The LPA asked 30 MEN and women to tell us their best tips. The Results are as follows:

Top 10 Tips for Playing a Short Stack

1. Count your chips

Know exactly how many chips you have at all times.  Determine how many times you can play your big blind before you are blinded out.   

2. Observe the size of your opponents chip stacks. 

3. Determine the weak and passive players at the table.

A weak/tight player is what you are looking for and even with a short stack you can apply pressure to the weak/tight players.

4. If you choose to take a stand on a hand, and you are in early position, try limping in pre-flop, and going all in after the flop –no matter what cards come.

Sometimes this is a stronger play than going all in pre-flop.  Deciding that you are going to go all in with a hand, limping pre-flop, and going all in after the flop can be stronger than going all in pre-flop.  Why?  Because if your opponent doesn’t hit the flop, they are more likely to come off their hand after the flop. 

5. Go all-in pre-flop when you think an aggressive player is trying to steal the blinds. 

This is the absolute best time to go all in pre-flop with a marginal hand.

6. Observe other short stacks, this is the best time to double up with a marginal hand.

7. Don’t rule out coming off a hand when you think you are beat. 

If you think your hand is beat, for whatever reason, and you have a bet out there already, say 25% of your stack, don’t just throw the rest in because you think you are getting the right odds.  If you think you are beat, you can bet you are.  Instead, save that bet and your next hand might just be Aces with 3 callers.

8. It is okay to limp in to “see” a flop.  Look and then decide what you are going to do. 

9. Pay attention to the big stack.

Most books say to stay away from the big stack.  But big stacks can provide the best opportunity to get money back on your bet.  I do agree you should stay away from them if you have a marginal hand.  Though, with a premium hand you can limp, they will raise, you will call, after the flop you can check and they will bet and you will re-raise all in. Money in the bank, IF you hit the flop. 

10. Don’t give up!

I suggest you read the article “One Chip Wonder” in the LPA articles section.   It can be done Ladies!  “A chip and a chair IS all you need.”