Calling a Shove: Big Blind Ranges by Stack and Position
Choose the shover's position, the starting stack depth and your table size to find a big blind call-or-fold chart. These are chip-EV references for restricted shove/fold models; a smaller raise is a different decision.
Find your calling chart
The stack depth is measured before blinds and antes are posted. Check the linked chart for the full assumptions.
Two 10bb calling examples
Both examples are 6-max chip-EV references with equal 10bb starting stacks before posting blinds and a 0.125bb ante per player. Earlier seats have folded; in the BB vs BTN example, the small blind has also folded. You have two options: call or fold.
BB vs BTN shove: T8s folds
Against the button shove, the current model folds T8s 100% of the time. Its estimated call EV minus fold EV is −0.331bb, with a standard error of 0.017bb. The full calling range covers about 31% of weighted card combinations.
Scenario mtt.6max.vs_open.bb_vs_btn.10bb · solver 0.2.1
BB vs SB all-in: T8s calls
Against the small blind shove, the current model calls T8s 100% of the time. Its estimated call EV minus fold EV is +0.459bb, with a standard error of 0.019bb. The full calling range covers about 48% of weighted card combinations.
Scenario mtt.6max.vs_open.bb_vs_sb.10bb · solver 0.2.1
Calling ranges are tighter than jamming ranges
Open shoving lets you win the pot without a showdown when your opponents fold, i.e. you gain fold equity. The opponent's modeled range and the chips already in the pot affect the call-or-fold decision. In these two examples, T8s changes from a fold against the button to a call against the small blind.
Percentages describe weighted card combinations, not the share of the 169 hand classes. Full charts show mixed frequencies. In the underlying data, “shove” names the continuing action; when facing an all-in, that action is a call.
6-max calling charts
9-max calling charts
Chip-EV and ICM ranges can be significantly different.
These calling charts value chips, without tournament payouts. ICM decisions also depend on the remaining stacks and payout structure, so there is no single calling that you can refer to. Use the ICM solutions and practice tools to understand the factors that impact your calling range
Practice calling an all-in
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