Stack depth (measured in big blinds) dramatically affects preflop strategy. What's a good play at 100BB can be terrible at 20BB—and vice versa.
Effective stack = The smaller of two stacks in a pot
| Stack Depth |
Category |
Strategic Focus |
| <20BB |
Short |
Push/fold, survival |
| 20-40BB |
Medium-Short |
Simplified decisions |
| 40-60BB |
Medium |
Standard play |
| 60-100BB |
Standard |
Full strategy |
| 100-200BB |
Deep |
Speculative hands shine |
| 200BB+ |
Very Deep |
Implied odds dominant |
| Stack Depth |
Value |
| Short (20BB) |
Massive (get it in) |
| Standard (100BB) |
Very strong |
| Deep (200BB) |
Strong but cautious |
| Stack Depth |
Value |
| Short (20BB) |
Weak (no set-mining) |
| Standard (100BB) |
Good (set-mining) |
| Deep (200BB) |
Excellent (huge implied odds) |
| Stack Depth |
Value |
| Short (20BB) |
Poor (can't realize equity) |
| Standard (100BB) |
Good |
| Deep (200BB) |
Excellent |
| Standard Play |
Short Stack Play |
| Open-call-3bet |
Open or fold |
| Complex postflop |
Simple commit/fold |
| Wide ranges |
Tighter value-focused |
| Set-mining |
No set-mining |
| Stack |
Strategy |
| <15BB |
Push or fold (no raising) |
| 15-25BB |
Raise, but be ready to call off |
| 25-35BB |
Raise, can fold to 3-bet sometimes |
| Standard Play |
Deep Stack Play |
| Overpairs are premium |
Overpairs need caution |
| Call with pairs |
Call more with suited connectors |
| Standard 3-bet sizing |
Can go larger |
| SPR ~5-8 postflop |
SPR 10+ postflop |
| Hand Type |
Why |
| Small pairs |
Stack-off when you hit |
| Suited connectors |
Make straights, flushes |
| Suited aces |
Nut flush potential |
| Suited gappers |
Hidden monsters |
| Hand Type |
Why |
| Offsuit broadways |
Kicker trouble, dominated |
| One-pair hands |
Hard to stack off |
| AJo, KQo |
Reverse implied odds |
| Stack Depth |
3-Bet Strategy |
| Short |
Tighter, for value |
| Medium |
Balanced |
| Deep |
Can 3-bet wide (implied odds if called) |
| Stack Depth |
Calling Strategy |
| Short |
Rarely call, raise or fold |
| Medium |
Selective calling |
| Deep |
More calls (implied odds) |
Stack depth determines which hands are playable. Short stacks favor high-card hands and premiums. Deep stacks favor speculative suited hands with nut potential. Always adjust your strategy to effective stacks.