There are arguments for allowing short buy-ins. An example would be a player has expended all of their cash and has played for some hours and is ‘stuck’ in a game. That player only has a short buy-in amount left and wants to be allowed the opportunity to try and get their money back.
In this writer’s opinion, a short buy-in or even buying in for the minimum buy-in is not good bankroll management and can actually cost you money. Consider the following:
- Most players that are ‘short money’ will venture into a pot with a hand that they normally would not play simply because they know they can see the end of the hand without it costing them too much. Playing a hand should be done on card selection and pot odds – not according to how much it will/will not cost to see the end of the hand.
- If you are playing short because you have no money left, you should pick up and call it a night. Leaving with chips is an important part of your game.
- It is impossible to bluff or steal a pot when you are all-in. And even more frustrating, not be able to protect your hand because you’re ‘short money’.
The most important reason to have chips in front of you is, if you pick up a big hand, you have an opportunity to win money.