Stack size/pot size???

[Big Dazz]

Hi,

I'm not sure how to play with regards to stack sizes and pot sizes. Game is $10 ring NLH on Paradise.

e.g if my stack is significantly smaller that my opponents (or vice versa) how does this effect decision making??

Also if my stack is small compared to the pot (or vice versa)???

I cant find find anything on this site for general advise in this area.

Cheers

[Tom42]

e.g if my stack is significantly smaller that my opponents (or vice versa) how does this effect decision making??

It doesn't, the thing that matters is size of the smallest stack in the hand compared to the blinds/bets/pot.

If the smallest stack is small compared to the blinds, say less then 40 BB, then you have almost no implied odds to call raises/bets with speculative hands like suited connectors or small pocket pairs preflop or with draws postflop. Play more made hands and toppair-type hands.

If ur stack is really small compared to the pot then you are potcommitted, you have to call with any decent hand. And calling with a draw is purely based on potodds. Also you have very little folding equity with a small stack, so bluffing is not an option.

If stacks are deep (more than 150BB) you have good implied odds. Speculative hands go up in value, Top pair/overpair-type hands go down in value. You can call bigger bets with draws because there is a lot of money behind.

Hope this helps, if you have questions, ask away.

[jyms]

unless you know how to play short stack poker effectively always rebuy to the maximum. Never sit at a table with less than a full buy in or your losing EV when you hit your big hands.

[Big Dazz]

unless you know how to play short stack poker effectively always rebuy to the maximum. Never sit at a table with less than a full buy in or your losing EV when you hit your big hands.

OK - I always do this - never go below $8.

If the smallest stack is small compared to the blinds, say less then 40 BB, then you have almost no implied odds to call raises/bets with speculative hands like suited connectors or small pocket pairs preflop or with draws postflop.

Ok - simply because ill run out of chips - right??

So - if im right, then ive no need to worry about my opponents stack size during a hand - just bet the usual 5xBB PF bet, 2/3 pot sized bets, etc, ect - whether im small or big stack i.e. my £60 against opponents $15.

Its just that i recall a thread here that stated not to play on a table that contains a player with > 4x buyin because it enables bullying tactics.

Cheers

[Tom42]

So - if im right, then ive no need to worry about my opponents stack size during a hand - just bet the usual 5xBB PF bet, 2/3 pot sized bets, etc, ect - whether im small or big stack i.e. my £60 against opponents $15.

No, you do need to consider your opponents stack size. If he's a short stack then you should adjust you starting hands because you don't have the implied odds to play speculative hands.

For example no or less raising with suited connectors for deception. Or don't call serieus raises from short stacks with low pocket pairs or suited connectors. Reraise with lesser holdings to put them all-in preflop, off course depending on the type of player. Be more willing to call short stacks all-in bets on the flop if their stack is less than the pot, etc...

Another example where stack size influences your decisions : the pot is 20 BB on the flop, your opp has a stack of 30 BB left and bets 20 BB. If you just call his bet, your opp has only 10 BB left on the turn and the pot is 60 BB. This means you'll also have to call his 10 BB on the turn because you are getting great pot-odds. You basicly have to decide on the flop, if you are willing to invest not 20 BB, but 30 BB in this hand because of his stack-size.

So stack-size does matter. But if your opps stack is for example four times your standard buy-in stack, than nothing really changes because you will run out of chips. Only the smallest stack matters. The bullying tactics of a big stack don't apply in ring games, unlike tournaments, because you can allways buy-in. Being a big stack probably has a psychological advantage though, but nothing more. Offcourse a big stack is more likely to be a solid player, that is a good enough reason to avoid him.

[KingLizard]

Sklansky's latest book NHETP has a section on playing short stacked. Pick up the book and it should answer these questions.

[Pelion]

Your question is very broad so I dont know how much this will help but Ill do my best to answer this in Sklansky type ways.

Each chip is a decision waiting to be made

In the late stages of a tournament the blinds are very large compared to the size of a stack often the only decision to be made is "shall I push this hand preflop or fold?" On the other hand if the stacks are very deep you will obviously have to make flop, turn and river decisions with your hand. Since a good player will be more likely to make correct decisions than a bad player it obviously suits a better player to play with the largest stack size possible (i.e. offer his opponent the greatest chance of making a mistake). In no limit poker this is even more true since the bets on later betting rounds are much bigger than on early betting rounds so the size of mistakes can be much bigger.

When you are against one player who is a shortstack

Since implied odds are determined by stack sizes you will generally have to play tighter drawing hands to a shortstacks raise than you would to a full stacked players raise. You wont have the implied odds to sethunt with 22. On the other hand it is worth noting that shortstacks generally have slightly worse opening standards than tall stacks. Tall stacks dont want to get into a confrontation with two reasonably big ofsuit cards like ATo because they will generally only get action when they are dominated (called reverse implied odds). Shortstacks dont mind so much since the times when they win the pot preflop will make up alot of the amount they lose when they are stacked against a hand like AQo.

When effective stacks are smaller, big (offsuit) cards go up in value and drawing hands go down in value. Conversly when stacks are deep big offsuit cards SUCK and drawing hands are gold


When you are the shortstack

The biggest advantage you have is that most shortstacks in cash games are people who are just trying to get to grips with the game or who have just moved up in stakes. They know that a shortstack means less decisions so they try to make life easy by chosing to play shortstacked because they are poor players. Your main advantage is that people will assume that you (as a shortstack) are another one of these poor players. They will get allin with you preflop with weak holdings (e.g. 88) and generally gamb00l with you.
Your main advantage against people playing correctly is that people will mostly still be trying to play against themselves and will be (correctly) ignoring you. e.g. a loose raiser makes it 4BB in early position. You (a tight shortstack) push allin with AK in middle position. The relativly tight player behind you calls with AQ.

He is hoping to play a big pot with a reasonable hand agaisnt the weak player in early position. He knows he is giving chips to you but he knows he will get more from the poor player in early position.

This example perfectly illustrates why it is better to be the tall stack when you are the better player.
Whilst the short stack has the advantage since they are taking chips from the tall AND medium stacks, the good tall stacked player will take more chips from the bad players than they will give to the short stack.

So who would you rather be? The player who starts with $10 and doubles up every hour or the player who starts with $50 and only manages to double up every 2 hours? Be a man and play the tallstack


edit: One last chapter. If your stack is small relative to the potsize you are in the same boat as when you are small preflop. Push if you have a decent chance to win (either with the best hand or a bluff) and fold if you dont. Betting half a stack with a reasonably strong hand and then folding to a raise when it would cost you less than 1/4 of the pot to call is insane.
Being "Pot commited" is an excuse used far too often to justify loose calls in No Limit holdem. Having a small stack compared to the pot size is one of the times it actually makes sense.

edit2: btw you= pompey scum
Im at southampton uni

[Big Dazz]

The bullying tactics of a big stack don't apply in ring games, unlike tournaments, because you can allways buy-in. Being a big stack probably has a psychological advantage though, but nothing more

Ok - understood (i do tend to be more apprehensive if theres a big stack in the hand though)

Since implied odds are determined by stack sizes you will generally have to play tighter drawing hands to a shortstacks raise than you would to a full stacked players raise. You wont have the implied odds to sethunt with 22.

OK - theres a leak here, as i never bother looking at stack sizes when set farming - simply call the blind and fold a missed flop.

Thanks for ur input - ill bear this in mind at the table.

edit2: btw you= pompey scum
Im at southampton uni

Oh well - suppose ill just have to hunt you down at the tables and kick youy sorry backside As your probably a better player, ill make sure to bring Harry along, just in case