Well, I drop by again because of some more questions about NL cash game and tournament questions.

1. Just few days, ago I noticed some people in no limit cash games love buying in with less than the maximum. Say for an instance, in NL100, people are buying in with $10, $15, $20 or even may be $40. To some extent, I understand that playing the short stack has some advantages, but I’m wondering, how should I play with them when I have a full buy in?

Assume that I limp in with 88 in the early positions. Then with only 20 all folded to a short stack at middle position. A certain guy raised to $4 and everyone else even the small blind and big blind folded. My turn came and I don’t know what to do. I am sure either of the two, call or re-raise, won’t bring in positive result so I just thought of folding. Am I correct with this one?

By the way, do you have any idea about short stack specialist? Any helpful advice about it?

2. At times, I play NL tournaments. Well, I believe NL tournaments are far different from cash games. As my chips are limited, if I keep calling a raise with small pocket pairs, I would spend much chips before I hit my set in NL tournaments. On the other hand, I can always reload, and always have the opportunity to win back the money in cash games.

Well, in NL tournaments, I always find some ways to balance everything. However, I can’t still get the hang of some stuff. I don’t know how can I accumulate lots of chips and then proceed to the final table all the way. Also, I don’t know what kind of hands should I play. Can you help me?

3. I like GSN’s High Stakes Poker a lot. One thing I noticed in most of their games is that pros typically play loosely. Say someone raises with A4o, unexpectedly someone calls with K9s. And when flop hits a 9, player with K9s would assume he got only the best hand and nothing else follows. Well, I don’t totally understand what’s going on. Please, I need clarity on this.

Thank you.

Regards,
Carter

Carter,

1. Short stack specialists are trying to find a hand to pretty much double up with right away. Your best bet in playing these type of specialists is to pick a strong hand or pick a hand and hurt them when you flop well. The pocket eights you mentioned above is a good hand to hurt a short stacked specialist with. Call their bet and see a flop. If you hit your set, chances are you are going to extract bets out of them. Your best bet with a short stacked specialist is to play small pots and see cheap flops. Don’t put yourself in a spot to double them up.
2. The key to long term success in tournaments is being able to steal blinds and antes on a regular basis and use position to your advantage. Most tournaments do not begin until the antes kick in. Once that happens, the person that can successfully steal blinds on a regular basis in addition to catching some hands is a person that can go deep in tourneys.
3. You need to remember that these players are the best in the world and they spend their entire lives dedicated almost exclusively to poker. These players are mixing up playing hands with being able to play the player as well. If you watch closely, each player has their own unique styles. Just as a word of advice, watch very closely how Phil Ivey, Jennifer Harman, Doyle Brunson, Barry Greenstein, and David Benyamine play when they are on there. You will see a little more sensible play. Benyamine and Ivey right now are 1 and 2 in the world in amount of money won in cash games online.