18 Dec 2024 Advanced This material is for experienced players bet sizing pot control To succeed in poker, you need more than just solid fundamentals — you need tools to help you plan your hands effectively. One of the most important tools is SPR, or Stack-to-Pot Ratio. SPR helps you decide how much risk you’re taking in a hand relative to the size of the pot. Understanding this concept will improve your decision-making on the flop and make it easier to plan ahead for future streets. In this article, we’ll explain what SPR is, how to calculate it, and how to use it in different situations. Let’s dive in! What is SPR? SPR, or Stack-to-Pot Ratio, is a key poker concept that shows the ratio of the effective stack to the pot size. Here’s the formula: SPR = [Effective Stack] / [Pot Size] Example: You raise preflop to steal the blinds, BB calls. The pot on the flop is 6.5bb. You have 97bb left, and your opponent has 40bb. The effective stack is 40bb. SPR = 40/6.5≈6.2 SPR Categories SPR can be divided into three main ranges: Low SPR: <4 Medium SPR: 4-10 High SPR: >10 The higher the SPR, the stronger your hand needs to be to commit your stack on the flop. How to Interpret SPR in Play? Once you calculate the SPR, it helps you decide whether you’re willing to commit your stack with your current hand on the flop. Below is a default guide for which hands you can stack off with at different SPR: SPR <4: Top pairs, overpairs, bottom two pairs, sets, flushes, straights, and strong draws. SPR ~4-10: Top two pairs, sets, flushes, and straights. SPR >10: Sets, flushes, and straights. The general rule is: the higher the SPR, the stronger your hand needs to be to commit your stack on the flop. Disclaimer: You should also understand that these values are flexible. If you have a specific read that your opponent stacks off lightly, you can consider committing with top pair even at SPR ~6. What about 3-bet pots? After a 3-bet and a call, the SPR is typically around 4, which often allows you to comfortably stack off with top pairs and overpairs. What about draws? Draws are harder to play at medium SPR levels. This is because you may find yourself in a spot where you have to call on the flop simply because the pot odds are correct. For example, imagine you check-raise from the BB with a nut flush draw, and your opponent shoves. If the pot odds are good, you must call, regardless of the SPR. How Knowing SPR Can Boost Your Win Rate Always pay attention to your opponent’s stack size before making any decision on any street. This is one of the most important yet underrated skills in poker. Even solid regulars sometimes overlook this. Always check the stack your opponent is playing with when they see the flop. By estimating the SPR in advance, you can plan your hand more effectively. Considering SPR, you can exploitively fold small pocket pairs and other marginal hands like suited connectors when facing an open-raise from a short stack (<50 BB). These hands play well when the SPR is 10 or higher. The logic here is that when you enter the pot with these hands, you need the ability to win a big pot to compensate for all the times you miss and have to fold. Adjusting Preflop Sizing to Control SPR You can adjust your preflop raise size when playing against opponents with short stacks. For example, the standard rule for isolating limpers is to raise 4bb against one limper. Against short stacks, I recommend increasing this size. Why? Limpers rarely adjust their play based on your raise size. They will continue calling at the same frequency. By increasing the sizing, you lower the SPR, simplifying postflop play. With strong hands like high pocket pairs, isolate short-stack limpers with a raise of 6bb or more. The lower the SPR, the better it is for strong hands like pocket pairs. It becomes easier to commit when facing aggression on the flop. You can also adjust your 3-bet sizing. Instead of the standard 9-10bb, use 11-12 bb when needed. If your 3-bet gets called, the SPR on the flop will be <4 (assuming 100bb stacks). This significantly simplifies postflop decisions. Caution: For open-raises, I don’t recommend going above 3bb. While a larger raise creates a lower SPR, it also forces opponents to play perfectly against you. They will call tighter and 3-bet only with hands that beat you. The exception is when there’s a big fish at your table who calls any open-raise. In this case you can use larger sizings to take advantage of their mistakes. In poker, you make money by capitalizing on your opponents’ mistakes — not by forcing them to play perfectly. Plan your preflop sizings wisely and use SPR to gain an edge in every hand!
