committed to 99

[MRBAA]

Playing the short stack in a 6-handed 1/2 blind n/l. I've got $35, everyone else has me way covered. I get 99 utg and raise to $15 folded to the button, a loose gambling sort, but competent, knows I'm tight but puts me all in anyway. Getting about 5-2, I auto call.

How'd I play it?

[gulebjorn]

Is there a reason you're sitting there with 17 BB's?

Not much else you can do with this... once you enter a hand, you're committed.

[guaranteedBluff]

depends on your read. has he been pushing like this a lot? I do think, that I would've folded. At best (for you) he has two overs and you're only a slight favorite. Chances he has a low pair aren't good. I don't think you win this pot 2/7 times bc of the chance of an overpair for him. I fold w/o a good read.

[gulebjorn]

[ QUOTE ]
depends on your read. has he been pushing like this a lot? I do think, that I would've folded. At best (for you) he has two overs and you're only a slight favorite. Chances he has a low pair aren't good. I don't think you win this pot 2/7 times bc of the chance of an overpair for him. I fold w/o a good read.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, at best, he has two undercards. Or a smaller pair. Or an overcard and an undercard. You can't fold to that raise, read or no read.

[guaranteedBluff]

[ QUOTE ]

Or a smaller pair. Or an overcard and an undercard.

[/ QUOTE ]

unlikely he reraises with either of these hands. I do agree (despite my previous post) that with the odds this is probably a call, but I think its less definitive than you imply.

[MRBAA]

I think given the stack size and the pot size, the call of the raise is pretty clear cut. Sometimes he has an overpair and I'm a 4-1 dog. But he might well play 55-88 this way, too (remember, he knows my stack size). And he'd almost certainly play AK and even maybe AQ/AJ/ATs this way.

I generally play the small stack and try to play strong hands for as much as I think will get called preflop, then get the rest in on the flop if I think there's a good chance I'm ahead.

[swolfe]

i'd limp-push...

actually, i'd throw a couple B. Franklins down and play poker.

[guaranteedBluff]

[ QUOTE ]

actually, i'd throw a couple B. Franklins down and play poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

[MRBAA]

I think playing a short stack as I described is a pretty good way to play these games. I can always rebuy, but playing a big stack actually makes hand-reading and turn and river decisions alot more important and, to some extent, rewards the more prevalent overly loose/aggressive style of most players in these games. I'd be interested in other views though, with actual analysis not "I hat short stacks" or "put a couple of ben franklins on the table and play poker". I've got a large bankroll from years of limit winnings, so short stack is not about fear of loss -- I believe it to be an optimal strategy for a newer no-limit player.

[vulturesrow]

[ QUOTE ]
I think playing a short stack as I described is a pretty good way to play these games. I can always rebuy, but playing a big stack actually makes hand-reading and turn and river decisions alot more important and, to some extent, rewards the more prevalent overly loose/aggressive style of most players in these games. I'd be interested in other views though, with actual analysis not "I hat short stacks" or "put a couple of ben franklins on the table and play poker". I've got a large bankroll from years of limit winnings, so short stack is not about fear of loss -- I believe it to be an optimal strategy for a newer no-limit player.

[/ QUOTE ]

A lot of people here dont like players that buy in short. The primary reason is because they cant beat it. There are other secondary reasons they dont like it but in my mind this is what it boils down to. As to its value for newer NL player, Im on the fence. I think it has some value, but fimbulwinter was able to convince me that it had limited usefulness in learning to play well.

So here is what I think (and I know you didnt ask, but Im on a roll [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] ) :

If you are just playing NL for fun and limit is your primary game, play however you want. If you want to develop your NL skills you are going to have to start playing deeper money sooner or later.