S06E10 - Short Stack Bankroll Building Strategy - Low Stakes Poker
Jul 06, 2025•20 min
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Episode description
How to use a short stack poker strategy to build your bankroll.
Link to my Patreon (more information and links are at the bottom of this page)
https://lowlimitcashgames.com
Short Stack Bankroll Building
Core Strategy:
•Simple, Aggressive, Value-Oriented Play
•Avoid marginal spots & postflop heroics
•Exploit deeper stacks who overvalue hands postflop
•Fold equity + value = primary edge
General Guidelines
C-bet small (33-50%) on dry boards.
•Jam or fold turns, especially if SPR < 2.5.
•Don’t slowplay top pair+ — go for stacks.
•Trap stations, value bet thinly vs calling fish.
•Bluff less often unless opponent folds too much.
SPR Zones:
•SPR 1-2: Stack off with overpairs, top pair/top kicker.
•SPR 3-5: Proceed more cautiously; fold TPGK to big aggression from nits.
•SPR >5: Avoid unless holding strong hands
Vs loose-passive players:
•Open tighter.
•Value-bet relentlessly.
•No bluffing.
Vs aggressive regs:
•3-bet tighter, trap with top range.
•Check-raise more with strong made hands.
Opening Ranges by Position:
•UTG (8-9%):
•66+, AJs+, AQo+, KQs
•UTG+1 (9-10%):
•55+, AJs+, AQo+, KQs, QJs
•MP1 (10-11%):
•44+, ATs+, AJo+, KQs, QJs, JTs
•MP2 (12-13%):
•33+, A9s+, ATo+, KJs+, QJs, JTs, T9s
•HJ (14-15%):
•22+, A8s+, ATo+, KTs+, QTs+, JTs, 98s, 87s
•CO (20-22%):
•Any pair, A2s+, A9o+, all suited broadways, QTo+, JTo, most suited connectors
•BTN (35-40%):
•All pairs, all suited aces, all broadways, most suited connectors and one-gappers, all suited kings down to K2s, offsuit broadways and gappers
•SB (25-30%):
•Strong suited aces, broadways, suited connectors — raise or fold, avoid limping
•BB:
•Defend tighter vs. early opens; wider vs. CO/BTN. Mix in 3-bet shoves with hands like 66+, AJo+, ATs+, A5s, KJs against steals.
⸻
2. Preflop Raise Sizing Guidelines
In live cash games, adjusting your raise sizes can exploit common tendencies of opponents.
•Opening Raise Sizes:
•EP to MP: 4x BB (e.g., $20 in $2/$5 games), adding +1 BB per limper
•HJ to CO: 4x–5x BB, exploiting tighter ranges behind
•BTN: 5x BB vs. tight blinds, 6x BB+ vs. loose, calling blinds
•SB: 5x BB minimum to discourage BB calls
•3-Bet Sizing:
•In Position (IP) vs. Open: 4x the open size (e.g., open to $20 → 3-bet to $80)
•Out of Position (OOP) vs. Open: 5x the open size (e.g., open to $20 → 3-bet to $100)
⸻
3. Postflop Strategy Guidelines
With a 50bb stack, postflop play focuses on stack-to-pot ratio (SPR) management and exploiting opponent tendencies.
•SPR Considerations:
•Low SPR (4): Avoid committing without strong holdings
•C-Betting:
•Small c-bets (33–50% pot) on dry boards
•Larger c-bets (50–75% pot) on wet boards
•Turn Play:
•Jam or fold turns, especially if SPR < 2.5
•Avoid giving free cards to drawing hands
Brand New! Free content monthly just for signing up as. Free follower. Articles, videos and more. It’s 100% free to sign up and follow me here:
https://lowlimitcashgames.com
Fans of the Pod get ad free, fluff free episode every single Sunday:
https://lowlimitcashgames.com
Save 10% when you choose the annual option
Targeted Low Stakes poker training with hundreds of hours of audio and video teaching exclusively how to crush 1/2 and 1/3 no limit: https://lowlimitcashgames.com
Save 10% when you choose the annual option.
Hate AK? How to Play AK Master Class
For only $49 get this 88 minute training video of me showing you exactly how to play AK, particularly when out of position.
https://www.patreon.com/lowlim...
The best way to ramp your game up and know how to play any hand in any spot by drilling it over and over again. This is the only product I endorses. Make sure to use my code for a 25% discount at checkout: https://advancedpokertraining....
Use code: lowlimit
Free episode on variable, run bad, and tilt. Free for anyone who is a free member and high on my Patreon.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/...
