The thing about these professional short stackers is that they suck at playing post-flop. That’s why they buy-in short in the first place, after all. So my strategy is to make small pre-flop raises against their blinds. They win less when they shove on me, and if they really want to exploit me, they have to call and try to play post-flop against me out of position. This is the kind of stuff that usually results:
PokerStars No-Limit Hold’em, $50.00 BB (2 handed) – Poker-Stars Converter Tool from FlopTurnRiver.com
BB ($547)
Hero (SB) ($5450)
Preflop: Hero is SB with 4
, 6
Hero bets $100, BB calls $50
Flop: ($200) A, K, 6 (2 players)
BB checks, Hero bets $80, BB raises to $200, Hero raises to $5350 (All-In), 1 fold
Total pot: $600 | Rake: $1
Results:
Hero didn’t show 4, 6.
Outcome: Hero won $599
With just 11 BB’s, he’s shoving probably all of his Aces, good Kings, and pocket pairs pre-flop. He could have a weak K or 6, but I pretty much flopped the nuts. I bet small to induce a check-raise, and since he’s not check-raising less than an Ace for value, I know I’m good when he raises. I don’t think he bluffs the turn if I just call flop, though, so best to stick it in now.