Short Stack
Having a relatively small number of chips compared to the blinds or other players at the table.
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What Is Short Stack?
Short-stacked players have limited room to maneuver post-flop and often must adopt a push-fold strategy, moving all-in or folding preflop rather than making smaller raises. In tournaments, stack size is typically measured in big blinds to gauge how urgently action is needed.
Examples
A player with 8 big blinds left in a tournament, forced into push-fold decisions.
A cash game player buying in short intentionally to limit variance.
Strategy Tips
Once your stack falls below roughly 15-20 big blinds, shift toward a push-fold strategy using an ICM or Nash-based chart to pick correct shoving ranges. Look for spots to accumulate chips before you're forced into an all-in decision with a marginal hand. Fold equity becomes your main weapon -- opponents may fold better hands to your shove rather than risk their own stack. Avoid limping or making small raises with a short stack, since it removes your fold equity and commits chips without maximizing pressure.