[Rev. Good Will]

Hey pokey,

Well put together, very thought out and informative post as usual. I have a few rebuttals though:

[ QUOTE ]

Flaw #1: Short-stack strategy gives up your biggest poker advantage.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think anybody has said short staking was the end all optimal way to play. In GSIH, Miller repeated if you are new to the game, though you won't make as much money playing deeper; as you should buy in short to learn the mechanics of the game, and just kind of observe the action, practice hand reading, etc.

[ QUOTE ]

Flaw #2: Short-stack strategy stunts your growth as a poker player.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have to refer back to some of my points made previously, you should buy in short to learn the mechanics of the game, and just kind of observe the action, practice hand reading, so on, and so on. If you aren't practicing observation skills when you aren't involved with your hand, I don't think you'll be doing it in the first place if you were to buy in full.

In short, nobody ever said that Short Stack stratergy was the optimal way of playing. BUT if you are new to poker in general, or even just big bet poker, you might be better off playing a few hundred hands short staked so you can at least be a part of the game, observe your opponents, and learn to identify what are the most significant mistakes are.