Poker Betting: How To Play A Small Stack

by Bodog Poker Staff | Feb 20 2012

In a perfect world, poker players would love to have the most chips at the table not only because it makes you look like the big man on campus, but it also allows you to bully around everyone else.

But let's be a realistic for a second: everyone has been in a position where they're the skinny stack on the table and the blinds are winding it down even more so. When you're in that position, it's important you adjust your strategy as you simply can't play as freely as the player with the most chips.

Good thing we've compiled a list of four key points to follow when you're dealing with a small stack:

***
Join Bodog Poker and receive a 110% bonus up to $1,100!
Here's more info on how the Instant Poker Signup works.
***

Don't risk it

When you're chip count is low, you're best off sticking to the poker betting odds and avoid any speculative calls.

Think about it: if you try to your hand with low pocket pairs and you don't have a lot of chips to play with, you run the risk of being re-raised and forced into going in more than you would like with a hand that you're not overly confident about. You don't even have enough chips to really make it worth your while anyways.

Skip the speculative stuff; play the percentages that give you the best chance to win.

Don't raise a hand you're not willing to see through

Everyone likes to bluff in poker but one time that you don't want to employ that strategy is when you're short-stacked.

If you're running low, only play hands that you're willing to see through and go all-in for.

You're not in a position to raise, re-raise, see flops and so on because you can't afford it. Only play when you've got the bullets.

When you go, go hard

So you've been patient, you've been poised and you've managed to keep your cool even though you're painted into a corner with a small stack. Then finally the pocket rockets come along. Now is the time to bet.

Once you're in position to play, make sure you actually follow through. Even if you're only going to steal some blinds, it's important that you come away with some winnings and get back in the positives.

Don't try to slow play and bait people. They know you're only going in if you've got cards, so make sure you're the aggressor and take control when you've got the right hand.

Monitor the pot

In poker betting, when your stack is whittling down and you're getting close to being blinded out, you may have to take a shot with good, but not great cards. One strategy to better ensure that you come away as a winner is to monitor the pot and be the first one in it.

If you see a number of big gunners are already in for a showdown, you'll likely want to stay away. But if you're the short stack on the table and you're the only one going in, you know that you're in much better shape.

It's even better if you can make the first move. If you're short-stacked, others around the table know that you'll have something in your hand if you're betting, so go in first and make everyone behind you make the decision.

If there are a couple people in the pot already, you're more likely to see a call and that will severely hamper your shot to steal the blinds.

***
Download and Play the Next Phase of Bodog Poker.
***

| | |