Push range at 8 bb in the small blind
It folds to you in the small blind. You have 8 bb, the same stack as the big blind still to act, with a big blind ante. The equilibrium (Nash, chip-EV) pushes 78.0% 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+, T3o+, 93s+, 96o+, 83s+, 86o+, 73s+, 76o, 63s+, 65o, 53s+, 43s, i.e. 78.0% of hands (1034 combos out of 1,326).
- Borderline hands, where push and fold are worth almost the same (less than 0.05 bb apart): T4o, T3o, 92s, 85o, 75o, 73s, 65o, 52s.
- If the BB is the only caller: they call 67.1% of hands (22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K2o+, Q2s+, Q2o+, J2s+, J3o+, T3s+, T6o+, 95s+, 97o+, 85s+, 87o, 75s+, 65s).
What changes at 6 bb (7 hands change)
- added: 95o, 92s, T2o, 85o, 75o, 82s, 64o
What changes at 10 bb (6 hands change)
- added: 52s
- removed: J2o, T5o, T4o, T3o, 73s
Frequently asked questions
What is the push range at 8 bb in the small blind?
With a big blind ante and equal stacks, the equilibrium pushes 78.0% of hands: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K2o+, Q2s+, Q2o+, J2s+, J2o+, T2s+, T3o+, 93s+, 96o+, 83s+, 86o+, 73s+, 76o, 63s+, 65o, 53s+, 43s.
Should you push 43s in the small blind at 8 bb?
Yes: against the equilibrium calling ranges, pushing earns 0.16 bb more than folding.
Should you push 95o in the small blind at 8 bb?
No: pushing loses 0.09 bb compared with folding against the equilibrium calling ranges.
What does the big blind call against this push?
67.1% of hands: 22+, A2s+, A2o+, K2s+, K2o+, Q2s+, Q2o+, J2s+, J3o+, T3s+, T6o+, 95s+, 97o+, 85s+, 87o, 75s+, 65s.
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.