In recent years, advancements in poker technology, including various solvers and applications for off-table analysis, have led to significant enhancements in the understanding and application of optimal, non-exploitable strategies. poker strategies and plays.

This article focuses on the increasingly vital push/fold and calling ranges for different stack sizes in tournaments.

A valuable tool for tournament players is known as the 'Nash Push/Fold Equilibrium'.

The following chart illustrates the specific hands you should push, open-shoving especially when you find yourself short-stacked during a tournament, based on your current stack size. This guidance allows you to act without worrying about your opponent's potential call or fold.

Over time, adhering to the suggestions in the chart will consistently lead to positive expected value (EV) situations, whether your opponent decides to fold or you gain equity against their calling range. fold equity Grasping Push/Fold Equilibrium Charts

Table of Contents

It's important to realize that the charts provided below are specifically designed for heads-up games. Therefore, in situations with more than two players, the shove tables are tailored for Small Blind (SB) open shoving, while the call charts apply exclusively to Big Blind (BB) interactions with a SB shove.

Below is the referenced Nash Push/Fold Equilibrium chart: all-in It's worth mentioning that the push chart shown below can also be utilized when you're playing a short stack and seeking to shove from the

. To adapt for the additional player involved (the one in the Small Blind), simply divide all values in the chart by two.

Nash Push-Fold Equilibrium chart

For instance, if you are holding 95s on the Button and the action has folded to you, you can profitably push if you have a stack of 7.2bb or lower. Button Similarly, dividing all original values in the chart by four will reveal a suitable pushing range from the Cutoff (CO). However, some of the computations may not be precise for the CO or further right on the table, as the chart’s maximum value is '20+' big blinds, used for numerous hands.

Strategies for Enhancing Your Push/Fold Play from Various Positions

To aid in determining optimal push and shove ranges for differing positions (Early Position/MP/CO) and stack sizes, poker expert Max Silver has created an exceptional mobile application designed for this very purpose! (It’s accessible via the App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android.) blinds A free version of the app provides a more basic set of features, but with a modest one-time fee, you can unlock the complete version, offering total flexibility and customization for any table position you encounter:

Input your Big Blind count (or effective stack size)

Just fill in the relevant details, tap 'Calculate', and the application will generate the appropriate shoving range for your situation. SnapShove Here is a screenshot of what the app's interface looks like:

Additionally, if you need guidance on the appropriate range to call when facing a shove, this app can also assist you.

  • Number of Players
  • Ante/Big Blind
  • Check out the 'call' tab at the top! It offers similar customization features (simply add a box for the position of the opponent making the shove), then hit calculate to see the suitable calling ranges in that context.
  • Your Position

Applications like SnapShove can provide you with a quick reminder of push/fold strategies during gameplay.

Comprehensively studying push-fold ranges away from the table will undoubtedly set you on the path to mastering tournament play.

screenshot1

Many professional players rely on a standard program called ICMIZER to refine their push/fold strategies - calling NOTE: Need a quick refresher on what ICM is and why it's essential for tournament success? Check out our detailed article on this topic.

We will soon delve into specific push/fold charts. However, first, it is crucial to consider the various elements that dictate optimal shoving ranges and strategies.

Off-Table Study: Push/Fold Ranges

Factors Influencing Push/Fold Ranges

Here’s a brief overview of several factors that affect push/fold ranges, along with how they can impact your overall short stack strategy:

Your Stack Depth: The smaller your stack, the wider your shoving range can be. Your stack size will also determine whether a push/fold approach (for example, with 10bb or less ) is advisable, or if you might prefer to min-raise and engage in post-flop strategies (with 20bb or more ). www.icmpoker.com/icmizer .

Opponents’ Stack Depths: Always take into account the effective stack size of your opponents. Identify those with shorter stacks than yours, as this will affect their expected calling ranges and consequently influence your shoving hands. If you have 15bb, but your competitors each hold 10bb, you’re effectively only shoving for 10bb – not 15bb! here !

Ante Size: With antes adding more chips to the pot before the flop, you should generally aim for a broader shoving range compared to scenarios without antes. The larger the ante is in relation to the big blind, the more hands can be included in your preflop shoving range.

