Middle Stages & the Bubble

With 25bb, why is a 2–2.2bb open usually better than a 3bb open?

Small opens protect your stack when you face an all-in.

Small blind vs big blind, 10bb each, no ante. Roughly what share of hands does the small blind shove in equilibrium?

About 58% — while the big blind calls about 38%.

Why is the big blind’s calling range much tighter than the small blind’s shoving range?

Fold equity belongs to the shover. You need a stronger hand to call than to bet.

As effective stacks get shorter, push-fold ranges…

The blinds become a bigger share of the stack, so it’s worth more to win them.

Which opener is the best target for a 20bb reshove?

Reshoves profit from fold equity against wide ranges that can’t call.

Four players left, three paid. Who usually feels the most pressure to avoid all-ins against bigger stacks?

Medium stacks can bust to the leader but are likely to cash if they wait.

In our bubble example (4 left, 3 paid), roughly how much equity did the 3,000-chip player need to call the leader’s shove?

About 73% — a large ICM risk premium over the 50% needed in a cash game.

You’re the chip leader on the bubble with two medium stacks in the blinds. Generally you should…

Medium stacks must fold wide against the chip leader, so stealing is very profitable.

On a bubble, folding is worth 29.3 in prize equity, calling and winning is worth 40.7, and busting is worth 0. What equity do you need to call?

29.3 ÷ 40.7 ≈ 72%. That is why even A-K can be a fold for a medium stack facing the chip leader.