Five Times to Shove With a Short Stack

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When a player starts to get short stacked, they start looking for opportunities to double up. If they can catch the right hand, they can get back into the game and have a shot to make the final table or win the poker tournament outright.

Today, we are going to look at some of the best times to attempt an all-in shove when you’re short stacked.

Top Starting Hands

The most obvious spot you’re going to attempt an all-in shove with a short stack is if you pick up a top hand such as aces, king, queen, or A-K. You’re putting yourself in the best spot to double with a top hand, and this is the spot most any player will prefer.

Granted, you are not guaranteed to win by shoving with a top starting hand, but often you will be the statistical favorite. Over time, this is the best move you can make. Of course, it is not always going to be an option.

Solid Hands in Position

If action is folded to you in a later position and you wake up with any pair, any suited ace, or any two face cards, this is going to be a good spot to shove. You’re only going to contend with the blinds and any limpers. Most often, if they don’t have a hand to raise pre-flop, you are going to be in the lead should someone decide to call your hand.

Shoving on Short and Middling Stacks

If you can find a situation where you can shove on a short stack or a middling stack, this is going to be advantageous. Often, these stacks will not call you down unless they have a reasonable hand. The short stacks are not going to risk elimination on junk hands. Middling stacks are not going to risk calling you and becoming a short stack.

Family Pots

A scenario that much more risky but can net huge rewards is trying to shove in a family pot pre-flop. A family pot is one where you have at least three other players already involved in the pot. For example, you have three limpers and you look down to Ax on the button. This is a great spot to try and shove.

First, if everyone folds, you’re going to pick up four rounds worth of blinds. Next, depending on the stack size of the limpers, you may get called in multiple spots. While not ideal, it gives you the chance to triple up or better should you get lucky.

This is the riskiest move you can make, but when it does work, it will usually pay off huge and put you back into contention.

Shoving With Overcards to the Board

All of the previous moves were pre-flop moves in Texas Hold’em. If you happen to play to the flop and find yourself with overcards to the board, shoving may prove another profitable play. For example, you have K-Q and the flop falls 9-6-3 rainbow. In this case, your opponent is going to be hard-pressed to call with anything other than a pair.

Even if they have something like A-Q or A-10, a shove on the flop is going to make it look like you have a pair already and they will have to catch up. Shoving may force your opponent out of the hand, especially if they are not flush with chips.

This move works best on the flop. On the turn, it is much more likely that your opponent has made part of the board. Also, depending on the size of the pot, they may have pot odds to call, even if they are sitting only with ace-high.