Want more details on everything that is offered with the training package on Patreon? I go into great detail about it all here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...
Link to my Patreon (more information and links are at the bottom of this page)
https://lowlimitcashgames.com
Short Stack Bankroll Building
Core Strategy:
•Simple, Aggressive, Value-Oriented Play
•Avoid marginal spots & postflop heroics
•Exploit deeper stacks who overvalue hands postflop
•Fold equity + value = primary edge
General Guidelines
C-bet small (33-50%) on dry boards.
•Jam or fold turns, especially if SPR < 2.5.
•Don’t slowplay top pair+ — go for stacks.
•Trap stations, value bet thinly vs calling fish.
•Bluff less often unless opponent folds too much.
SPR Zones:
•SPR 1-2: Stack off with overpairs, top pair/top kicker.
•SPR 3-5: Proceed more cautiously; fold TPGK to big aggression from nits.
•SPR >5: Avoid unless holding strong hands
Vs loose-passive players:
•Open tighter.
•Value-bet relentlessly.
•No bluffing.
Vs aggressive regs:
•3-bet tighter, trap with top range.
•Check-raise more with strong made hands.
Opening Ranges by Position:
•UTG (8-9%):
•66+, AJs+, AQo+, KQs
•UTG+1 (9-10%):
•55+, AJs+, AQo+, KQs, QJs
•MP1 (10-11%):
•44+, ATs+, AJo+, KQs, QJs, JTs
•MP2 (12-13%):
•33+, A9s+, ATo+, KJs+, QJs, JTs, T9s
•HJ (14-15%):
•22+, A8s+, ATo+, KTs+, QTs+, JTs, 98s, 87s
•CO (20-22%):
•Any pair, A2s+, A9o+, all suited broadways, QTo+, JTo, most suited connectors
•BTN (35-40%):
•All pairs, all suited aces, all broadways, most suited connectors and one-gappers, all suited kings down to K2s, offsuit broadways and gappers
•SB (25-30%):
•Strong suited aces, broadways, suited connectors — raise or fold, avoid limping
•BB:
•Defend tighter vs. early opens; wider vs. CO/BTN. Mix in 3-bet shoves with hands like 66+, AJo+, ATs+, A5s, KJs against steals.
⸻
2. Preflop Raise Sizing Guidelines
In live cash games, adjusting your raise sizes can exploit common tendencies of opponents.
•Opening Raise Sizes:
•EP to MP: 4x BB (e.g., $20 in $2/$5 games), adding +1 BB per limper
•HJ to CO: 4x–5x BB, exploiting tighter ranges behind
•BTN: 5x BB vs. tight blinds, 6x BB+ vs. loose, calling blinds
•SB: 5x BB minimum to discourage BB calls
•3-Bet Sizing:
•In Position (IP) vs. Open: 4x the open size (e.g., open to $20 → 3-bet to $80)
•Out of Position (OOP) vs. Open: 5x the open size (e.g., open to $20 → 3-bet to $100)
⸻
3. Postflop Strategy Guidelines
With a 50bb stack, postflop play focuses on stack-to-pot ratio (SPR) management and exploiting opponent tendencies.
•SPR Considerations:
•Low SPR (4): Avoid committing without strong holdings
•C-Betting:
•Small c-bets (33–50% pot) on dry boards
•Larger c-bets (50–75% pot) on wet boards
•Turn Play:
•Jam or fold turns, especially if SPR < 2.5
•Avoid giving free cards to drawing hands
Brand New! Free content monthly just for signing up as. Free follower. Articles, videos and more. It’s 100% free to sign up and follow me here:
https://lowlimitcashgames.com
Fans of the Pod get ad free, fluff free episode every single Sunday:
https://lowlimitcashgames.com
Save 10% when you choose the annual option
Targeted Low Stakes poker training with hundreds of hours of audio and video teaching exclusively how to crush 1/2 and 1/3 no limit: https://lowlimitcashgames.com
Save 10% when you choose the annual option.
Hate AK? How to Play AK Master Class
For only $49 get this 88 minute training video of me showing you exactly how to play AK, particularly when out of position.
https://www.patreon.com/lowlim...
The best way to ramp your game up and know how to play any hand in any spot by drilling it over and over again. This is the only product I endorses. Make sure to use my code for a 25% discount at checkout: https://advancedpokertraining....
Use code: lowlimit
Free episode on variable, run bad, and tilt. Free for anyone who is a free member and high on my Patreon.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/...
Want more details on everything that is offered with the training package on Patreon? I go into great detail about it all here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/...
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