Playing From a 20 Big Blind Stack
The quicker you get to grips with playing a 20B stack the better because it is a stack size that you will find yourself armed with more than you would like to think about. Ironically, it is also the stack size that a large number or poker players misplay the most and the size that gives them the most problems.
Nobody goes into a poker tournament, either online or live, and makes plans for playing a short stack or even worse the dreadfully awkward 20 big blind (BB) stack. Everyone begins their tournament hoping to be sat behind 100BB for the duration of the event but that is rarely the case.
The quicker you get to grips with playing a 20B stack the better because it is a stack size that you will find yourself armed with more than you would like to think about. Ironically, it is also the stack size that a large number or poker players misplay the most and the size that gives them the most problems.
When your stack drops to around the 20BB you actually have the perfect sized stack to three-bet all in as a re-steal. However, today's game has grown ever-more aggressive and there are scores of players who will call re-steals pretty lightly so try not to be three-betting all-in with any two cards because you are going to be called with a higher frequency than if you were in the same situation just 12 months ago. This does not mean you should start seeing flops instead - far from it - as this is a common mistake among weaker players. Instead just adjust your-stealing range to suit your opponents. Don't try and trap even with a hand as strong as kings, just get your chips into the middle preflop with a three-bet.
Use Your Opponent's Awkward Stack Size Against Them
Another mistake that is quite common when playing a 20BB stack is opening the betting with a range that is far too tight. Players seem to realise their stack is the optimal size for three-betting all in so they just sit and wait for an opportunity to do just that. But with a little observation they could find themselves adding some vital chips to their stack (or saving crucial chips) just by using the stack sizes of their opponents against them.
Should the action fold to you and you are playing 20BB but those left to act are all playing 25-30BB then you can actually open many more pots than you would initially believe because with 25-30BB stacks your opponents know they could be put in a tricky spot if they three-bet your raise and were faced with a four-bet all in. Conversely, if the opponents left to act are all playing 10-20BB stacks then your opening raise will be ideal to re-steal and three-bet all in over the top of so you should be opening a tighter range of hands.
Be aware of opponents who will use your stack size against you. If you open from a 20BB stack to 2-2.2x the big blind and an opponent makes a standard three-bet against you they almost always have a strong hand as they are trying to induce you into coming over the top and go all-in. This is also a play you could employ yourself against a solid, thinking player as anything other than a three-bet that would put them all in is going to set alarm bells ringing.
Finally, try not to panic. Just because you have a good stack to re-steal does not mean you have to do it at the first opportunity. Bide your time, choose your spots well and with a bit of luck your stack will start to move in the right direction.
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