What is the defense against the short stack startegy?

[ComboProf]

I have played very little of the 1/2 capped at $100 NL game.
But it is now the only game available at the local Casinos.
I've notice that a lot of the college students will buy in
for the minimum and defacto play the short stack strategy.
What is my defense?

[AKQJ10]

If they're all playing it, steal their blinds mercilessly and stay out of any pots they enter unless your hand compares favorably (say, JJ, AK, or better against a first raiser). Also bet the flop in first position, and call with any pair if you think the flop missed them but they're pushing anyway per Ed's advice.

Rarely will you find a small-stakes game that tight, though. In my experience I'm the only one at the table coming remotely close to playing this tight.

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I have played very little of the 1/2 capped at $100 NL game.
But it is now the only game available at the local Casinos.
I've notice that a lot of the college students will buy in
for the minimum and defacto play the short stack strategy.
What is my defense?

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what's the short stack strategy???

[Songwind]

It's a no-limit strategy from Getting Started in Hold'em by Ed Miller

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It's a no-limit strategy from Getting Started in Hold'em by Ed Miller

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songwind, thanks for the reply! but can you explain it in a few words??...

is it basically all-in with top 10 hands? and that's pretty much it except for "free" big blind play and a few more hands from button and small blind. i.e. variant of sklansky strategy (and hellmuth isn't miles away from it either in his book).... sorry, maybe i'm confused as to whose strategy is whose, and alot of it is for beginners.

[AKQJ10]

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what's the short stack strategy???

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http://poker.wikicities.com/wiki/Short_stack

In short: play extremely tight (requiring TT, AK or better in early position; 99, AQ in middle position; 77, AT, KQ first-in from late position); raise your good hands as much as possible preflop to still get [a] caller[s]; and push the flop unless you totally miss it and get bet into.

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Rarely will you find a small-stakes game that tight, though. In my experience I'm the only one at the table coming remotely close to playing this tight.

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i agree totally!! in my B&M experience (admittedly limited), i've only seen one guy that played anywhere near as tight as i did.

online, i think it depends on many, many factors. but i think tight low limit tables are a pretty new phenomenon.

This strategy is an excellent strategy for new unskilled players. I use it from time to time online but only when I am in a MT (4 or more) ring.

Therefore I refer to it as one of my MT strategies. The key is to limit any loss by entering the action with the minimum buyin and move off as soon as you post a win.

The most effective use of this strategy is best acheived when you play multi tables on multi sites. I prefer 6 tables as the norm. What makes this so effective is you are only playing the flop so the actions of players seated is less a determinant factor especially since you cannot monitor all the players at 6 tables at one time.

As for a defense, well you can certainly steal the BB and SB but if I don't have the hand to enter I won't be in the blind unless it is forced. In any case I would not even consider the blinds as stolen if you went over the top while im holding a premium starting hand for example. This strategy requires the tightest of play which is why I prefer to multi table it. It dosen't take much for me to fold other normally playable hands when playing this strategy. Then again other normally playable hands require my attention to position and the action at the table.

[smoore]

Well, if they are playing perfect SS strategy then you know thier exact range. This range is quite small. Be prepared to play just like them when it's the two of you in the pot.

I've been using this SS strategy as I transition from being a long-term winner at limit poker to a successful NL player. It's f'in brutal, I'll tell ya. The typical $25 NL players have no chance against it. I see and recognize other SS players (by the <10% VPIP and >8% PFR) and the best idea is to simply stay out of thier way.

You won't make much money off of someone playing this style, concentrate on getting your money from the poor players. Last night I started experimenting with getting overcalls from the loosies in the game when I held a hand I was willing to go against a SS player with. It was gold Jerry, GOLD. Instead of reraising to isolate with 25+bb I was trying to get worse hands to come along. Once the flop hit, the SS player predictably pushes the rest of his/her stack in and I get to make a decision whether or not to continue. Incredibly small sample size of 800 hands but it seems to be a viable strategy... Time will tell.

edit: I wouldn't bother stealing blinds in a loose small NL game anyway... Why risk 3BB or more when the players love to cold call? There's not enough risk:reward IMO. I can let the $0.35 go when I know a $20 pot is right around the corner. (Man they play poorly.)

[AKQJ10]

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edit: I wouldn't bother stealing blinds in a loose small NL game anyway... Why risk 3BB or more when the players love to cold call? There's not enough risk:reward IMO.

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This is absolutely true. To reiterate, blind-stealing is the SSS's Achilles' heel only when most of the other players at the table are playing this tight. If you're trying to steal from the cutoff on a tight BB, but the SB and/or button are going to see a flop anyway, then it's going to be tough to steal.