Push range at 5 bb in the small blind
It folds to you in the small blind. You have 5 bb, the same stack as the big blind still to act, with a big blind ante. The equilibrium (Nash, chip-EV) pushes 85.8% 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+, J2o+, T2s+, T2o+, 92s+, 93o+, 82s+, 84o+, 73s+, 74o+, 63s+, 65o, 53s+, 43s, i.e. 85.8% of hands (1138 combos out of 1,326).
- Borderline hands, where push and fold are worth almost the same (less than 0.05 bb apart): 74o, 43s, 72s, 52s, 62s.
- If the BB is the only caller: they call 95.5% of hands (22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K2o+, Q2s+, Q2o+, J2s+, J2o+, T2s+, T2o+, 92s+, 92o+, 82s+, 82o+, 72s+, 73o+, 62s+, 63o+, 52s+, 53o+, 42s+, 43o, 32s).
What changes at 6 bb (5 hands change)
- added: 64o
- removed: 94o, 93o, 84o, 74o
Frequently asked questions
What is the push range at 5 bb in the small blind?
With a big blind ante and equal stacks, the equilibrium pushes 85.8% of hands: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K2o+, Q2s+, Q2o+, J2s+, J2o+, T2s+, T2o+, 92s+, 93o+, 82s+, 84o+, 73s+, 74o+, 63s+, 65o, 53s+, 43s.
Should you push 43s in the small blind at 5 bb?
Yes: against the equilibrium calling ranges, pushing earns 0.03 bb more than folding.
Should you push 92o in the small blind at 5 bb?
No: pushing loses 0.09 bb compared with folding against the equilibrium calling ranges.
What does the big blind call against this push?
95.5% of hands: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K2o+, Q2s+, Q2o+, J2s+, J2o+, T2s+, T2o+, 92s+, 92o+, 82s+, 82o+, 72s+, 73o+, 62s+, 63o+, 52s+, 53o+, 42s+, 43o, 32s.
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.