Table Position: The closer you are to the big blind, the tighter you’ll need to be with your open-shoving range. You’ll have to navigate past more players, which increases the chance that at least one of them will have a strong hand.

Tournament Structure: In faster-paced tournaments, there’s a greater necessity to 'chip up' and build a larger stack. Therefore, in tournaments featuring shorter levels, you should consider pushing more often in borderline +EV scenarios. Conversely, in slower structures, you won't need to capitalize on as many marginal situations.

  1. Payout Structure: This is where ICM becomes significant! Prior to a substantial pay increase, and especially at the final table, you should factor in (1) your opponent's stack size and (2) the payouts. If you have 10bb and there’s an opponent with 20bb while several players are at just 5bb, it’s wise to be more conservative with your 10bb, allowing those at 5bb to either double up or be eliminated first so you can move up the payout ranks.
  2. Opponent Skill Level: If your opponents are highly skilled, consider adopting a push-or-fold strategy to minimize post-flop play. Focus on shoving any hand that remains profitable based on your effective stack depth (particularly for any stack size ).
  3. Your Skill Level: The greater your ability to play post-flop, the more you should apply it. Stick to stack depths where you can profitably either shove or open-raise (for example, stacks between 12bb and 20bb).
  4. Understanding ICMIZER Push/Fold Charts
  5. In the ICMIZER charts, you will notice small numeric indicators positioned below each hand. These numbers signify the profitability (or lack thereof) of a shove.
  6. They represent the average number of big blinds you are expected to win or lose with specific hands.
  1. For a clearer understanding of these figures, multiply them by 100 to get the bb/100 winrate.
  2. For instance, if a hand shows 0.35, that means shoving it is projected to yield around 35bb/100 hands, on average.

This figure provides a solid margin that gives you confidence to push!

ICMIZER: Understanding the Color-Coding

Simply put, shove the hands in

the green section for enhanced profitability.

The dark green square indicates your 'best bets', which can yield an average of +0.20bb per hand (20bb/100).

On the other hand, the lighter shoves will appear in a much

. These hands typically have a negative win-rate if shoved preflop, so opting to fold them is advisable.

  • We'll utilize ICMIZER to showcase ideal push/fold ranges for the scenario involving:green and fold the hands in red .
  • The darker12.5% ante collected from each player each hand
  • Exploring Alternative Notations for Push/Fold Charts
  • Certain charts outline the actions for push/fold scenarios (such as when using study materials beyond ICMIZER). They may present percentages of hands that should be shoved.fainter green (between +0.01 and +0.19bb per hand).
  • All unprofitable hands will appear in redIf faced with this situation, poker equity software can provide visual aids for hand ranges.

ICMIZER Push/Folds Charts: 12bb + Ante

Programs like PokerCruncher for Mac or Equilab for Windows can be used to manipulate the bar, offering a chart representation.

  • 12bb stack size
  • For example, using PokerCruncher, you should aim to shove roughly 20% of hands in a specific context.
  • 9-handed table

Early Position: UTG / UTG+1
7.39% with 0.20 min EV Diff
12.67% with all +EV hands

Early Position: UTG / UTG+1

Early Position: UTG+2
9.8% with 0.20 min EV Diff
17.5% with all +EV hands

Early Position: UTG+2

Middle Position: Lojack
13.12% with 0.20 min EV Diff
21.21% with all +EV hands

Middle Position: Lojack

Middle Position: Hijack
15.99% with 0.20 min EV Diff
26.49% with all +EV hands

Middle Position: Hijack

Late Position: Cutoff
23.68% with 0.20 min EV Diff
33% with all +EV hands

Late Position: Cutoff

Late Position: Button
30.92% with 0.20 min EV Diff
39.22% with all +EV hands

Late Position: Button

Late Position: Small Blind
55.35% with 0.20 min EV Diff
69.65% with all +EV hands

Late Position: Small Blind


You can adjust the slider just below the chart in the program to about 20% for a visual aid (illustrated in the highlighted sections).

