Push range at 12 bb in the small blind
It folds to you in the small blind. You have 12 bb, the same stack as the big blind still to act, with a big blind ante. The equilibrium (Nash, chip-EV) pushes 67.7% of hands and folds the rest.
Red: push. Blue: fold. Circled cell: borderline hand, push and fold are worth almost the same.
Key takeaways for this spot
- Push range: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K2o+, Q2s+, Q2o+, J2s+, J7o+, T2s+, T7o+, 95s+, 97o+, 83s+, 87o, 73s+, 76o, 63s+, 65o, 52s+, 43s, i.e. 67.7% of hands (898 combos out of 1,326).
- Borderline hands, where push and fold are worth almost the same (less than 0.05 bb apart): J6o, T2s, 96o, 86o, 93s, 73s, 54o, 52s.
- If the BB is the only caller: they call 48.1% of hands (22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K2o+, Q2s+, Q6o+, J7s+, J8o+, T7s+, T9o, 98s).
What changes at 10 bb (10 hands change)
- added: J6o, J5o, T6o, J4o, J3o, 96o, 94s, 86o, 93s
- removed: 73s
What changes at 15 bb (6 hands change)
- removed: Q5o, Q4o, Q3o, Q2o, 65o, 52s
Frequently asked questions
What is the push range at 12 bb in the small blind?
With a big blind ante and equal stacks, the equilibrium pushes 67.7% of hands: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K2o+, Q2s+, Q2o+, J2s+, J7o+, T2s+, T7o+, 95s+, 97o+, 83s+, 87o, 73s+, 76o, 63s+, 65o, 52s+, 43s.
Should you push 52s in the small blind at 12 bb?
Yes: against the equilibrium calling ranges, pushing earns 0.02 bb more than folding.
Should you push J6o in the small blind at 12 bb?
No: pushing loses 0.03 bb compared with folding against the equilibrium calling ranges.
What does the big blind call against this push?
48.1% of hands: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K2o+, Q2s+, Q6o+, J7s+, J8o+, T7s+, T9o, 98s.
Do these ranges apply on the bubble or at a final table?
No: here every chip is worth its face value (chip-EV). With pay jumps, ICM tightens push and call ranges; the “Jam or fold” solver computes these cases with your payout structure.
Nash equilibrium computed by the Exploit It solver in chip-EV: equal stacks, 1 bb big blind ante, folded to you. Each hand is classified by the sign of its EV against the equilibrium calling ranges. On the bubble or at a final table, ICM changes the ranges.