How to Use a Push Fold Chart: The Ultimate Short Stack Guide

April 10, 2026 · 5 minutes

Small stack of poker chips illustrating a short stack push fold strategy

Tournament poker is unpredictable. One minute, you are the table captain, and the next, you are staring at a dwindling stack. Learning exactly how to use a push fold chart is the single most important skill to master when you reach the late stages of a poker tournament. In this detailed step-by-step guide, we will break down the math behind the moves, show you exactly how to use the MyPokerCoaching push-fold chart, and teach you when to stick to the chart and when to adjust like a pro.

How to Use a Push Fold Chart Under 20BB

Before you dive into the grids, you need to understand the fundamental premise of a short-stack push-fold strategy. Why do our strategies change so drastically when we get short?

The answer lies in mathematical leverage. When you have 40 or 50 big blinds, you have plenty of room for post-flop maneuvers, c-bets, and floating. But as your stack dips below the 20 big blind mark, your options begin to narrow significantly.

While it is a misconception that poker becomes purely “push or fold” at this depth – we will talk about trapping and Heads-Up play shortly – the reality is that standard open-raising often leaves you “pot committed”. The push-fold chart acts as your mathematical safety net, showing you which hands are profitable to simply shove pre-flop to maximize your equity and avoid awkward post-flop spots.

The Engine Under the Hood: What is the Nash Equilibrium?

The colors and hand ranges you see on a push-fold table aren't just random guesses made by professional players. They are powered by rigorous mathematics, specifically by a concept called the Nash equilibrium push-fold strategy.

Named after the brilliant mathematician John Nash, this game theory concept calculates the mathematically perfect way to play a hand based on stack sizes, blinds, and antes.

When you follow a Nash-approved chart, your strategy becomes unexploitable. This means that even if your opponents know exactly what you are doing and what hands you are shoving with, it is mathematically impossible for them to win money from you in the long run. The chart makes the correct decision for you based on pure mathematical expectation (+EV).

Step-by-Step: How to Use a Push Fold Chart

Interactive MyPokerCoaching push fold chart interface showing profitable shoving ranges — Select your action, stack size, and position to instantly see your optimal Nash-approved shoving range.

Our interactive chart is designed to give you the perfect GTO (Game Theory Optimal) answer in seconds. Here is how to use it correctly:

Step 1: Select Your Action (Shove vs. Call)

Understanding the difference in poker shove vs call situations is absolutely critical for beginners.

Shove: This means the action folds to you, and you are the one moving all-in. Here, you have “fold equity” – the chance that your opponents will fold and you win the blinds and antes without a fight.
Call (HU Call): This means someone else has already moved all-in before you. You have zero fold equity, meaning you must have a much stronger hand to call than you would need to shove. Make sure you have the correct tab selected!

Step 2: Set the Antes and Big Blinds

Tournaments usually introduce antes in the middle stages. Antes create “dead money” in the pot. The more dead money there is, the wider (and weaker) the hands you can profitably shove to steal it.

Step 3: Input Your Stack Size (1-20 BB)

Select your exact stack size in big blinds. Notice how the chart changes dynamically? The shorter your stack, the more the grid lights up yellow (indicating a profitable shove).

Pro Tip: Try clicking on “1 BB” from the Small Blind (SB) position. The entire grid turns yellow! The math proves that with only 1 blind left, the pot odds are so overwhelming that you should literally shove “Any Two Cards”.

Step 4: Pick Your Position

Your position at the table dictates your range. If you are Under The Gun (UTG), you have to get through the entire table without anyone waking up with a monster, so your shoving range will be very tight. If you are on the Button (BTN), you only need to beat the two players in the blinds, allowing you to shove a much wider variety of hands.

