Poker strategy guide · 5 min
Stack-to-pot ratio
Stack-to-pot ratio compares the effective stack to the pot. It tells you how many betting streets remain and how committed one-pair or draw-heavy hands should become.
Low SPR simplifies commitment
When the remaining stack is small relative to the pot, strong one-pair hands and big draws can often continue aggressively because future decisions are limited.
High SPR rewards nutted equity
Deep stacks make reverse implied odds more important. Hands that can make the nuts or apply pressure over multiple streets gain value, while dominated one-pair hands become more fragile.
SPR starts preflop
Three-bets, four-bets, and squeeze sizes define the postflop SPR before the flop arrives. Studying postflop spots without noticing the preflop pot size misses a major driver of strategy.
Practice prompts
- Calculate SPR for a single-raised pot, a three-bet pot, and a four-bet pot at 100 big blinds.
- Explain how top pair top kicker changes between SPR 2 and SPR 10.
- Choose a preflop size that creates a postflop SPR suited to your value range.