Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleFly
I think the skill set and correct strategy to play short stack and deep stack are very different because of the hands you can correctly play. Also, with deep stacks, bluffs can get very involved with deeper stacks, whereas with shorter stacks, it becomes a shove a thon. I think the short stack game is much simpler because you are effectively removing a lot of possible hands from your and your opponents range.
That's what I mean when I said it'll be harder to develop your overall game.
Since you seem interested in 50bbs:
* this is effectively three bets in a raised pot. If you don't mind betting 3x with a pair, then I suppose it's fine. But you can limit yourself to 3 bets or less with full stacks by check-calling oop or checking down a street ip etc.
* but you can still use pot control with shorter stacks, even with 20bb.
* if a raise is 3.5bbs, then you are getting almost 16 to 1 to play pps (assuming you hit and are able to get it in). I think this is close to the odds needed, altho higher is better.
* before you go short stack, see how often you win 50+bb hands and how often you lose. Obviously, if you win more large pots, you shouldn't go to short stack. Also, this will give you an idea as to how often you've been stacking off w 1 pair, and how often you've been getting your money in bad.
* as for how to play particular hands like AK, for me it's villain dependent, and I try to randomize a la Harrington so it'll be harder for people to put me on a hand. But in general, I'm trying to check down one street.
Anyway, I don't think the play's changed drastically the last month, so if you had been doing well, I don't think you have to make any sweeping changes - maybe just a little fine tuning. Good luck.
hey man,
First, i think you are right about the differences between 50bb stacks and 100bb stacks. That's why i am trying to decide with help from you all which might be better for grinding out consistent wins when multitabling.
When multitabling, it can be very difficult to know whether or not to continue with your top pari with AK etc. With 100bb you obviously can't just start pumping money in with intentions of going all the way with it. But with 50bb, can you just start putting your money in and expect to get it in assuming no disgusting boards are present? Or is 50bb still too much of a stack to do that? Obviously, with 20bb for example, you are not folding top pair period. But is it the same for 50bb in your opinion? And if not, what approach should you generally take in regards to like top pair? Is it a check flop, bet turn type of thing. or bet flop and then shut down type of thing?
I mean you can expect to get it all in and called more often with the best hand as a 50bb stack than you will as a 100bb stack.. but i still dont know if thats the best approach.
The reason i have always liked 50bb is simply that you can still play your pairs by raising them up and such and still get paid off on sets etc.. but you can also still play big pairs and big cards profitable i think. Was i wrong here?
Also, i know with a half stack, if you raise up your pairs which i generally do, you have to dump them to a 3bet.. assuming they are small and medium pairs. With this in mind, should i not be playing any pairs from EP lower than say, TT? Or nothing lower than like 77 from MP?
In my experience, as a half or short stack i dont seem to be 3 bet as often as i am with a full stack, so it seems that raising up all my pairs PF is a viable option. Most of the time i either steal the blinds or jsut get flatted, which i dont mind.
Now i dont like much lower than 50bb, like around 20 and so due to that i cannot play pairs effectively at all. Its either shove or fold pretty much. Sure big pairs and AK go up in value, but thats hard to make money playing those as your only real money making hands. Plus, cbetting on missed board cripples your stack. So when you actually DO win a hand your not making much still. Your just basically earning back what you lost from missed boards. To me it seems the shorter your stack is, the harder it is to win some necessary bigger pots to outweigh 1)the blinds and 2) lost pots and lost cbets.
So, what effectively would a 40bb stack do? Is it some kind of healthy balance between short and half? Could i still raise my pairs up but also not be afraid of getting the money all in with top pair or great draw, etc. Or would i still need to be checking behind for pot control and be prepared to still fold top pairs, etc.
Is it much different from 50bb?
Basically, in light of all you had have said and we have discussed.. what do you tend to think and recommend now? And furthermore, how should i be playing my given hands with these stacks?
Thanks guys
