A short stack is a stack that's too small to cover the likely betting in a hand A player who has such a stack is said to be short-stacked This has advantages (e g , that you cannot be pressured to fold) and disadvantages (e g , that you cannot get maximum value from your winning hands) Asking whether or not this is a good thing over all is a good way to start an argument The phrase "short stack" can also refer to the players at a table (especially in no-limit or pot-limit play, often in a tournament) who have the least money in front of them After building up a big chip lead in the tourney, I proceeded to beat up on the short stacks
A number of chips that is not very many compared to the other players at the table If you have $10 in front of you, and everybody else at the table has over $100, you are playing on a short stack