Playing short stacks (<30bb) in tournament poker

Translated with the help of AI. We apologize for any errors and would appreciate your help in correcting them.

Any tournament player is certainly pleased to be the chip leader of the table (and, moreover, the chip leader of the tournament), to crush his opponents with big bets and feel confident even after losing several banks pots. However, the reality is that players spend a huge part of tournament time throughout their poker careers with medium and short stacks. And a successful game at this stage requires high quality of decisions. In this article, we will analyze how it is profitable to play in short stacks, and which mistakes that greatly reduce the winrate of a tournament player should be eliminated immediately.

1. Common mistakes when playing short stacks in tournament poker

Let's analyze the list of common mistakes that players make in short stacks in MTT. Since the game in short stacks takes up most of the tournament, we recommend that you take the knowledge collected for you carefully and seriously. A high-quality game in short stacks will save many of your tournaments. 

Wrong choice of hands for cold call

Excessively wide cold-call is one of the main mistakes not only for beginners, but also for more experienced players. This applies to all stages of poker tournaments, but in short stacks, such errors are the most expensive, so it is necessary to clearly understand with which hands it will be profitable to enter the call game.

In the early positions, it is only necessary to call: 

1. with pocket pairs in order to collect the set on the flop.  For small pair 77-22, your stack should be at least 35 bb (to comply with the “call-15” rule), and for middle - TT-88 - call is made in a stack of more than 25 bb (with a shorter effective stack, it is often preferable to go directly to all-in);
2. with strong “Broadway” cards (AQs-AJs, KQs-KJs, AQo-AJo).

At CO-BU positions, only suited aces (ATs-A2s, with a stack of more than 25 bb), the best suited connectors (JTs-98s) and, in some cases, offsuited high “Broadways” (ATo, KQo, KJo) can be added to this range. The same principles apply for entering multi-banks.

(These range are based on the results of a review (research) of large databases of hands played in 2022-2023 by players of various limits, and are presented in a more complete form in the current video course “Optimal preflop ranges - Level 2”, developed for tournaments with buy-ins up to $33).

A separate item can be identified as the protection of blinds, which we will discuss later in this article.

Unwillingness to play post-flop in depth <30 bb

For many, the game in short stacks is so complicated and confusing that they generally refuse post-flop and prefer to immediately go to the push-fold stage (that is, throw out most of the starting hands, and with the strongest go to all-in). Such actions are fundamentally wrong, they greatly reduce the winrate of many players in this stage of the tournament.

Fears in the game against a large stack

Especially for beginners, an increased fear of any resistance to players with large stacks can be noted. Despite the fact that most players know how much chip leaders can expand their range to put pressure on the table (sometimes up to 100% of the hands!), only a few adjust their actions to this situation. Usually, inexperienced players with short stacks refuse potentially profitable actions both on pre-flop and in the game on later streets, and miss a lot of profit.

Skipping profitable situations for all-in

Excessive caution also leads players to refuse profitable bets on the stack (both open-push and 3-bet-push or restyle-push). 

This is usually due to a lack of understanding of situations when all-in will be the optimal solution, even if it is accompanied by the risk of relegation from the tournament. It must be remembered that poker is primarily a game where we must choose the most positive decisions at all stages of distribution, taking into account numerous nuances. And if in a particular situation the most profitable scenario is to go to all-in (albeit with a risk to tournament life), it is necessary to choose this action.

2. The basics of the strategy in stacks from 20 to 29 bb

In Level 1 and Level 2 ranges from the site, we do not split the open raise into stacks for more convenient and quick memorization. We simplify the game. But in fact, there are differences in the game between the 20-30bb stack and the 30bb+ stack. We only open these differences in Level 3 game ranges. It is not so significant for the result until you reach the limits of at least $33. Nevertheless, in this article we will tell you how you can improve the game in short stacks and what discrepancies with the standards of preflop games are in these stacks. 

Adjustment of rise ranges

Even with a decreasing stack, we must continue to put pressure on the table with our raises as before. This is especially beneficial in the later stages of the tournament, when many players can start to clamp and drop more hands on both pre-flop and post-flop. The use of excessive secrecy of opponents allows us to earn chips and keep the stack in working condition. Pay attention to the type of opponents behind you if you are an open racer. Your discovery will be most successful against passive players. Against reg players with a good stack on the contrary, try to open your hands with blockers on the vellya combination. The draw of border hands should be abandoned, it is unlikely that you will be able to earn a lot of chips on them at a distance the long run.

Aggressive post-flop game  

As we have already noted, aggressive play in shallow stacks is even more profitable than in the early stage of the tournament. If you were a pre-flop aggressor, continue to play actively and post-flop, exert maximum pressure on your opponents with bets and raises on both the velly and as a bluff (in suitable situations). Once in the role of the defending party, carefully observe the actions, as well as the size of the opponent's bet. Be ready to seize the initiative if the villain shows weakness and refuses to continue betting bet.

