Always Buyin For Max

IMO you should always buyin for max at a cash game. That is how you get max value when you hit. If you drop 1/3 of that original buyin, you need to chip back up to max for that added value. Too many times I watch short stacks go allin with the nuts and the side pot is triple his earnings. That is stupid poker and bad business.

Reason #2 - you lose a lot of your tools by playing short. How can you pull off a nasty bluff when warranted? How do you protect your holdings? How do you play and not become pot-committed? In most cases you can't do any of these things because your stack demands no respect.

Reason #3 - Because of the aforementioned negative issues with the short stack, you are not advancing as fast in your game as you be. You can't learn to integrate these elements to your game if they aren't even a part of your hand dynamics.

Often you are left with push-monkey poker. You sit back and wait for a good hand and then push, hoping that someone calls and your hand holds up. You aren't advancing in your level of play. So by in for max and let's play some poker.

He are 2 examples where I just had no respect for their stacks. If they have more money I play them totally different and likely take down neither one.

Hand #37040466-75164 at Ames (No Limit Hold'em)
Started at 15/Jan/07 04:02:15

kman333 is at seat 0 with $23.40.
AGSK_REP is at seat 1 with $25.60.
Breppe is at seat 2 with $17.85.
devilbiss is at seat 3 with $26.75.
mcash2 is at seat 4 with $47.65.
spcome is at seat 5 with $27 (sitting out).
teleben is at seat 6 with $8.80.
SlushyBOB is at seat 7 with $6.55.
i_slang_hats is at seat 8 with $9.75.
Ralph Wiggam is at seat 9 with $8.60.
The button is at seat 4.

teleben posts the small blind of $.10.
SlushyBOB posts the big blind of $.25.

kman333: -- --
AGSK_REP: -- --
Breppe: -- --
devilbiss: -- --
mcash2: Kc Qc
teleben: -- --
SlushyBOB: -- --
i_slang_hats: -- --
Ralph Wiggam: -- --

Pre-flop:

i_slang_hats folds. Ralph Wiggam folds. kman333
folds. AGSK_REP folds. Breppe folds. devilbiss
folds. mcash2 calls. teleben calls. SlushyBOB
checks.

Flop (board: 3s 6s 7s):

teleben checks. SlushyBOB checks. mcash2 bets $.75.
teleben folds. SlushyBOB calls.

Turn (board: 3s 6s 7s 7c):

SlushyBOB checks. mcash2 bets $2.25. SlushyBOB
calls.

River (board: 3s 6s 7s 7c 6c):

SlushyBOB checks. mcash2 bets $6.75. SlushyBOB
folds. mcash2 is returned $6.75 (uncalled).



Hand #37040466-75164 Summary:

$.30 is raked from a pot of $6.75.
mcash2 wins $6.45.

Hand #37040459-79043 at Abou-Gerg (No Limit Hold'em)
Started at 15/Jan/07 06:15:36

mcash2 is at seat 0 with $21.25.
BlackSee is at seat 1 with $11.85.
kerti is at seat 2 with $19.40 (sitting out).
Global82 is at seat 3 with $5.
hawg-ryder is at seat 4 with $33.90.
Varvinsky is at seat 5 with $18.05.
headz51230 is at seat 6 with $31 (sitting out).
spcome is at seat 7 with $25.05 (sitting out).
teleben is at seat 8 with $10.35.
meastwood98 is at seat 9 with $23.
The button is at seat 4.

Varvinsky posts the small blind of $.10.
teleben posts the big blind of $.25.

mcash2: Qc Jc
BlackSee: -- --
Global82: -- --
hawg-ryder: -- --
Varvinsky: -- --
teleben: -- --
meastwood98: -- --

Pre-flop:

meastwood98 folds. mcash2 calls. BlackSee calls.
Global82 calls. hawg-ryder calls. Varvinsky calls.
teleben checks.

Flop (board: Ah 7c 5c):

Varvinsky checks. teleben checks. mcash2 checks.
BlackSee bets $1.50. Global82 goes all-in for $4.75.
hawg-ryder folds. Varvinsky folds. teleben folds.
mcash2 calls. BlackSee calls.

Turn (board: Ah 7c 5c 2h):

mcash2 goes all-in for $16.25. BlackSee goes all-in
for $6.85. mcash2 is returned $9.40 (uncalled).

River (board: Ah 7c 5c 2h 3c):

(no action in this round)




Showdown:

mcash2 shows Qc Jc.
mcash2 has Qc Jc 7c 5c 3c: flush, queen high.
BlackSee shows 8s Ac.
BlackSee has 8s Ac Ah 7c 5c: a pair of aces.
Global82 shows 9d Ad.
Global82 has 9d Ad Ah 7c 5c: a pair of aces.


Hand #37040459-79043 Summary:

$1.40 is raked from a total pot of $29.45.
$.75 is raked from the main pot of $15.75.
$.65 is raked from side pot #1 of $13.70.
mcash2 wins the main pot $15 with flush, queen high.
mcash2 wins the side pot $13.05 with flush, queen high.