Explanation of Short Stack
In cash games, players usually decide to buy back in when their chip count dips below 100 big blinds. Therefore, any amount under this threshold is informally recognized as a short stack . The term is most frequently used for situations where stacks are lower than 50bb, as the term 'mid stack' has been introduced to categorize stacks ranging from 50bb to 99bb.
Traditionally, adopting a short stack strategy in cash games involved players entering the game (and rebuying) with an amount of 20bb. However, as many online gaming platforms increased the minimum buy-in to 40bb, players adjusted this strategy to buy in at the 40bb level. While the popularity of short stack strategies has diminished over the years, there are still players who consistently rebuy to reach this amount at online tables.
It's important to differentiate between professional short stackers , who strategically choose to enter with a smaller stack, and casual players who find themselves short-stacked after suffering losses from their original chip count.
Example of Short Stack in context -> Ensure that you adopt a tighter stealing range when you’re on the button if the players in the blinds are holding short stacks .
Incorporating Short Stack into Your Poker Strategy
The fundamental aspect of the short stack strategy requires players to go all-in with a wider range of hands both before and after the flop compared to when they're operating with a full stack (100bb and above). Short stackers typically capitalize on the fact that many full stack players fail to adjust their game appropriately to different chip sizes. effective stacks .
Although it's less common to encounter short stacks in cash games, understanding how to navigate short stack situations in tournaments is vital. Most participants in poker tournaments will eventually find themselves with less than 20bb at various points. When you are short stacked , key decisions mainly arise before the flop and on the flop, as there often aren’t enough chips remaining to make later turn and river plays.
See Also
Effective Stacks , Cash Game , Tournament , Preflop , Flop