Short stack call blind protection

Players in the positions of small and big blinds have more reasons to enter the call game, because they have already placed a mandatory bet in the hand that has begun. However, as we remember, you should not enter the bank with all your hands in a row on the blinds either. At the position of the small blind (MB), we can profitably to call in a short stack only a limited range of hands: suited aces (AJs-A2s), the best “broadway cards” (KQs, KQo, AJo), as well as low pocket pair (88-22). In some situations, the best medium suited connectors (JTs, J9s, T9s, 98s) can be added to these starters. When forming a multi-bank, a call with strong suited “Broadways” (KJs-KTs, QJs-QTs) also shows itself to be profitable. 

On the big blind (BB), the range of call protection will be much wider due to better pot odds. The main factors affecting this range will be the pre-flop-raiser position and the size of the open-raise. The earlier the opening is made and the larger the open-raise, the more the player on the BB is inclined to tighten his range of protection, leaving only the strongest in equity and the most playable on the post-flop starters. Against late (stealing) positions, the game is very different: here the BB can profitably defend most of its suited and offsuited hands with a call. As for the entrance to multi-banks, here the player on the BB should give preference to low pocket pairs, the best single-laden and high diverse “broadway” cards. 

Bluff 3-bet non-all-in 

With a decrease in the effective stack, the frequency of 3bet made in a bluff generally decreases: after all, in case of failure, we lose a significant part of our stack. In particular, the researchers show that bluff 3-bet from the positions of MB and BB, which in the middle stacks brings a good profit, in stacks less than 28 bb it is advantageous to completely exclude. 3-bet will now be done only on the value, and most of the range is protected through 3-bet Push (all-in) or passively through call. However, being in the late positions (CO and BU), and in stacks 20-30 bb, you can afford a profitable bluff 3-bet with the best hands for this (such as KQo or QTs), having blockers to the velle range of the open raiser. The size of 3bet can be reduced to x2.5 or even x2.2. 

Attention! It is preferable to make a bluff 3-bet against the positions of MR+, and against the early positions - to abandon it.

How to play 3-bet push versus raise in 20-30 bb stacks

The stack of 20 (and even more so 30) bb is still quite playable, so the 3-bet Push (all-in) here is profitable with a fairly narrow range of hands, which consists mainly of a premium hand (AA-QQ), the strongest pair (JJ-TT, sometimes 99-77) and the best "Broadways" (AK and AQ). In certain situations (for example, if we have the opportunity to get a knock-out by winning the pot), this range may expand slightly. Separately, it is worth highlighting the strategy of playing on blinds against styling (open-raise from late positions). 

1. When protecting the small blind (MB) and in short stacks (20-30 bb), there is a place for both profitable resteal push (all-in) and 3-betam. Through Push (all-in), medium and low pocket pair (JJ-55, in knockout tournaments, 44-22 can be added to them), as well as suited and offsuited aces with high kickers (AKs-ATs, AKo-ATo), that is, hands with high equity, which, however, are difficult to play on the postflop if they do not receive a boost; Through 3-bet, a fairly large group of starters can be played, consisting of both premium hand (AA-QQ) and suited and offsuited aces and “broadway” cards (A9s-A2s, KQs-K9s, QJs-QTs, KQo, A9o-A8o). At the same time, with the weakest part of this range, in case of aggression from a preflop racer, it is more profitable to choose the “3-bet - fold” line.
2. When playing on the big blind (BB), the range of protection can be further expanded, since the player on the BB is the last to make a decision in the preflop hand. Depending on the size of the effective stack, the advantageous (according to the researchers) protection strategy will vary quite significantly.

With an effective stack of 20-24 bb:

1. premium hands (AA, sometimes QC) can be played through cold-call;
2. most of the protection range is played via Push (all-in). This includes pocket pair (QQ-55), suited and offsuited aces with good kickers (AKs-A6s, AKo-A8o), the best “broadway” starters (KQs-KJs, KQo);
3. in tournaments without knockouts, low “pockets” (44-22), weakest aces, both suited and offsuited (A5s-A2s, A7o-A2o), medium “Broadways” (KTs, QJs-QTs, KJo-QJo) can be added to the push range.

As we can see, 3-bet - and as a bluff, and on the vellya - is completely absent here.

With an effective stack of 25-29 bb:

3. How to correctly play raises and push fold in stacks up to 20 bb

In the middle and late stages of the tournament, it is not uncommon for most players at the table to have their stacks drop to very small values. In this case, the player who opens the game with a raise has a great chance to immediately pick up the pot, since small stacks make cold-call from opponents unprofitable, and strong hands for 3bet or all-in will not be common. That is why it is so important to continue to put pressure on the table in short stacks.

