Was I cheated on PokerStars?

[RobertC]

$20 SNG; 4 players left. Stacks are 3790, 265, 690, 8755.

The short stack (265) is in the big blind; I'm in third with 690. The blinds are 100-200; antes are 25.

The large stack (8755) calls the big blind; it's folded to the big blind who checks.

On the flop the short stack goes all in with his remaining 40 and the large stack, getting odds of 16-1 to call, folds rather than calling 40 for a chance at a pot of 640. Right before folding the large stack typed: "who will get third." The large stack had been betting aggressively and calling loosely all game. I feel he gave this pot to the short stack. I busted out in fourth and the short stack thanked the large stack.

Needless to say I wasn't very happy with this and I emailed a complaint to PokerStars. Will PokerStars do anything? Should they do anything? Thanks for listening.

[bigredlemon]

no. it is +EV for the big stack to keep the small stack in the game and a valid strategic move.

[RobertC]

How does keeping the short stack in the game help the large stack?

[randomstumbl]

You can answer this question yourself. Why did you want the small stack out? That's why the big stack wants him in.

[KeysrSoze]

Keeps the shorter stacks passive as they're still on the bubble and usually play scared. Big stack gets to buy the blinds for another revolution or 2, making his lead even bigger by the time one busts out.

[Nigel]

I don't play SNG's, but why would he rather buy 640 in blinds than win it right there?

Nigel

[RobertC]

If the small stacks were a little bigger and the large stack a little smaller then that would make sense. But my stack was 690, the short stack was 265, and the large stack was 8755. The blinds were 100-200. The large stack had a chance to get the short stack's blind but he folded to a bet of 40.

[randomstumbl]

I don't play enough SNGs to actually have the math down. I just know it's a common move. Even if he didn't have the numbers to do it, it probably just means he's not that great of a player.

If you don't understand why someone is doing something your first reaction should not be "he's cheating". Learn from your opponents.

[TheHammer24]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't play SNG's, but why would he rather buy 640 in blinds than win it right there?

Nigel

[/ QUOTE ]


It's not like he folded the pure nuts.

He's a dog, so he's winning less than half of that 640, which is < 320.

[RobertC]

I should learn to fold when I'm getting 16-1 odds with 2 cards to come and my opponent can't bet any more?

The strategy of the large stack giving a pot to a small stack so the large stack can win that money back in blind steals is a new one to me.