Home >> News >> PokerStars to Review Shortstacking in Cash ...

PokerStars to Review Shortstacking in Cash Games

In an announcement that could significantly reshape the online cash game landscape, PokerStars recently established a firm timetable for reviewing their current buy-in minimums and maximums at NL / PL real-money tables.

The issue at hand: many (but not all) players believe that the current minimum buy in on the standard NL / PL cash game tables at stars – 20BBs – undermines the quality and profitability of the game by motivating players to ’shortstack’. Shortstacking is, roughly, the strategy of buying in for the lowest possible amount and then basically playing a push/fold preflop game according to a rote set of guidelines.

Critics of the practice argue that shortstacking is bad for the games, discouraging action, reducing the amount of skill involved and frustrating casual players. Adherents, unsurprisingly, argue that critics are either jealous or misinformed and that shortstacking is simply a profitable strategy that naturally evolved within the unique context of online poker.

Stars has addressed the issue in the past, adding a unique class of tables to the cash game lobby with a minimum buy in of 50BBs. That solution hasn’t been enough to mollify the chunk of Stars players calling for change, and it appears the room is considering a new approach. What kind of change and how it will be implemented is still an open question, but according to the statement from Stars on 2+2, it won’t remain open for too much longer:

Buyin amounts in big-bet hold’em and omaha cash games has been a hot topic recently both in forum threads and in emails from players. Many players have requested changes to our table minimum and/or maximum buyins while others have requested that they stay the same.

PokerStars is diligently examining all information available on this topic. This includes reviewing player emails and posts and exchanging ideas with members of the VIP Player Panel made up of respected 2+2 posters. PokerStars is also surveying casual poker players to learn their preferences. Thanks go out to all players who have offered their input.

This is an important decision and as such should not be rushed. All player perspectives must be given due consideration.

PokerStars plans to announce a decision and implement changes (if any) by mid-April, 2010.

Thank you for your patience during this process.

What changes are likely? It’s difficult to say, but the rest of the industry certainly seems to be moving, albeit with smallish steps, to a higher standard buy in. Full Tilt has a 35BB minimum on their tables, and both Party Poker and Everest have recently proposed changes to their buy in policies. Absolute / UB maintain a 20BB minimum, as does Cake Poker.

Updates as events warrant.

No matter if you shortstack or fullstack, you can’t be playing without rakeback. Learn more about what rakeback is and how to get it here.

Get your daily dose of poker news with the PTP Hit and Run.

Props Get Paid up to 125% Rakeback. Click for Offers >>>