Raise Fold Strategy

Through the “raise - fold” line, it is advantageous to play hands that have good equity, as well as blockers to the velly range of opponents at the table, but, at the same time, not strong enough to go with them to all-in. Examples of such starters will be A9s, KQs, AJo, QTs and the like. Just like when playing deep stacks, the range of the raise-fold expands from early positions to late ones. The maximum value of the raise-fold reaches the position of the small blind, where we still recommend that low-limit players play 100% of their range. Only a small part of the range at the same time is profitable to play through all-in, and with the vast majority of hands it is open-raise.

Which hands are profitable to open-flush and why

At the same time, with the best starting hands with strong equity, it is advantageous to go all-in at once in the 13-19 bb stack. Even if you only pick up the blinds, this will add a good amount to your small stack. And if your bet is accepted by one or more opponents, you will have a good chance of doubling. The larger our stack, the narrower the range we want to take to all-in on preflop. 

• For example, from an early position behind a 9-max and 8-max table in a 17-19 bb all-in stack, only hands such as AK, AQ, and JJ-99 pocket pairs are played. 

It must be remembered that in many cases the stack 15, 17 and even more so 19bb is quite playable, and sometimes just an average stack of the tournament. It is unreasonable to risk them with weaker hands, being in an early position.

The fewer players decide after us, the wider the range we can profitably play through all-in on the preflop. Accordingly, the most advantageous for all-in (if no one has opened the game with a raise before you) is the position of the small blind. In the stack of 11-13bb, open-push from the small blind is about 30% of the entire range in knockout tournaments, and about 40% in tournaments without knockouts knock-out. For example, in a knockout tournament through open-push, any suited aces, all high “broadway” cards with kings and ladies, most pocket pair, etc. can be advantageously played. 

The importance of using raise calls in the premium range 

Premium hands, such as AA, KK, QQ, usually fall into the hands of a tournament player quite rarely. And in each case, it is very important to play these strong starters correctly in order to get the maximum profit. In short stacks (starting from 8 bb), the strongest starting combinations are best played through the open-raise. This tactic, on the one hand, gives opponents in the positions of small and large blinds good chances to enter the pot, and on the other hand, hides the strength of our hand, setting a trap for opponents in later positions who can go all-in with weak and dominant hands (especially in knockout tournaments).

4. The impact of ICM and knockouts on decision making in short stacks

Both the ICM and the presence of knockouts in the tournament (rewards for knocking a player out of the tournament) have a significant impact on the strategy of playing in short stacks. 

The pressure of the ICM on the short stacks is maximum. While players with large stacks can still play diversely (and without much fear of consequences), and for push-fold stacks the choice consists of only 2 options, players with short stacks face difficult problems. Decisions in this stage are so important and expensive that even a small mistake can deprive the player not only of hopes for high places, but also lead to a quick departure from the tournament. In general, in the ICM stage, players with medium stacks significantly narrow the range of hands played.

This applies to both the opening of the pot (that is, open raises), as well as cold calls and 3-bets, as well as the protection of blinds. Now only the best,  most playable hands can be played profitably, and this should be done actively, avoiding passive actions as much as possible. The presence of knockouts in the tournament further complicates the situation and introduces its own characteristics into the strategy of players with short stacks. On the one hand, if we surpass the opponent in the stack, and there is an opportunity to get a knock-out as a result of distribution, we can slightly expand the range of re-push and response to all-in the opponent. Also, the size of the knockout (which in the late stage in some cases may exceed even the jumps in prize payouts) will affect our decision in this situation.

On the other hand, if we concede in stack size and risk relegation from the tournament, then both the open-push range and the all-in acceptance range should be reduced, removing the weakest hands from them. Get up-to-date preflop ranges created based on the results of the latest research and presented on the website of our school, and be sure to take them into account when making decisions at the ICM stage and if there are knockouts in the tournament.

5. Conclusion

Competent play in short stacks is one of the most important components of a profitable game of tournament poker in modern conditions. Errors or cooler hands leading to relegation from the tournament at an early stage are rare, so a large number of players go to the middle and late stages of various events, and it is here that they compete for entry into the ITM zone and further struggle for high prizes.

Having mastered the significant concepts of playing in short stacks and eliminating the errors characteristic of this stage of the game, you will certainly increase your level of play and winrate, making your poker even more positive at a distance the long run.

We recommend: 

1. carefully study the advantageous tactics, as well as the mistakes described in this article,
2. organize the acquired knowledge in a brief synopsis
3. and devote sufficient time to eliminate errors and thoughtfully introduce new aspects for you into your daily game.