Short Stack at the Final Table

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Das991992

Das991992

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Being short-stacked at a final table can make every decision feel important.
Do you wait for a good spot, or take more risks before your stack gets too small?
 
It depends on how many BB you have and how quickly that is shrinking with the blind structure, you know? Sometimes you can just chill for a while and ladder up but other times you're playing all in or fold, or something between that and normal poker. There are just too many variables to have a one approach that fits all.
 
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puzzlefish said:
It depends on how many BB you have and how quickly that is shrinking with the blind structure, you know? Sometimes you can just chill for a while and ladder up but other times you're playing all in or fold, or something between that and normal poker. There are just too many variables to have a one approach that fits all.
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yeah thats true, depends a lot on BB and how fast blinds go up. sometimes you can wait, sometimes you just gotta move
 
I've managed more than once to finish in a high position—or even win a tournament—as a short stack.
Obviously, you have to play less often, but nothing is impossible.
 
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Its all about Icm and gto play also poker is very dynamics because human plays with other minds using chips so It depends on board texture
 
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dzsire said:
I've managed more than once to finish in a high position—or even win a tournament—as a short stack.
Obviously, you have to play less often, but nothing is impossible.
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for sure, short stacks can still go deep. you just have to pick your spots and be patient
 
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wavefunction said:
Its all about Icm and gto play also poker is very dynamics because human plays with other minds using chips so It depends on board texture
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I agree, ICM matters a lot there, and the board can change everything when your stack is getting short
 
Pavelmiyah said:
Too hard and chips gone automatically
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I get that feeling, once the stack gets too short the blinds can eat it up pretty fast.
 
I feel like a general answer is, you find as good spot as you are going to get and pray that the hand holds. Especially if there is a risk that you will think blinds/ante eat you alive, sometimes its AX or suited connectors or a pair if your lucky. Ofc if you have enough blinds you could wait more or even play some hands.
 
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I lost a tournament to a player who had only 2 big blinds left on the final table. He went all-in several times, doubled his chips more than once, and was able to return to the game.
 
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lolpeura said:
I feel like a general answer is, you find as good spot as you are going to get and pray that the hand holds. Especially if there is a risk that you will think blinds/ante eat you alive, sometimes its AX or suited connectors or a pair if your lucky. Ofc if you have enough blinds you could wait more or even play some hands.
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That’s pretty much it, find the best spot you can before the blinds eat you up. Sometimes you just gotta take the shot.
burro said:
I lost a tournament to a player who had only 2 big blinds left on the final table. He went all-in several times, doubled his chips more than once, and was able to return to the game.
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Wow, 2 BB and still managed to come back like that. Short stacks can be dangerous when they keep doubling up.
 
Being short-stacked at the final table can be stressful. I think the key is to stay patient and look for good spots to pick up chips, rather than forcing every hand. One double-up can change everything.
 
Das991992 said:
Being short-stacked at a final table can make every decision feel important.
Do you wait for a good spot, or take more risks before your stack gets too small?
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You always have to stay calm, keep your cool, and avoid going on tilt... one time in an MTT, I dropped to 0.5 BB and ended up finishing first.
 
Patience and position sometimes gets you deeper into the money.🙂🙂🙂
 
I feel like shoving in with a decent hand if you have less than 10BB would probably be my way to go.
You can either scare them or at least get a small pot.
 
johnwat2 said:
Patience and position sometimes gets you deeper into the money.🙂🙂🙂
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for sure, patience and position can make a huge difference when you’re short. No need to force every hand.
deneus said:
I feel like shoving in with a decent hand if you have less than 10BB would probably be my way to go.
You can either scare them or at least get a small pot.
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yeah with less than 10BB, I can see why shoving a decent hand makes sense. You don’t wanna get blinded away.
tigre666 said:
You always have to stay calm, keep your cool, and avoid going on tilt... one time in an MTT, I dropped to 0.5 BB and ended up finishing first.
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0.5 BB and still finishing first is crazy 😄 that’s a good reminder that you’re never really out of it.
 
I think position becomes very important when you are short. I don't want to wait so long that I lose all my fold equity. If I get a decent hand in late position, I would rather make the first move than wait for a monster. Sometimes surviving means taking the right risk before the stack gets too small.
 
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Being short-stacked at the final table can be tough, but I try not to panic. I look for good spots to pick up chips, and if I’m really short, I’m willing to take a few more risks rather than just wait to get blinded out.
 
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Usually if I have a short stack I try to play the push/ fold strategy.
There are some other questions though, you are the only short stack at the table by far? There are other similar stacks at the table? What's the average stack? It's a turbo or a regular speed tournament? ICM pressure is super important.

If we are the short stack the one and only priority is the vital double up. If we lose to a flip that's fine, that's poker.
 
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wavefunction said:
Its all about Icm and gto play also poker is very dynamics because human plays with other minds using chips so It depends on board texture
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Well, board texture will only matter if we're playing post-flop and when were the short stack in icm were probably jamming or folding pre 100%.

Prime and near prime hands we should be shoving. Marginal shove hands like A-rag and low pocket pairs are only a shove if we are on the blinds and the action to us is weak, otherwise they are a fold. The only time that I will standard open less than all-in is if I have strong reason to believe that I can steal with 2x or 3x, or if I have AA KK and I believe that Villain will not catch on that I actually want a call.
 
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