Hello All, as I don't know how to list hands, my thread starting has been minimal, but it has been a pleasure discussing hands here....

I've been having some discussions with people regarding buy-ins, it seems to be mantra here that you should buy in at 100% and some people go so far as to say reload when taking any substantial dip...

Maybe its just me, But i play each buy in as an individual investment, and I adjust my play to protect it. While there is obvious advantages of having a deep stack for leverage, there are also advantages to having a small stack provided you utilize them.

If the table is very loose, (I'm thinking of a 4-8 table at my site), you realize whether or not you buy in at 100, 200, or 300, that it can be gone relatively quickly...the pots get huge, and more often than not, its all in before showdown...

I have been having alot of success buying in shorter, and using that hedge in situations. If I bust out, well, i've done it for cheaper than i would have with a full stack, or else I'll steal/win my way up to an above average stack. My particular site is small and I'm respected as a good player, which I think helps in taking down the first couple pots.

The problem being with the short stack is if you are in a couple of drawing pots to start the sesh...calling w/pot odds having a small stack can work against you...I try to play as tight as possible at the beginning to offset this and keep myself out of those situations, but they can be inevitable....

I equate it to MTT's in a way...when your back is against the wall, you get into 'all in or nothing' situations, you'll get a guy to call you all in, with something much worse than if you bet the equivilent with a much deeper stack...This phenomena is what helps being short stacked to start at a table...


Consequently, i 'usually' play 2-4 and buy in close to max there...Maybe i am playing above what i am comfortable, limit-wise....but i have had alot of success at the higher limits. I feel i can play there, but i don't want to invest a huge amount.

Is it just me? is there no advantage to coming in short stacked? Often if you buy in at max, you do not have a dominating chip position to start, and if you aren't going to be dominating from the start, couldn't an argument be made to buy in short, specifically if you are a tight player?......

Thanks for all opinions........

I prefer to have a full stack at all times and view the short stack players as targets. Decisions are easier against a smaller stack and I will push my smaller edges against these guys as I know they can only hurt me so much. I have a friend who multi-tables short stacked and he has a ton of bad-beat stories because he cant protect his hand when he needs to.

As I think about it a little more it comes to me that maybe some players could buy in short-stacked, build it up and then play a "normal" game. Problem is that most players who use this short stack strategy dont know what to do when they get chips.Generally you see them gambling them away but I am srue there are solid players who could make the transition from short to regular stack.
good flops

YD

I don't think all descisions become easier against a short stack. Some definately do. If all the money goes in on the flop you don't have to think what to do in case a nasty card hits on the turn. But I find it often hard to read the short stacks and decide whether he is moving in because he has the goods or just because he is messing around and gambling a bit, having not much to lose.

In fact, I don't see much of a point in sitting down at a $100 max table where almost everyone has $40 in front of him, even though that could be a sign that they are all weak. Then I'd rather play the $50 max game where there are some weak players with a full stack. You have much more room to find a good opportunity to take their money.

Finally, if you are determined to create a weak image there are plenty of ways to do that while still buying in for the max. You want to create a weak image so that people call you when you have a big hand, but in that case you want your double up to give you maximum value, and you'd kick yourself if you know you could have made twice as much on the hand.

Pieter