A push fold chart shows exactly which hands to shove all-in and which hands to fold when your stack is short. From 1BB to 20BB the correct decision is almost always push or fold, because there is not enough room to play postflop. These charts remove the guesswork and give you a clear baseline for every seat at the table. A solid push fold chart poker reference keeps your short-stack decisions consistent and profitable across tournaments and sit-and-gos.
Using Push/Fold Charts
Reading a push fold chart is straightforward once you know the layout. Most charts list the position, the stack size in big blinds, and the hands you should shove. You match your seat and your current stack to the right row, then open only the hands shown. Everything else is a fold.
A free push fold chart works best when action folds to you. If someone has already entered the pot, the numbers change and you need calling or reshoving ranges instead. Always check whether the chart assumes antes or no antes, because even a small ante widens the shoving range. Use the chart as a default and adjust only when you have a clear read on the players left to act.
Push/Fold Charts by Stack Size: 1-20 BB
How Position Changes Your Shoving Range
| Position has a massive effect on how wide you can shove. From early position you face more players who can still call or reshove, so the range stays tight. On the button and in the small blind you only have to get through one or two opponents, so the range expands dramatically. |
A 10bb push fold chart shows this clearly. Under the gun you might shove only 15-18 percent of hands, while the button can shove 40 percent or more. The same pattern holds at 5bb and at 15bb. The later you sit, the more hands become profitable shoves. A 20bb push fold chart still rewards position, but the ranges tighten a little because you have more room to raise-fold or play postflop.
Push/Fold Examples
Here are three practical spots that show how the charts work in real hands:
Example 1: 8BB on the button
- Action folds to you. The blinds are tight. A 5bb push fold chart and an 8bb version both say you can shove a wide range that includes any pair, most suited aces, and suited connectors down to 54s. You push and take down the blinds uncontested.
Example 2: 12BB in the cutoff
- Two players are left behind you. A 15bb push fold chart shows a tighter range than the button. You open only strong pairs, broadways, and the better suited hands. Medium suited connectors stay folded because the button can still reshove.
Example 3: 4BB in the small blind
- The button folded. You face only the big blind. At this depth almost any push fold charts poker source says you shove more than half of all hands. You push and put maximum pressure on the big blind.
These examples follow the same logic: match the stack size and the seat, then execute the recommended action without hesitation.
