4 min
Why late position creates profitable short-stack steals.
On the button, only the blinds can wake up with a hand. That makes fold equity much higher than early position, especially with antes in play.
Ace blockers and suited connectedness help marginal hands cross the shove threshold because they combine fold equity with backup equity when called.
Practice spots
A5S from the button at 10BB in a middle tournament spot. The heuristic recommends shove with 78% confidence.
KQO from the cutoff at 12BB in a middle tournament spot. The heuristic recommends shove with 73% confidence.
A7O from the small blind at 8BB in a middle tournament spot. The heuristic recommends shove with 65% confidence.
99 from the hijack at 15BB in a final table tournament spot. The heuristic recommends fold with 62% confidence.
AA from the under the gun at 6BB in a middle tournament spot. The heuristic recommends shove with 88% confidence.
KK from the under the gun at 6BB in a middle tournament spot. The heuristic recommends shove with 87% confidence.
FAQ
Exact ranges help, but pattern recognition by stack depth, position, and ICM pressure is usually more useful for live decisions.
Review similar positions and stack depths together, then compare the recommendation shifts when prior action or tournament stage changes.