When to Ignore the Chart: Pro Adjustments and Mistakes

Focused poker player making a strategic decision. — Knowing when to deviate from standard charts and exploit your opponents is what separates good players from great ones

A chart is an incredible baseline, but applying it blindly without understanding table dynamics leads to massive push-fold chart mistakes. Here is when you should deviate from the standard colors:

Don't Shove “Monsters” Every Time: > Important Note: Just because a premium hand like AA or KK is highlighted in yellow at 18BB, it does not mean you are forced to open-shove it! While shoving is mathematically profitable, min-raising to “trap” an aggressive opponent into shoving over the top is often a much higher-value play.
Never Limp… Except in Heads-Up: In a full-ring or 6-max game, just calling the big blind (limping) with 12BB is usually a massive leak that drains your chips. However, in Heads-Up (HU) play, this rule completely changes. Even at 10-12BB depths, completing the Small Blind (limping) is a standard part of an elite strategy, allowing for post-flop play and keeping your ranges balanced.
Adjusting for ICM (Independent Chip Model): Standard charts calculate how to win the most chips (ChipEV). If you are on the money bubble or at a final table, tournament payouts matter. You must play significantly tighter than the chart suggests to survive the pay jumps.
Exploiting Weak Players: If the Big Blind is a “Calling Station” who never folds, tighten your shoving range and drop the marginal hands. If they are a “Nit” who only calls with premium hands, shove wider than the chart recommends to constantly steal their blinds.

Play Safely and Build Your Bankroll

Now that you understand the math behind the short stack push fold strategy, the most important next step is putting it to the test. Memorizing charts is great, but the best way to internalize these ranges is to practice them in a safe, secure, and regulated online environment.

Whether your goal is to grind low-stakes tournaments or higher stakes to build your bankroll, choosing the right site is crucial. You need a room with soft competition, reliable payouts, and fair software.

To save you time and protect your money, we have put together a strict, approved list of the best online poker rooms and the best bonuses on the market.

Conclusion

A push-fold chart calculator is your best friend when the pressure is on. Use it as your primary study tool to understand the mathematical baseline, but always keep your eyes on table dynamics, stack depths, and your opponents to make the perfect adjustments. Don't panic when your stack gets short – trust the math, find your spot, and push your chips in with confidence.

FAQ About How to Use a Push Fold Chart

Can I use a push-fold chart for cash games?

While the math is technically the same for 20BB stacks in cash games, these charts are overwhelmingly designed for tournaments. In cash games, you can (and usually should) simply top up your stack to 100 big blinds, allowing you to play a full, deep-stacked post-flop strategy.

What are the most common push fold chart mistakes?

The most frequent push fold chart mistakes beginners make include ignoring their table position, forgetting to select the “Ante” option in the calculator, and failing to tighten their shoving ranges when tournament payout pressure (ICM) is extremely high.

What should I do if I have 25 or 30 Big Blinds?

If you have more than 20 big blinds, you should generally avoid open-shoving. Instead, use a standard pre-flop opening range (usually raising to 2x or 2.2x the big blind). This allows you to steal the blinds with less risk and leaves you with enough chips to fold if a tight opponent 3-bets you. A pure short-stack push-fold strategy is best reserved exclusively for when you actually drop into the 20 BB danger zone.

Do I need to memorize the entire chart?

No! A human can't memorize every single combination. Focus on memorizing the “borderline” hands for specific positions (e.g., what is the weakest Ace I can shove from the Button for 12BB?). Understanding the general concepts will make you highly profitable without needing a robotic memory.

Why is Heads-Up play different for short stacks?

In Heads-Up poker, you are only playing against one opponent, and you are forced to play almost every hand. Because ranges are incredibly wide, post-flop play remains viable and common even at 10-15BB depths. Limping and min-raising become essential tools to outplay your opponent, rather than strictly playing push-or-fold.

Article by

Bence Mitykó

My relationship with cards started thanks to my father. I was still in elementary school when he first taught me how to play Rummy, and I still remember the long evenings spent playing cards with my family. During the poker boom I was still underage, but the televised tournaments immediately captured my attention. I became fascinated with the game and started learning different poker formats whenever I had the chance. Later in life, as an adult, I was fortunate enough to spend four years playing poker professionally. During that time I mainly focused on Heads-Up Sit & Go games, where I found the format that suited me best. Even though my professional career was relatively short, poker remains something I’m grateful to have experienced as a major part of my life. Today I play mostly as a hobby, while writing has become my main focus. That said, my enthusiasm for writing about poker is just as strong as my passion for playing the game once was.