Eliminating the shortstack. Chip leader’s responsibility?

[Talking Poker]

Interesting topic.

It sounds to me like you got your money in either with the best hand or when you were pot committed to do so (like when you were in the BB and it's hardly any more for you to call a guy's all in bet). This is correct play.

I certainlt don't think it's the chip leader's "responsibility" to go after the short stacks though. That's personal preference. The middle stacks should be making those same plays (getting their money in with the best hand, calling with anything when the pot is laying them the correct odds, etc), but to each their own. That is how to play good poker, but if someone wants to play passively and go ahead and get blinded down, hoping to squeak into second place, so be it. That's their choice. It's a terrible strategy, IMO, but I welcome it when people do it.

Ganging up on shortstacks isn't allowed, so be careful about your table talk. If some guy folds his BB to an all in raise that's say a half a BB more for him to call, this is a really bad play, and while I think you could let him know you think he made a bad play after the fact, I don't think it's ok for you to educate him DURING the hand, telling him he has to call, etc. One player per hand, ya know? Just something to be aware of, so you don't get hit with some goofy penalty someday at a crucial time in the tourney...