack strategy. You know on which principles it is based, what kind of criteria are decisive for the table selection and how you buy into a game respectively when to leave the table. The next article "Preflop game" will teach you how to play specific starting hands.

8. Appendix: Answers

Question 1: Which hands do you play if you follow the short stack strategy?

Answer b is correct. You only play a very few but very strong starting hands..

Question 2: Why is it difficult for an opponent to get an advantage against a SSS player?

Answer a is correct. Because the SSS player only plays very strong hands it is difficult to get an advantage.

Question 3: Why is the short stack strategy suitable also for beginners?

Answer c is correct. Because the game is limited to the early betting rounds and less complex situations occur. These complex situations can only be handeled with sufficient experience and theoretical knowledge.

Question 4: How much is the buy-in at a NL10 table following the short stack strategy?

Answer c is correct. You buy in with $2.00.

Question 5: When do you have to leave the table?

Answer a is correct. If you have 25 or more Big Blinds of the particular limit at the table.

Question 6: When do you have to rebuy at a NL10 table?

Answer c is correct. If you have $1.5 or less at the table.

Question 7: In which position should I buy into the game?

Answer b is correct. Either you wait until you are normally in the Big Blind or you buy into the game on the position right to the dealer - the so called Cutoff position.

Question 8: How many opponents have to be at the table to make the SSS profitable?

Answer a is correct. At least seven players have to be at the table.