How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

Finding more and more tables at .10/.25 NL with guys buying in for less than even the $15 (let alone a full $25 buyin). I feel like these donks create a situation that demands adjustment of play. (eg less preflop raising with broadway cards, etc)

What adjustments to other micro NL players make to short-stackers like this? Or do you just play your usual game?

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

Call more.

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

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eg less preflop raising with broadway cards

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Um you should raise more often with broadway cards - less reverse implied odds. You should be raising less with suited connectors and lower pp's.

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

I've made the following adjustments and had mild success:

1) against average to deep stacks i would bet out with flopped monsters hoping to get raised, but against short stacks i tend to check to them hoping that they commit themselves.

2) the kind of hands that stack shorties are tptk type of hands vs. tp medium kicker. the type of hands that usually stack deep stacks are flopped sets vs. overpairs and big draws that come in. so, against all shorties, i play less tricky hole cards.

3) shorties often seem to have an "all-in or fold" mentality. this helps to achieve #1 above, but being check raised all in hurts the c-betting.

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

c-bet less often .. call more shoves .. dont think about kicker and such things. Just get it in with every TP.

after playing a while you'll fairly good know how to beat them. I didnt like them some month ago.. but today I dont really care about them [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

You need to exploit the fact that they are playing short. It is very easy to put them to a decision for all their chips, spots where it is really tough for them to continue without a big hand.

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

Rule No 1: Assume you play NL $25 and there's a Shorty at the table with a stack below $10. If you have JJ+, forget about betting patterns. Raise to something close to half the stack of that Shorty! This seems to be ridiculous, but just do it! It's even better if the Shorty already has limped. If he pushs, call. You will be surprised how many calls you will earn from Shorties. They like to gamble!

Rule No 2: Assume you have JJ+ or AK in the blinds, several people limped and a Shorty on the BTN or SB threw in a huge raise. Push your hand! Forget about betting patterns!

Rule No 3: If there's more than 1 Shorty at your table, the importance of rule no 1 will increase dramatically!

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

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You need to exploit the fact that they are playing short. It is very easy to put them to a decision for all their chips, spots where it is really tough for them to continue without a big hand.

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I disagree with this. If a shorty catches any piece of the flop .. it's all going to go in. There could be four to a flush . . four to a straight .. it doesn't matter. Bottom pair is good enough for shorties.

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

I usually wait for a good hand where I'd feel confident enough to go all-in with it, and it usually works. No need to play marginal hands vs them because they'll usually go all-in with any top pair/random 2 pair/draw and it's often a tough call when you have an iffy hand.

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

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You need to exploit the fact that they are playing short. It is very easy to put them to a decision for all their chips, spots where it is really tough for them to continue without a big hand.

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I disagree with this. If a shorty catches any piece of the flop .. it's all going to go in. There could be four to a flush . . four to a straight .. it doesn't matter. Bottom pair is good enough for shorties.

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And why is this a bad thing? I want them moving in with junk.

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

another thing .. if a shorty is raising you allin he probably has a worse hand than if he just flat calls you [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

Some random thoughts...

Playing post-flop vs a shortie, slowplaying big hands is much more of an option. There's no rush to get all the money in the middle. A couple of 1/2 PSB value bets will often do it. If he checks behind or doesn't bet the turn, you haven't lost much in the way of value. Whereas if you were facing a large stack, he might have c/r ed you and you could be on your way to a monstor pot.

If a shorty raises and you are thinking about a reraise, you need to think about what the stack sizes are going to be post-flop. For a long time I just made a standard rersaise and often found myself with a fair size pot, facing a PSB push and holding AK which missed. Now I either raise enough to commit us both, or smooth call and play poker post flop.

Obviously if you have AA leaving a PSB back is not a problem. In fact it is often desirable since you give shorty the idea he has fold equity.


From time to time you can manipulate the other players, by getting a shorty to push, when calling would commit him. E.g.

UTG 100 BB's
BTN 12BB's
BB (Hero) 100 BB's

Dealt to Hero QQ

UTG raises to 4BB, 2 folds, Btn calls, SB folds, Hero raises to 8BB???

Normally this would be a bad play, you let UTG call for another 4BB which is too cheap. But what usually happens is that UTG calls and shorty is faced with calling 4BB and leaving himself with 4BBs and a pot of 24BB. 90% of the time he'll push and open up the betting again, so you can 5-bet.

This probably sounds like Fancy Play Syndrome and truthfully the opportunity doesn't really present itself too often. Occasionally it will backfire and the BTN either calls or folds. But when it works it is sweet.

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

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You need to exploit the fact that they are playing short. It is very easy to put them to a decision for all their chips, spots where it is really tough for them to continue without a big hand.

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I disagree with this. If a shorty catches any piece of the flop .. it's all going to go in. There could be four to a flush . . four to a straight .. it doesn't matter. Bottom pair is good enough for shorties.

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And why is this a bad thing? I want them moving in with junk.

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Obviously not a bad thing if you have a hand.. Perhaps I misread your original post .. sounded like you were advising repping big hands on scary flops.

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

mike u make a very good point. A lot of shorties will either push or fold in this spot and the original raiser gets caught in the middle because they'll usually always call the minraise when they they raised from UTG. I've thought about this a few times where I raised too much so that even if shorty pushes over with the rest of his stack, it doesnt qualify as an actual raise. These situations come up a lot post flop as well, and if you watch for them, you can make teh monies.

Re: How to combat the short stack ninjas?
 

I am right now playing a lot of 25nl and buy in for 10-15$. I am preffering shortstacking at 25nl over playing 10nl. The reason is that most people have huge problems playing against shortstacks.
Its so easy getting the money in with the best hand as a shortstack because most players wont fold a small pp for 8 $ more or hands like a10 preflop (some call you with j4s).
If you are not comfortable playing against shortstacks you have to select tables with a lot of full stacks. (if i am playing full stacked i want to see at least 3 other full stacks .)