Why do we hate shortstacks so much?

[kitaristi0]

I was gonna write a longer post about it but I'm tired and can't be assed. Instead, I'm just going to throw the question out there and see what reasons people have for disliking shortstacks so much, and then maybe write that longer post later.

Reason 1: People think that playing with 20BBs isn't "real poker".

Reason 2: A significant percentage of shortstacks rathole.

[holyfield5]

because the optimal strategies for them basically allow them to bully you PF and force you to put more BB in with certain hands than you would usually feel comfortable with so its high variance.

when you do get a big hand you make less(offset by the fact that you make more on worse hands/lose less on coolers(if they are bad you can bully them and put them to decisions cheaply)

[fitnessfreak]

Shortstacks are as unwelcome to me as balls on a chick.

[jii]

- Good short stacking strategy is partly based on ratholing
- Poker with deep stacks is more interesting
- I don't remember seeing a short stack with good strategy
- Reason for previous might be that the [censored]er left my table after doubling
- Usually you just donate some to them before stacking them

[Avicenna]

[ QUOTE ]
Good short stacking strategy is partly based on ratholing


[/ QUOTE ]

Vocabulary question: what is ratholing?

[ QUOTE ]
I don't remember seeing a short stack with good strategy


[/ QUOTE ]

Yes I agree with that. Most players buy in short because they want to experience the thrill of higher stakes without losing too much money, not because it could potentialy give them an advantage.
As a result, you can often bully a short-stack, and they will fold even if they have good odds to call.

[Ratamahatta]

FWIW, I think only 5% of shortstacks are actualy using some kind of strategy. The other 95% just suck and don't want to risk 100bb.

[SilentNoise]

because i dont know how to play against them properly. most of the time i either raise they flat call and push when i miss i fold or they raise all in and i fold my suited connector or they call my cbet they push or checkdown and their midpair is good.

if you have two shortstacks in the sb/bb and its folded round to the button, im beginning to think raising 22 there isn't optimal.

maybe im wrong?

[1o BoY]

i think 1 or 2 agro shortISHstacks 6 handed is just what the table needs

[josh_x]

[ QUOTE ]
FWIW, I think only 5% of shortstacks are actualy using some kind of strategy. The other 95% just suck and don't want to risk 100bb.

[/ QUOTE ]

shortstacks are great you get to go all in vs them without risking much. seriously they almost all suck and are easy money, what's the problem?

[FishSticks]

I don't care about the ratholing and the other crap frankly - it's online poker, people come and go all the time and it's just the way it us.

I hate shortstacks because they exploit the games and have an edge over other players. With all the 3betting and resteals that occur preflop these days, combined with the very loose open raising standards of today's players, shortstacks get MANY +EV push opportunities preflop in a typical 6max game - and your typical game that is optimized for play against 100BB opponents isn't very good against shortstacks. You are forced to decide who you really want to try to beat, and it blows.

Anyways poker sites just need to get tables rolling with at least 50BB minimum buyins and let the shortstacks play by themselves.