Help: Stack to Pot Ratio

[frob23]

I have been hearing a lot of buzz about "SPR" (Stack to Pot Ratio) lately and I wonder if anyone knows enough about it to explain it to me further. At this point, I understand that it relates to the ratio of the effective stacks on the flop and it should determine the size of pre-flop raise you are making with certain hands. And that SPRs of certain amounts will determine if you are willing to stack-off (go all-in) or fold... as well as determine (I believe) your willingness to call on the flop because of how big the pot will be on the turn.

Anyway, this is basically the limit of my understanding at this point. I can fairly easily calculate an SPR but I am not sure what the numbers really mean. What sort of numbers should I be looking for? Some examples of SPRs with hands and the range you put an opponent on -- as well as the action the SPR indicates -- would probably help me understand a whole lot more here.


So... who is the SPR expert? Or who just knows enough to teach someone about them? I'm interested in learning this -- possibly enough to buy the book they come from at a later time but I would appreciate a rough introduction at this time.

[frob23]

I have been reading up a little on this, what I can find on the web, and see that very low or very high SPRs are best for "top pair" hands. These are the high pairs and AK, AQ, and friends. So if you can get an SPR of 4 or 5... you're good because you are committed to the hand regardless of what comes. If you have a very high SPR, you can play and still get away from it if you're convinced you're beat. The worst range is right about 13-14 for the top pair hands, because a pot sized bet on the flop and turn that gets called by one player each time will leave you with a really nasty decision on the river... where the pot will be right around the size of your stack.

For the same reason, I read on one page, an SPR of 13-14 is ideal for the suited connector type hands if they are up against a top pair sort of hand... because you're going to be able to put the top pair hands in that bad spot.

Does anyone have any comments? Am I hopelessly off track or confused here?

Anything to add?

[frob23]

I have a feeling that I am going to need to get Professional No-Limit Hold'em for more discussion on this. I guess no one else has dealt with this concept. I find it very interesting as a method for planning your hands and deciding if you're going to commit and what you're willing to commit with.

[liladypokerpro]

Originally Posted by Frob23 At this point, I understand that it relates to the ratio of the effective stacks on the flop and it should determine the size of pre-flop raise you are making with certain hands. And that SPRs of certain amounts will determine if you are willing to stack-off (go all-in) or fold... as well as determine (I believe) your willingness to call on the flop because of how big the pot will be on the turn.

This is the first I've heard of this exact term (SPR), but as far as what you said above, it seems that I may have used this concept without even knowing of its proper name.... Would be nice if someone could put a little more perspective on it tho...

[frob23]

Originally Posted by liladypokerpro This is the first I've heard of this exact term (SPR), but as far as what you said above, it seems that I may have used this concept without even knowing of its proper name.... Would be nice if someone could put a little more perspective on it tho...

When I get the book, read the information, and have a better grasp of it... I will complete this thread. But right now I think that's the point I'm at. I was hoping to put buying another poker book off for a little longer.

[liladypokerpro]

Let me know the title if it is a good one...I'm about due for a new read...

[frob23]

I have finally picked up this book and am about 100 pages into it. So far it's actually a really good book. It hasn't got too far into the SPR thing, but I have read ahead and can see where it's going. Part of the problem with me finding the information elsewhere is that it all builds on the previous things in the book.

I'm not 100% ready to produce a judgement on this book but so far I'm happy with my purchase.

[Wyte22]

YES!! More stats for us to track

[rakmupagain]

Here's an SPR example off the top of my head that might help, a often misplayed hand. Ring game, your dealt 44, or similar, and raise to 3xblind. Everyone folds down to sb, who has been playin extremely tight, even limping ak, aq. He puts 13x blind in and has 20 behind. Now there's 16x blind in pot, basically giving u a max profit potential of 36 blinds now and its 10 to call. Using the SPR (stack amount/ pot amount) (stack behind smallest in play) would tell u to fold. USing it u can figure out how much going by smallest stack in play, what range of hands u can play in what situation, and if u are going to be committed with top pair etc....

I always do the approximate math in my head, and compare odds of hitting set on flop vs stack size etc, after awhile it becomes second nature. It helps to study various winn % of hands vs certain hands. For instance even if im sure an opponent has pocket aces and i have 78 suited, i can call if i can gain 5-6 times my investment. Its helpful with small pairs and suited connectors, which can otherwise easily be played to a negative profit potential.

[Gil_the_Mover]

Get Professional No Limit. It goes into a great detail with SPR.

[frob23]

Originally Posted by Gil_the_Mover Get Professional No Limit. It goes into a great detail with SPR.

lol... if you read the thread, you'll note that I already talked about getting the book and have even got it. I am in the process of reading it. But if you have any advice on SPR and how you use it, I would love to hear it.

[powrdragn]

Honestly, I find it hard to believe that most players in a ring game would base their decisions on the SPR. I can see how it has some relevance, but I'm personally weighing way more factors than that.

It's another number you can use to base your decisions on, but if you've been in a situation a few times, you'll know if you can or can't get away from a hand, regardless of the stack sizes.

[Gil_the_Mover]

Originally Posted by frob23 lol... if you read the thread, you'll note that I already talked about getting the book and have even got it. I am in the process of reading it. But if you have any advice on SPR and how you use it, I would love to hear it.

you caught me, didnt read the whole thread, my bad

I consider SPR mostly when I am 3betting and trying to manipulate the size of the pot preflop.

[frob23]

Even ignoring SPR itself... this book (Professional No Limit) is fantastic. It's got me thinking in whole news ways about my NL game. I no longer worry about being all-in because if it gets near there, I have been learning to think further and further ahead as well as work out the different equity ranges I have -- when considering what they will call and what range they would make a move with.

I've even been checking in spots where I used to bet... knowing that if I was called I was in trouble on the next street. And that's hard for me... because I like to be the aggressive one and hate showing weakness.