Last updated: January 2026 • Reviewed for mathematical accuracy
When your stack drops below 20 big blinds in a tournament, strategy changes dramatically. Instead of raising and folding, many situations become mathematically correct “push or fold” decisions.
Push/fold strategy is used in short-stack tournament play. Rather than making small raises, you either:
This simplifies decision-making and prevents you from being exploited postflop.
Nash equilibrium charts show theoretically unexploitable shove ranges based on stack size and position. Below is a simplified example for 10 big blinds.
These ranges assume no ICM pressure and average table dynamics.
When you shove all-in, your profitability depends on:
You can calculate exact shove equity using our Texas Hold’em Equity Calculator.
In tournaments near the bubble or pay jumps, push/fold charts must be adjusted. ICM pressure tightens calling ranges and sometimes widens shoving ranges.
Advanced players combine Nash charts with ICM models for optimal play.
Push/fold charts are powerful tools for tournament players. But understanding the math behind them — equity, fold equity, and pot odds — is what turns charts into profit.