Constantly shortstacked

[Emmitt2222]

Sorry if this is a repeat topic, but search function sucks and I found nothing.

I play Stars 22's and I find that I am constantly shortstacked in the middle of the tourney, especially on the bubble. This often leads to me getting bubbled or coming in third. For example I am often at 1300t when the blinds are 100-200 Now my question is, is being shortstacked often normal, or am I not stealing enough? If necessary I can post or PM an entire SnG, but I see how that would not be good to do right away. In general will you be less than 10BB's when the bubble approaches over a large amount of tournies? The reason I have a hard time solving this problem is that many people don't play regular Stars games, but maybe someone can help me out.

I really hate how this question is broad and n00bish, but I felt that the only way to address it was by creating a thread. If there are any general hiints throw them out, or else I can post a specific session.

[Guthrie]

Over a few hundred Stars SnGs, I have less than 10BB on the bubble far more often than not.

[elmitchbo]

keep an eye on the average chip stack. around the bubble average is almost always less than M=10.

if you're ahead of that you're doing well, probably not too far from the chip leader. if you're at t1300 when the blinds go up to 100/200(M=4.3) it means you should have been shoving all in when the blinds were 75/150(M=5.7) or maybe even before that.


so yes, you're aren't stealing enough.

[tewall]

Don't worry about stealing the blinds, unless a favoreable situation comes up. That is, don't go out of your way looking for a fight when you don't have good cards.

The situation you're talking about isn't bad. From your starting point, your EV has gone way up, as you are still in the hunt, with probably more than a couple of people and a couple already out. You can afford to continue being patient. If you know when pushing is +EV, and push those hands, playing this way should give you a nice edge. If you consider your situation from where you are now compared to where you started from, you can easily see how protecting your stack early on is a strong strategy.

[LALDAAS]

[ QUOTE ]
I am constantly shortstacked

[/ QUOTE ]

Welcome to my world.


I was chatting with another 2+2er on this very subjuct yesterday. He basically said the exact same thing.

[ QUOTE ]
Don't worry about stealing the blinds, unless a favoreable situation comes up. That is, don't go out of your way looking for a fight when you don't have good cards.

The situation you're talking about isn't bad. From your starting point, your EV has gone way up, as you are still in the hunt, with probably more than a couple of people and a couple already out. You can afford to continue being patient. If you know when pushing is +EV, and push those hands, playing this way should give you a nice edge. If you consider your situation from where you are now compared to where you started from, you can easily see how protecting your stack early on is a strong strategy.

[/ QUOTE ]

I listened to this advice and took it to the tables. I didnt get frustraded and spew chips.

I was patient and waited and then this hand

Also another SnG I was sitting UTG on the bouble in L5 with 106t rofl I took first place.

Just play correctly (which I am still learning to do) and all the piece's will fall in place.

[DevinLake]

When I first started playing SNGs being 10BBs or less scared the hell out of me and I found it very frustrating. I would be sitting there on the edge of my seat thinking I desparately needed a hand.

Now, after about 1000 SNGs, I am comfortable with the short stack and as long as I have some FE (~5BBs) then I still feel I have a good shot of being ITM and winning the tourney.

Like someone already posted, be patient and continue to find +EV situations to get your chips in.

Twice this week I've had just under 4BBs and have more than doubled up without seeing a flop...just keep plugging!

[nhsir]

Well, the stars 22s are my game of choice at the moment and it's been going very well. Generally, once I hit the 50/100 level I started raising much more often when it's folded to me (even if I don't have a big stack). I rarely do it with complete crap, but my range is fairly big and gets bigger in late position. I usually have a good feel by this time who I can steal from based on their play and stack size. Some tournements I find I can run over the table, others I have to be more selective. If my raises aren't working out, I make sure I leave myself enough chips to scare people if I have to go into push/fold mode. I also look for opportunities to pull moves like going all-in after a few limpers, or reraising all-in against a loose raiser when I have a strong hand. Aggression has worked well for me at this stage of the tournament.

[Jbrochu]

I believe that in the normal Stars tournaments to be really successful you need to give yourself opportunities to accumulate chips in the early levels. Don't go taking crazy chances, but certainly limp in from late position with speculative hands and good pot odds. Don't be afraid to bluff at a pot when the opposition shows weakness. Raise from late position in unopened pots with hands like medium PP's, even though you may be accustomed to limping with these hands at Party.

To make these kinds of moves you will have to play well postflop, so if you're uncomfortable postflop spend some time playing NL deep-stacked cash games.

Even with these adjustments, you will still enter the bubble fairly short-stacked more often than you would like.