Push/Fold Charts

Push/fold is a simplified poker strategy used when your stack is short enough that the only profitable play is to either go all-in (push) or fold. This typically applies when you have 15 big blinds or less in tournament play. With such a short stack, raising and folding to a re-raise becomes too costly, so the mathematically correct approach is to simplify your decision to a binary choice. The beauty of push/fold is that it reduces a complex game tree to a single decision point, making it easier to play optimally under time pressure and tournament stress.

The ranges in this chart approximate the Nash equilibrium strategy, named after mathematician John Nash. A Nash equilibrium is a game theory concept where no player can improve their expected value by changing their strategy, assuming all other players play optimally. In push/fold poker, a true Nash strategy cannot be exploited: opponents cannot gain an edge against you regardless of how they adjust. These charts are a simplified, slightly conservative model of that strategy (the strongest hands by rank, sized per stack and position), not a hand-exact solve, so treat them as a strong starting point rather than a perfect solution. Nash equilibrium also does not necessarily maximize your profit; it minimizes your maximum loss. Against weaker players, exploitative deviations can yield higher EV.

Use push/fold charts when your effective stack is under 15 big blinds and especially under 10BB. In these spots, ICM pressure (Independent Chip Model) in tournaments makes survival critical. Push/fold removes post-flop complexity and ensures you maximize fold equity, the chance that everyone folds and you pick up the blinds and antes uncontested. The charts are essential during tournament bubble play, satellite final tables, sit-and-go endgame, and any situation where stack-to-pot ratios are low. They are also useful in hyper-turbo formats where blind levels increase rapidly and deep-stack play is rare.

When your stack exceeds 15-20 big blinds, push/fold becomes suboptimal. At deeper stacks, consider min-raise/fold strategies that risk fewer chips to steal blinds. A min-raise of 2BB risks only 2BB to win 1.5BB (blinds), whereas a push of 15BB risks your entire stack. Some advanced players also employ limping strategies from the small blind at certain stack depths. As stacks get deeper, post-flop skill becomes more important, and a wider range of bet sizes and strategies become profitable. The transition zone between 15-25BB is where skilled players gain the most edge by mixing push/fold with small-ball strategies.

Fold equity is the probability that your opponent folds when you push. It is the primary reason short-stack players can profit with weak hands. At 3-5BB, fold equity is low because opponents get such good pot odds to call. At 10-15BB, fold equity is higher, making pushes with marginal hands profitable. The interplay between fold equity and pot equity (your chance of winning at showdown) determines whether a push is profitable. A hand like 72o can be a profitable push at 7BB from the button purely because opponents fold often enough.

Calling ranges are always tighter than pushing ranges for the same stack depth and position. When you push, you have fold equity (your opponent may fold). When you call, you have zero fold equity, you will always see a showdown. Therefore, you need stronger hands to call a shove than to initiate one. For example, at 10BB from the button, you might push with 72 hand types but only call a shove with 35 hand types. Understanding this asymmetry is key to becoming a strong short-stack player.