Stack-to-Blinds Calculator

Understanding Stack Depth

Knowing your stack size in big blinds is one of the most important factors in tournament poker. Your stack depth determines which strategies are available to you and how aggressively you should play.

Stack Zones

• Deep Stack (100+ BB): Full range of plays. You can set-mine, flat-call, and play complex postflop poker.
• Medium Stack (40-100 BB): Still room for postflop play, but be more selective with speculative hands.
• Short Stack (20-40 BB): Reduce postflop play. Focus on re-stealing and 3-bet shoving.
• Push/Fold (10-20 BB): Almost exclusively open-shove or fold. Refer to push/fold charts.
• Critical (<10 BB): Shove any reasonable hand. Your fold equity is nearly gone.

What Is the M-Ratio?

The M-ratio (or M-number), popularized by Dan Harrington, measures your stack relative to the cost of an orbit (one full round of blinds and antes). It tells you how many orbits you can survive without playing a hand.

M = Stack ÷ (Small Blind + Big Blind + Total Antes per Orbit)

The M-ratio is especially useful in tournaments with antes, where the cost per orbit is significantly higher than just the blinds alone.