Short Stack Strategy in cash games
Disadvantages of a short stack
There really is only one, when you make a big hand the most you can do is double to $160. You also are very limited in your hand ranges for the same reason (that's why I said only one, since it's technically the same reason), hands like 5s4s are basically unplayable in later positions because of the lack of implied odds you would normally be getting playing No Limit.Advantages of a short stack
"- The idea of SSS is that you should have the best hand preflop
- When you get this hand, you will raise about 4xBB and hope that someone would re-raise you
- Then you go allin
- The most know SSS strategy(ies) also suggest that you should choose a table with at least 7 players, where there are not many more SSS players. (Think the max was either 1 or 2 other).
- If you have only 15 BB left you buy more to 20 BB
- You leave the table immediately when you have got 25 BBs.
Example: NL10 (0.05/0.10) your buy-in should be $2, but in most sites the min is around $4-5
Nobody has raised before you:
Early position playable only: JJ+, AK.
Middle position: 99+, AK, AQ
Late position or blind: 77+, AK, AQ, AJ, KQ
One player has raised before you: allin with JJ+, AK
More than one players raised before you: allin with AA, KK only.
After your bet and you are re-raised: allin with TT+, AK
If your hand is not listed above, you through it away.
Now the problem will be that most of the times the min buy-in is more than 20BB. So you cannot follow exactly the guidelines above.
When I like much more short handed tables, and the buy-in is more like 40BB, I need to modify the list above if I want to play a little like SSS.
With $50 starting roll you should start playing 0.05/0.10. This you continue until you have got $150.
Then you move up to 0.10/0.25. The next move up when $300. If your roll goes to $60 (30xt he min buy-in for previous level) you return to the previous level.
Notice again that you need to modify these when the min buy-in is more than 20BB.
There are also other situations where you end-up, like in blinds.
Which hands can you keep when seeing the flop?
Top-pair with min J as a kicker, Overpair, 2 pair, or better. Open ended straight draw and flush draw.
With these hands if nobody has bet before you - you bet 2/3 of the pot and if that is more than half of your stack you go allin. If somebody has already bet you go allin. And if someone raises after your 2/3 bet you go allin.
When the real buy-in is more like 40BB instead of 20BB your should raise the bankroll requirements for the levels. So my guess is that you need $100-120 for 0.05/01.0, and $300 for 0.10/0.25, and the next $600.
I am sorry if I am wrong, but here players might be suggested to go faster to higher levels, which would result sub-optimal total results. These are the guidelines I have got for SSS and if I have received wrong guidelines, I need to blame someone else :)
Good luck !"
Tags: Strategy short stack
2 responses to Short Stack Strategy in cash games
Saturday, November 14, 2009
http://bluff.com/topics/show/My-SSS-journey this thread is a great resource for working with a short bankroll, take a look and you will find some gems to use for your development.
Leave a reply
Download and run Bluffware to have your hands automatically uploaded to your personal Bluff.com database.
Watch this video to see how.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Love that site for info. Great place to start.