Push range at 20 bb in the small blind
It folds to you in the small blind. You have 20 bb, the same stack as the big blind still to act, with a big blind ante. The equilibrium (Nash, chip-EV) pushes 54.1% 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+, K3o+, Q2s+, Q7o+, J5s+, J9o+, T5s+, T3s, T8o+, 95s+, 98o, 85s+, 87o, 74s+, 76o, 64s+, 54s, i.e. 54.1% of hands (718 combos out of 1,326).
- Borderline hands, where push and fold are worth almost the same (less than 0.05 bb apart): J8o, Q6o, K2o, J4s, J3s, T5s, 97o, 95s, 84s, 76o.
- If the BB is the only caller: they call 33.3% of hands (22+, A2s+, A2o+, K3s+, K7o+, Q8s+, Q9o+, J9s+).
What changes at 15 bb (17 hands change)
- added: J8o, Q6o, K2o, J7o, J4s, J3s, T7o, J2s, T4s, 97o, T2s, 84s, 83s, 73s …
Frequently asked questions
What is the push range at 20 bb in the small blind?
With a big blind ante and equal stacks, the equilibrium pushes 54.1% of hands: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K3o+, Q2s+, Q7o+, J5s+, J9o+, T5s+, T3s, T8o+, 95s+, 98o, 85s+, 87o, 74s+, 76o, 64s+, 54s.
Should you push 64s in the small blind at 20 bb?
Yes: against the equilibrium calling ranges, pushing earns 0.00 bb more than folding.
Should you push J8o in the small blind at 20 bb?
No: pushing loses 0.00 bb compared with folding against the equilibrium calling ranges.
What does the big blind call against this push?
33.3% of hands: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K3s+, K7o+, Q8s+, Q9o+, J9s+.
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.