[Fishstick]

The End of the Mid-Stake Competent Shortstacker (Hopefully!): Part 1

After a very frustrating session today I have decided to reveal some of the tools I use to minimizing the edge that competent shortstackers have when playing against a table of aggressive full stacks. While my losses today had nothing to do with these shorties, I came to realize during tonight’s session just how much I hate them.

If you don’t know what a competent shortstacker (CSS) is, then don’t worry about this post and just keep playing your game. If you do know what that term means—or have a general idea of what it means—than please read this carefully, and help me make their poker sessions frustrating and difficult. There’s nothing more irritating than a player that consistently makes money without having any skill whatsoever.

The “facts” I am listing in this post are supposed to represent the typical CSS’s hand ranges and weak spots. The following ranges apply to NL 6 max and assume that the CSS buys in for only 20bb’s:

CSS UTG opening range : 10’s+, AQs+, AKo (3.8%)

-wont fold any thing they raise with from UTG.


CSS UTG+1 opening range: 99+, AQs+, AQo+(5.1%)

-wont fold any thing they raise with here unless 2 or more players go all-in/re-raise.


CSS cutoff opening range: 88+, A9s+, A10o+ (8.3%)

-if vs a loose player they are folding A9s, A10s and A10o (Calling with 82% of their hands here)
-if vs a tight player they are folding A9s, A10s, A10o, AJo and 88. They may also
occasionally fold AJs and 99 (Calling with 65% of their hands here)


CSS button and SB opening range: 20-30% of the total possible hands, including almost any pair, any two paint cards, and paint coupled with high non-paint. They won’t be raising many suited connectors here unless the BB and SB are nitty (and this is assuming they have poker tracker and some understanding of table dynamics).

-they have to be raising with some junk from these positions just to stay alive at six max; if they didn’t raise with a lot of hands here, then they would get eaten alive by the blinds and the rake.

Here is the great thing. They are folding a large % of their button and SB range to 3 bets preflop so take advantage of this by raising lighter than u normally would vs them when they are in those positions. Most of them are calling/pushing with only 10-12% of their range here (44+, KQs+, A9s+, A10o+); this means they are folding 40-66% of the time. This is their weak spot so take advantage of it by re-stealing!!



Well…that’s just the start of it. I am still debating whether or not I want to post the second part but if I do it will be in about a week. If you have enjoyed this post, then please show your appreciation by crippling the bankroll of every competent shortstack in sight, especially if you play at Party Poker.


FishStick