3 steps:
1: Wait for decent hand
2: Push ALL IN
3: Pray
On this note:
I was playing last weekend in a private 1/3 game with a shortstacker who shows up from time to time.
He’ll buy in for the minimum, bet or call every street, shove with flopped top pair bad kicker, etc. Regs know to call him down on most any decent flop and it will be profitable.
The shortstacker typically punts off 4-5 min buyins, then either leaves on his own or gets cut off by the host (who will extend credit but doesn’t want this guy losing more than he can afford).
Well… this time the shortstacker simply could not miss. Called everything down to the river, seemed to catch his gutshot or runner runner or two-outer 95% of the time.
Example: Guy with AQs raises to $20 pre. Shortstacker calls. Flop is AJ2 rainbow. AQs leads with $75 overbet. 97o calls. Turn 9. AQ shoves, knowing the shortstacker will come along with any pair. 97o calls. River 7. WTF
One guy in particular got sucked out on so many times he finally left in disgust.
Shortstacker runs his first min buyin up to $1,500 in the first hour, then over $3,600 a few more hours Iater. The table was at this point just openly mocking/ marveling at his rungood.
Buddy next to me said, this can’t last, only question is who takes it back from him.
I’m sitting with about $850. Guy opens for $65 (1/3 game still). I look down at
and make it $200. He shoves over my reraise and I of course call… Expecting his 95o or J3o to somehow win.
But this time he has a real hand —
— one I totally dominate. Rags with no spade on the flop, he needs running kings to catch up (or some random low straight on the board to chop). I brace for the trainwreck, but my hand holds as it should.
A few minutes later another player catches him speeding for another big pot, and the short stacker packs up and leaves— still up maybe $1,400, but down more than $2K from his peak.
Patience!