Shoving Ranges: Percentages

Explore the role of push/fold poker charts in crafting your tournament strategy, and learn when and how to apply these concepts effectively in your poker gameplay.

Essential Insights on Push/Fold Poker Charts

Utilizing Nash Push Fold Charts as Part of Your Tournament Tactics

Shoving Ranges

Recent advancements in poker technology, particularly through the use of solvers and analytical tools for off-table learning, have elevated our understanding and application of optimal, unexploitable strategies.

In this discussion, we will primarily focus on suitable push/fold and call ranges that pertain to different stack sizes, which have become increasingly significant in recent times.

  • One notable resource that has greatly enhanced the gameplay of tournament participants is known as the 'Nash Push/Fold Equilibrium'.
  • The following chart illustrates the hands you should consider playing

when you find yourself with a diminishing stack in a tournament, depending on your current stack size, giving you the freedom to not worry about whether your opponent folds or calls.

Shoving Ranges: Hand Notation

Over time, adhering to the recommendations outlined in the chart will foster +EV scenarios, whether through the value of your hand if your opponent folds, or the equity you maintain against a viable calling range in that context.

  • 66+, A9s+, A5s, AQo+, KTs+, QTs+, JTs

Grasping the Principles of Push/Fold Equilibrium Charts

Ways to Enhance Your Push/Fold Strategy from Various Positions

Shoving Ranges: Hand Notation


Adjusting for Opponents’ Tendencies

Comprehending ICMIZER Push/Fold Charts

Employing Alternative Notations for Push/Fold Charts

The Next Move: Testing Hand Equities

  • Exploring Additional Uses and Benefits of Push/Fold Charts
  • Grasping the Principles of Push/Fold Equilibrium Charts
  • It's important to remember that the charts below are specifically tailored for heads-up scenarios. Therefore, in games involving more than two players, the shove tables provided are applicable for the Small Blind open-shove ranges, while the call chart is relevant solely for Big Blind positions against a Small Blind shove.

Here is the Nash Push/Fold Equilibrium chart we mentioned earlier:

  • Keep in mind that the push chart below can also assist when you're operating with a short stack and planning to shove from the.
  • To adapt for the presence of an additional player (the Small Blind), simply divide all the figures in the chart by 2.

Similarly, if you divide all initial numbers in the chart by 4, you can identify an effective pushing range from the Cutoff position. However, some calculations may be challenging for the Cutoff or other positions further down the table,

as the chart's highest value is '20+' big blinds, accommodating numerous hands.

Ways to Enhance Your Push/Fold Strategy from Various Positions

calling range chart

To aid in establishing optimal push/shoving ranges for various table positions (Early Position, Middle Position, and Cutoff) and stack sizes, poker expert Max Silver has created a fantastic phone application dedicated to this purpose!

You can find this app on the App Store for iOS and on Google Play for Android.

Hand Range

Hand Range

A free version is accessible, offering a more basic iteration of the app, but for a small one-time fee, you can unlock the complete version, providing total flexibility and customization for any situation at the table:

Input the number of Big Blinds you have (or the effective stack size),

Then simply enter this information, tap 'Calculate', and the app will generate the appropriate shoving range for your specific situation.

Here’s a glimpse of the app’s interface:

In Conclusion

If you want insight into how wide (or narrow) your calling range should be when encountering a shove, this app has you covered as well. short-stack Check out the 'call' tab at the top! It offers the same customization options, with an added field for the position of the opponent who is shoving. You can calculate and view the suitable calling ranges for that context.

Applications such as SnapShove can provide quick references on push/fold decisions during gameplay.

Studying push/fold ranges thoroughly outside of gameplay is sure to set you on the path to becoming an expert in tournament play.

Numerous professionals utilize a standard program or website called ICMIZER to streamline their push/fold game -

NOTE: Need a quick refresher on the concept of ICM and its significance in tournament success? Check out our exhaustive article on the subject.

Good luck on the felts!

We will soon delve into more precise push/fold charts, but first, it's imperative to consider factors that dictate ideal shoving ranges and strategies.