The limp-only strategy with a short stack in tournaments is very limited and situational. With few large blinds, push or fold is usually the most efficient, since cleaning reduces fold equity and leaves you in difficult post-flop spots. Limp can make sense in very specific cases, such as small blind versus big blind or tricky hands, but as a main strategy it is usually negative
You're taking away a ton of your power if you only limp. You're basically giving the BB a free flop whenever you are on BTN/SB, and you're shedding EV to players after you. A limp in EP is a signal that says "I'm weak" when a lot of time poker is about projecting strength.
When the everyone at the table is short-stacked, I prefer a min-raise priority strategy. That way you still get rid of speculative hands that are looking for a flop, and you increase your odds of isolating shorter stacks so you aren't going multi-way into the flop.
What you discovered with this strategy is that slow-playing can be very valuable. When you limped with AA for example and got raised, I assume you may have shoved and ended up getting paid. Lean into this learning because perception is everything. When you're strong/have the nuts, you don't always have to value bet. You can let other plays build up the pot with 2nd pair or a bluff and then bask in your chips on showdown.
When the everyone at the table is short-stacked, I prefer a min-raise priority strategy. That way you still get rid of speculative hands that are looking for a flop, and you increase your odds of isolating shorter stacks so you aren't going multi-way into the flop.
What you discovered with this strategy is that slow-playing can be very valuable. When you limped with AA for example and got raised, I assume you may have shoved and ended up getting paid. Lean into this learning because perception is everything. When you're strong/have the nuts, you don't always have to value bet. You can let other plays build up the pot with 2nd pair or a bluff and then bask in your chips on showdown.
This is a great strategy for gradually chipping away at your own chips! (laughs)
Joking aside... Limps (except from 'late' positions like the button, small blind, and obviously many other factors involved) are generally not the most profitable options.
There are a million reasons not to limp (a bit of an exaggeration perhaps)... Basically, you don't have enough chips to play several streets and you 'should' adopt a more push/fold approach.
The fewer chips you have, the fewer limps you should have in your range, but again, everything is situational.
Poker is an adaptive game above all else.
How are your limp strategies going?
Joking aside... Limps (except from 'late' positions like the button, small blind, and obviously many other factors involved) are generally not the most profitable options.
There are a million reasons not to limp (a bit of an exaggeration perhaps)... Basically, you don't have enough chips to play several streets and you 'should' adopt a more push/fold approach.
The fewer chips you have, the fewer limps you should have in your range, but again, everything is situational.
Poker is an adaptive game above all else.
How are your limp strategies going?
But I am losing tournaments when my pocket TT/JJ/QQ shove is called by an Ax or Kx and a matching card comes on the board! If I limp open I'll fold when an aggression comes with a higher card.skaterick said:
Even when I open shove at an early position, people still call with Ax and Kx, and one losing flip means that I'm out of the tournament.