10 More Essential Hold’em Moves: Push-Fold Strategy

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There’s no simple fix for becoming a winning poker player. But there are a handful of simple, easy-to-execute poker moves that can make a world of difference to your bottom line. By fine-tuning these tactics you’ll have more tools to put to work at the poker table. You’ll be able to better understand your opponents and how to manipulate them, and that will translate directly to money in your pocket.

We already wrote the book on the 10 Essential Texas Hold’em Moves and now we’re back to bring you 10 more.

Today we’re looking at how to play short-stacked by using push/fold strategy, sometimes called “all-in or fold.”

What is Push-Fold Strategy?

By cutting down your options to just two simple moves you’ll give yourself the best chance of getting back on your feet and making a deep run in the tournament.

By moving all-in and folding at the right times you will:

  • Use your stack effectively to pick up blinds and antes
  • Avoid losing valuable chips by limping or raising only to fold later in the hand
  • Make your double-ups count

The What: Push/Fold strategy is exactly what it sounds like: Reducing your list of options to either moving all-in or folding your hand before the flop.

The Why: When your stack gets below 10 big blinds you can no longer afford to spend chips by limping or raising, only to fold later in the hand. By only moving all-in or folding you can make full use of what few chips you have.

The Where: All-in or fold strategy is used in tournaments and sit and go’s, where shortstack situations are common due to rising blinds.

The When: Push/Fold poker strategy comes into play when you have 10 big blinds or less.

How to Play Push-Fold Strategy the Right Way

As a beginner poker player you should always try to make your decisions as easy and straightforward as possible.

All-in or fold strategy takes that idea to heart and by understanding a few simple concepts you’ll be able to use it to make better decisions when you’re shortstacked in poker tournaments.

The definition of “shortstacked” changes depending on who you ask but it’s generally accepted that if you have ten big blinds or less, you’re short.

You should know how big your stack is relative to the blinds at all times but 10 big blinds is an especially important benchmark to be aware of.

To better understand your stack size taking into account blinds and antes, learn to calculate your M-Ratio, a model developed by former world champion Dan Harrington as part of his Zone System.

Why is an All-In Better than Raise?

As a shortstack your biggest concern is survival and the best way to do that is to avoid confrontation.

Imagine you have ten big blinds and it folds to you on the button. You raise a standard 3x and the big blind looks down at J  10 . 

Many players would call your 3x raise with that hand, but fold had you moved all-in for the full ten big blinds.

Unless you have a monster hand like pocket aces or kings, it’s preferable for your opponents to fold and for you to take down the blinds and antes.

Example: You are in middle position holding 9 8 . The action folds to you, and you have just 9 big blinds left. Instead of making a minimum raise and letting others see a flop cheaply, you move all-in. Tight players behind you are likely to fold, and you might collect the blinds and antes without a showdown. If you get called, your suited connector still has decent equity, but the primary goal is to steal and survive.

Stealing Your Way to a Big Stack

Instead of trying to double-up with an all-in when you’re short you can build your stack by using position and aggression to win the blinds and antes. In an ideal world all your opponents would be tight-passive players that fold everything but the biggest hands, regardless of rising blinds and dwindling stacks.

But your opponents understand that they can’t afford to sit around and wait for a hand that may or may not appear, and so should you. Consider these important factors when deciding to move all-in or fold:

  • You should always be the first player into the pot unless you have a premium hand and want to get called.
  • The better your position, the more hands you can shove with.
  • If you’re up against loose players or big stacks in the blinds, tighten up your shoving range. If the blinds are tight and only calling with premium hands loosen up.
  • Unless you have a monster hand winning the blinds and antes is preferable to risking elimination.

How to Play Push/Fold Strategy on the Bubble

The most important exception to basic push/fold poker is when you’re on the bubble of a tournament or sit and go. Because of the massive equity difference between bubbling and making the money you need a much bigger edge to justify risking elimination with an all-in.

This concept is best illustrated by the math formula known as the Independent Chip Model (ICM) but as a beginner all you need to know is that if you’re moving all-in or calling all-in on the bubble, you should have a very good reason.

If you think you’re flipping a coin just fold and wait for a better spot.

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Advanced Approaches to Push-Fold Play

Small adjustments in push/fold strategy can translate into big advantages for experienced players. While the foundation remains straightforward—go all-in or fold when you’re under 10 big blinds—there are subtle factors like stack depth distribution and opponent profiles that can influence your decisions.

If an opponent is known for wide calls, your push range must tighten substantially, especially around critical pay jumps. Conversely, if you’re facing tight players who only call with strong holdings, you can widen your range to steal more often. Tracking how each player responds to short-stack aggression will help you tailor your push-fold strategy on the fly.

Advanced ICM Concepts

ICM becomes more complicated when multiple short stacks are in play or when you’re near significant prize jumps. In these spots, the equilibrium push range can shift away from what a straightforward chart might suggest. Even if you hold a decent hand, pushing into a bigger stack that covers you might be minus-EV once you factor in pay jumps. Analyzing future positions—sometimes referred to as future game simulation—can shed light on whether it’s profitable to risk all your chips at a given moment. These situations often call for precise calculations, but even a rough estimate can save you from marginal spots that put your entire stack at risk right before an important pay jump.

Knowing when to tighten or loosen your shoving range requires an in-depth understanding of your opponents’ tendencies, stack sizes, and prize pool payouts. By incorporating ICM calculations into your short-stack decisions, you’ll more accurately gauge your risk-to-reward ratio and protect your equity in the tournament.

FAQ

What is push-fold strategy?

Push-fold strategy is a simplified approach used in tournaments and sit and go’s when you have around 10 big blinds or less. You limit your preflop decisions to either moving all-in or folding, reducing the risk of bleeding chips when short-stacked.

When should I switch to push-fold in a tournament?

Most players begin using push-fold tactics when their stack drops under 10 big blinds. This threshold helps define a short-stack scenario where open-raising and then folding can be too costly.

Why is an all-in often better than a standard raise when I’m short-stacked?

Going all-in maximizes fold equity. Opponents with borderline hands might call a smaller raise but fold against a shove. Taking down the blinds and antes uncontested often boosts your stack with minimal risk.

How does the bubble affect my push-fold decisions?

Because of the large equity swing that occurs at the money bubble, you need a stronger hand or read on your opponent to risk busting. The Independent Chip Model (ICM) indicates that chips lost near a bubble cost you more than chips gained.

What is Dan Harrington’s M-Ratio, and how does it apply to push-fold?

Harrington’s M-Ratio calculates how many rounds you can survive based on your stack size, blinds, and antes. It helps you understand the urgency of your situation. A low M signals that you should become more aggressive with push-fold moves.

Does position matter in push-fold strategy?

Yes, position is critical. Being in late position allows you to see how others act before you decide, letting you push more aggressively if everyone has folded. Early position can be tougher because you risk running into multiple players willing to call.

How do advanced ICM concepts factor into push-fold decisions?

Advanced ICM calculations become essential around big pay jumps or when multiple players are short-stacked. They help you determine if a push or a fold is more profitable in the long run, considering both your equity in the current pot and future opportunities to improve your standing.

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