Poker glossary

Effective Stack In Poker

Learn what effective stack means, how to measure it in big blinds, and why it drives tournament decisions.

Definition

The effective stack is the smallest stack involved in a hand. It is the most either player can win or lose against each other.

Tournament strategy changes sharply by effective stack. A 10BB spot is often shove-or-fold, while a 40BB spot leaves room for postflop play.

If you have 30BB and the big blind has 12BB, the effective stack between you is 12BB.

Using your own stack instead of the effective stack when the opponent has fewer chips.

Related terms

Push/fold strategy means deciding mainly between moving all-in or folding, usually at shallow stack depths.

An open shove is moving all-in as the first voluntary action before the flop.

ICM, or Independent Chip Model, is a way to estimate how tournament chip stacks translate into payout equity.

FAQ

Why does JustShove ask for effective stack?

Because the effective stack determines the risk and leverage of the decision more directly than hero's total stack alone.

Is effective stack always measured in big blinds?

For tournament study it usually is, because blind levels change and big blinds make spots easier to compare.