Noun

The player with the fewest chips remaining at a particular table or in a tournament.

EXAMPLE: "I was the short stack for a while but had a series of strong hands that helped me make a bit of a comeback."

APPLIES TO: Online and Land-based Venues

Noun

A pile of chips that contains less than the number of chips in a typical pile or less than a particular player's other piles.

EXAMPLE: "I have $85 in $1 chips, so I keep them in four normal stacks plus a short stack."

APPLIES TO: Land-based Venues

Noun

An amount of chips that is less than or is expected to be less than the amount one would like to wager on a particular hand.

EXAMPLE: "There was a lot of action last hand, and I ended up with a short stack. I went all-in but they had to make a side pot anyway because I couldn't match the full amount that was wagered."

APPLIES TO: Online and Land-based Venues

Adjective

Having few chips, either due to having lost many or due to having joined the table with significantly fewer chips than other players.

EXAMPLE: "I made a flush on the turn but couldn't take full advantage of it because I was short stacked."

APPLIES TO: Online and Land-based Venues

USAGE: Describes a player.