Top Free Online Poker Games Guide To Why Size Matters In Poker
A lot of poker players, especially new ones in free online poker games but also on cash tables often play their hands with little regard for the situation context. This often results in expensive errors despite the fact that they may actually have a pretty good hand.
One common mistake I always see players make is neglecting to account for how the size of their chip stack may dictate the best way to play their hand. When I started playing poker around 5 years ago, I made the same mistake.
The best way to play a hand depends on lots of factors, one of which is your chip stack size. What would be a good move for a player with a big stack could be a very bad for a small chip stack player.
The fact is that in poker, size does matter. That is not to say that bigger is indeed better. Being “deep-stacked” has its advantageous, but small stacks can be equally effective at the poker table.
A Deep Stack Expands Options
With regard to this particular article, I’m going to define deep stacks as stacks which are roughly 125 big blinds or higher. Others may define a deep stack as a bit less or more than that range of big blinds, but almost no one would consider a stack of 35 big blinds or less to be a deep stack.
I generally subscribe to the idea that deep-stack play is preferable to small-stack play. Most advanced pokers would agree.
It is because deep stacks give you more room for taking advantage of implied odds. Basically, you’re allowed more freedom with regard to starting hand requirements. You can play small pocket pairs hoping to flop your set or small suited connectors looking to flop a flush or straight.
If you miss the flop, you can fold and wait for a better situation. You are able to be more patient since the blinds are a lesser worry as they won’t dig into your stack nearly so much.
Deep stacks are also very good for maximizing profit. If you are the biggest stack is it a lot easier to extract maximum chips from your opponents. This isn’t so for the short-stacks.
Let’s consider an example of this: If you are the largest stack with $900 chips and one player calls your all-in bet with his $600 in chips and you win, then you take all his money.
Now consider another example: If you’re a small stack with $five hundred chips and the biggest stack with $800 in chips calls your all-in bet and you win, you can’t take all his money. He’ll be left with $300 chips since you didn’t have enough money to play for all his chips.
That’s one of the pitfalls of the short stack, but there are some benefits.
A Shorts Stack Encourages Tight, Hyper-Aggressive Play
If you are short stacked it forces you to play for all your chips in every hand you play. This forces you to play premium hands like big pocket pairs and big face cards.
You generally will not get the right price to allow you to play small pockets and suited connectors. To play these you need to see the flop cheap and as every played is expensive for a short stack the chance to play them is rare.
The right move is to get all your chips in the middle with big pairs prior to the flop or to shove when you hit top pair on the flop. You do not have the chance to wait as the blinds will eat you alive.
One obvious benefit of this essentially all-in or fold strategy is that it forces you to play tighter. Another advantage of this type of play is that it’s harder to be outplayed by more skilled post-flop players.
Your decisions are simple: push or fold. There’s no need to concern yourself with the subtleties of the game like betting the correct quantity or knowing when you should fold the second best hand.
Additionally, there is the strange psychological advantage you’ll have. For some reason, many deep stack players don’t treat short stack players with much respect. They assume that you are buying in for a small amount because you have a small bankroll or aren’t very competent.
It is not unusual for the big stack to pay off a short stack player by calling with weaker than normal hands.
I still think that deep stack play is preferable, but I’ve faced some really difficult short stack players and wouldn’t undervalue their expertise.
If you need to learn how to play poker for beginners or after reading this realize that your stack play could do with attention then the fastest way to improve fast is to play poker online free . When you play risk free you can test things out without the pressure of possible money loss and that makes a big difference! And if you want learn to play poker for beginners courses then the free poker sites have great intro lessons too.