...

[aokrongly]

...

[TanO]

Although it may have paid off in this instance (KK) I dont think that this is really a good thing to do. With 11 players left there are either 6 or 5 people on your table, you are short stacked and 10th wont get you ITM, any 2 random cards you get dealt have a much better chance of winning on a 5 handed table than the final 10 handed table. Depending on position I'd be all in with Any ace, any 2 broadway and maybe even high suited connectors.

[Wet_DreaMer]

People that do this annoy me so much its unbelievable. You finally get a good read on a table, midstack, and want to make more chips before the tables combine, then every single hand..... zzzzz.....

Its a question of profit vs pride and dignity I guess. (No offense to you personally intended)

Although at the $30 level, it is definitely understandable.

[TanO]

Playing for time is only understandable if the next 1 or 2 places will see you into the money. Otherwise you'll be so short stacked you wont hit the money anyway so may as well go for all or nothing.

[DavSimon]

Although it may have paid off in this instance (KK) I dont think that this is really a good thing to do.......

Playing for time is only understandable if the next 1 or 2 places will see you into the money. Otherwise you'll be so short stacked you wont hit the money anyway so may as well go for all or nothing.

That is one philosophy, however it is one I do not agree with. On a short handed table table the blinds are coming around twice as fast, and although you may be able to play a wider selection of hands, unless you get very lucky and double up it will make little difference. Once the table is full again the there are more people playing and the orbits take much longer, which gives a short stack time to pick a good spot. Just because you are short stacked does not meant you will not make the money....particularly in a SnG. I can't count the number of times in 2-table SnG when I was the shortest stack when the tables combine only to come back and win or take 2nd place. Hell, it hapened once last night and twice on Sunday.....I also can't count the numer of times when I have seen a short stack "panick" and push too hard in a spot they didn't need to only to get busted by a larger stack that could simply afford to make a thin call. I'm not saying you should not sieze an opportunity if it presents itself, you be aggressive if you see a good spot....but sometimes just surviving gives you the opportunity to make a play. I have no doubts in my ability to out play most players, and when I get unlucky and end up short stacked...I want to give myself every opportunity to outplay them, and not leave my fate to a simple coinflip.

I suppose there is no single correct way to play a short stack in this situation, but I would not dismiss aokrongly's strategy (and mine) so quickly.

[TanO]

Sorry, I wasn't dismissing your strategy, just offering how I would play in the same situation. I can see the merits of either play and like so many of these things, it depends on the field you're with and the "moment".

On Party poker I would probably choose your strategy, but on tighter playing sites I think I would go for the loose maniac approach.

[soupie]

The greatest value in your strat there was potentially putting them all on tilt which of course you apparently did. Making them play mad can only be good for you in the long run. If you are the sensitive sort, just make your announcement and then turn off the chat.

[r8ed]

Real money, I would do it if I was 1-2 places out of the money. True, you are still an underdog if you make it to the final table, but you can come back. When money is on the line, you have to do what you have to do to win. Why do you care if somebody else wins? Isn't the goal of poker to win? Ethically it's not wrong either. Otherwise, bluffing or using poker tracker would be unethical to some extent. If Jason Giambi is going to bend the rules for money, so am I. Go Sox!

[Rorgg]

Its a question of profit vs pride and dignity I guess.

If you want to play for pride and dignity, get a nice game of chess.

[r8ed]

Right. Nobody here is keeping track of or posting Pride stats.

[Iconoclastic]

What goes around comes around.