Handling Short stacks

I have noticed lately that one of my main weaknesses (and there are many so that should say something Smile

) is that I don't know how to handle the short-stackers that are making obvious squeezes in multi-way pots but are taking away my implied odds.

If it's headsup I know how to play it pretty much (3-bet or fold essentially) and if I'm last to act I can also deal with it (call if the others in the pot give me implied odds for sets, etc) but when I limp with a small pp and others behind do as well I'm never sure.

Take the following hand as an example:
Full Tilt No-Limit Hold'em, $0.50 BB (9 handed) Hand History Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com (Format: FlopTurnRiver)

saw flop|saw showdown

UTG+1 ($52.50)
Hero ($75.45)
MP2 ($39.20)
MP3 ($56.90)
CO ($44)
Button ($110.20)
SB ($19.50)
BB ($51.20)
UTG ($26.70)

Preflop: Hero is MP1 with 8

, 8

.
UTG calls $0.50, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.50, 3 folds, Button calls $0.50, SB raises to $3.25, 1 fold, UTG folds, Hero folds, Button folds.

Final Pot: $2.50

Here we have the shortstacker raising it up and leaving implied odds of only 5:1 so I can't call for set value, and with the button still to act and covering me I can't 3-bet shorty all-in so what's the play...am I resigned to folding on these plays all the time?

yes fold

good fold. There's nothing you can do here to avoid the squeeze play, you just gots to let it happen man.

why dont you raise it?

depends on the UTG limper for whether to be the initial raiser.

Is he limping a lot UTG, does he hang on for too long post flop, is he easy to play against? If he has been limping a lot and playing fit or fold then it is an easy raise. Unless he is only limping med+ PPs from UTG (and that almost never happens) then I would default raise this.

This way if the 20BB SB wants to reraise, you can call and take the (hopefully) flip as long as you have succeeded in folding all of the players between you without any worries.

Cocco Bill = EF Hutton.

...when EF Hutton talks, people SHOULD listen.

dont give your reasons that you shouldnt raise.....ask Bill why he WOULD? seen the results he gets? debating him is just being arrogant, imo.

Bill, why would you raise there? any specific reason?

wrong.

the correct response to "why don't you raise" is "why do you raise"

(wasn't going to include this originally, but 'cos I can't read the thoughts of micro stakes players any more - in case chopper was actually being serious I am lampooning his ridiculous post. I will of course give him an out [just 'cos I'm nice] if he decides to say it was a subtle bit of deadpan...)

i understand kny was saying he was "open" to opinions. the comment about "arrogance" was not directed at anyone in specific.

all i meant by it was, lets not get so busy defending OUR logic that we dont ask for more insight into the opposite line of thinking. thereby, enabling our egos to hinder our learning/growth processes.

i guess limping makes sense but now how about reraising? i doubt button is limping behind AA here...so is shorty doing this with like A5o/22 and stuff?

If I decide to limp this I would fold to the sbs raise and none of my decision has anything to do with the button being in the hand. I raise preflop though. Build pot, c-bet, fold equity, make pot HU, image, and that's just thinking off hand.

isolate UTG youre ahead, you know what your opponents are calling with if they cold call behind

lol

I don't play much fullring, but the standard play against a limper with 88 would be to raise in a short handed game. If a full ring game is playing in such a way that reraises are frequent I understand limping, but in my experience the low stakes full ring games don't play that way so I would raise to take control of the pot.

I don't understand the fold, and I don't understand not raising on your initial action.

Sure, you are in MP with people behind, but you can't play scared. 88 is a good starting hand, ahead of everything but a higher pocket pair. I don't want to let A 10 or K J limp here. I would bump it up substantially (say 6xbb with the caller in front). If someone comes over the top, get lost. Otherwise, you should be comfortable going into the flop against 1 or 2 players.

As played, there is one to act after you with no callers to the raise. My strong hunch is that you are ahead of everyone, including shorty. I either flat call and play after the flop, or reraise to at least $10. Again, you are going into the flop with at most 2 other players, where 88 is a strong hand. A lowball flop and you are most likely good. A flop with broadway cards and you can still play after the flop.

Just my anecdotal experience, but I more often than not regret calling a short stack raiser with a decent hand. I wouldn't be surprised if here shorty has A-rags suited.

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Handling Short stacks

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Handling Short stacks