THE PLAYER IN SEAT 4..

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🃏 Push/Fold Strategy Explained: Surviving Short Stacks

Tournament poker often comes down to one thing: how well you play when your stack gets short. That’s where push/fold strategy comes in—a simple but powerful system that can keep you alive and even help you climb the payout ladder.

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📊 What Is Push/Fold?

When your stack drops to around 10–20 big blinds, you don’t have room for fancy plays. You’re either:

• Pushing (all‑in) with hands strong enough to maximize fold equity or value.
• Folding everything else to wait for a better spot.

This binary approach simplifies tough decisions and prevents costly mistakes.

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🧠 Why It Works

• Maximizes Fold Equity: Opponents don’t want to risk chips against your shove.
• Protects Your Stack: Avoids bleeding chips with weak calls or speculative plays.
• Easy to Learn: Once you know the ranges, it’s straightforward to apply under pressure.

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⚡ Example: 10BB Push/Fold Spot

• UTG (Under the Gun): Push with 77+, AJs+, AQo+.
• CO (Cutoff): Push with 55+, A9s+, ATo+, KQs.
• BTN (Button): Push with 22+, A2s+, A7o+, KTs+, QJs.
• SB (Small Blind): Push with any pair, any ace, most suited connectors.

(These ranges shift as your stack grows—at 15BB or 20BB, you can open wider.)

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🎯 Common Mistakes

• Shoving too wide early position.
• Folding profitable spots late position.
• Not adjusting for table dynamics (tight vs. loose opponents).