Eliminating Opponents

- Poker Tips and Strategies at JazzPokerRoom.com - Español

HHA - 16 April 2010

It's always a good thing to eliminate an opponent from the poker table; every one else benefits from this. With fewer opponents you get closer to the prize money, or in case you are in the money, it puts you closer to the top positions and prizes. So every time you get the chance to get rid of a player with a small stack you should do it.

Like with any other decision in poker games, when you face the situation of dealing with a player with a short stack of chips in a "All-In", you have to be cautious. The final action you should take depends of several factors: It is not recommend to risk a good percentage of your chips if there is a danger of becoming a weaker target. This could be worse if you don't have a strong pocket hand. Another fact you should take into consideration is if you are in a sit and go table, and there are just a few remaining players. Letting the short stack go away with the blinds will allow him to return to the game. In big multi-table tournaments, you usually don't have to deal with this scenario and should avoid it for a while.

If you take the less risky move of not-to-call, the rest of the players could criticize this move; everyone will be thinking in the benefit of one less player to worry about. Do not let these arguments put pressure on you. You are not there to do their dirty work for them. Its better when you stay at the table and see some other player make the call on all those risky all-ins desperate players make to stay in the game, and you just get closer to the prize money without even having to play.

If you can isolate a short staked player with a decent hand, remember that he will more likely do desperate moves, so a hand that is not spectacular could take him down. You could have his chips before other players do the same, but only if this move doesnâ€™t put your own stack at risk. Try to only get into this situation if your hand allows you to go after a desperate player with weaker cards, or you may end up just doubling up their chips.

In big tournaments, when you reach the final stage, you could make more risky movements when eliminating an opponent to put you in a better position for the money. Sometimes, going up one spot could make you double the cash prize, but try to take this risk only if you have calculated the worst case scenario: that even if you lose the hand you can stay at the same spot for the prize money.

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