Short Stack Strategy – How to play after the flop

Strategy: No Limit

► Middle pair A pocket pair after one higher community card (not an ace!) has been

dealt.

► Top pair A pair made up of one of your hole cards and the highest community card.

► Overpair A pocket pair that is higher than the highest community card.

What hands can you keep?

► OESD (Open Ended Straight Draw) Four cards in direct sequence, with only the last missing. For example 4, 5,

6, 7.

► Flush draw Four cards of the same suit.

What hands can you keep?

► You’ve raised before the flop You try to bet all-in on the flop with any of the hands shown before (or

better).

How to play:• If no one has bet, you bet about 2/3 of the pot.• If someone has already bet, go all-in immediately. • If you bet and someone raises after you, go all-in.• If your bet costs you more than half your stack, go all-in immediately.• If opponents call your bet on the flop, go all-in on the turn immediately.

If your hand can’t be played, don’t invest any money on the flop.

• Exception 1: If the pot is already twice the size of your stack at the start of the betting round then you definitely go all-in!

• Exception 2: If you‘ve raised before the flop and only have one opponent then you should always bet about 2/3 of the pot. If the opponent raises, you fold.

How to play your hand

► You have not raised before the flop Don’t play a hand that still needs improving. So don’t play an OESD or a

flush draw. Don’t play a middle pair at this stage and only play a top pair if your

second hole card is at least a jack.

How to play:• If no one has bet so far, you bet about 2/3 of the pot.• If someone has already bet, go all-in immediately. • If you’ve bet and someone raises after you, go all-in. • If your bet costs you more than half your stack, go all-in immediately. • If opponents call your bet on the flop, go all-in on the turn immediately.

How to play your hand

Example 1

Hero

Player 9Player 8

Player 7

Player 6

Player 5

Player 4 Player 3

Player 2

FOLDRAISE

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD FOLD

$0.05

$0.

FOLD

CALL

$0.55$0.10

Player 1FOLD

Pot: $0.85

CHECK

BET

: $1.80

: $9.90: $9

: $

Example 2

Hero

Player 9Player 8

Player 7

Player 6

Player 5

Player 4 Player 3

Player 2

FOLDRAISE

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD FOLD

$0,05

$

FOLD

CALL

$All-in

Player 1FOLD

Pot: $0.85

BET

RAISE

$$0.10

: $2.00: $

: $9.90

Example 3

Hero

Player 9Player 8

Player 7

Player 6

Player 5

Player 4 Player 3

Player 1

Player 2

FOLDFOLD

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD

FOLD FOLD

$0.05

$0.10

BET

CALL

CALL

$All-inPot: $1.20

CHECK

CHECK

BET

: $1.40: $1

: $9.95

: $9.90

► You have learned that:

If you‘ve raised before the flop, you can play middle, top and overpairs or better. Additionally

you can play an OESD and a flush draw.

If you didn‘t raise before the flop you only play a top pair – with a jack kicker at least - or an

overpair and of course any other better hand.

A middle pair is worthless if one of the community cards is an ace.

Bluffing is only possible if, first of all, you‘ve raised before the flop and, secondly, you only

have one opponent on the flop.

Summary