What about SPR?

I searched the forum for Threads about SPR (Stack-to-pot Ratio) and see that the latest one is almost 2 years old.

I understand that the SPR is recommended to be rather high with small pairs and speculative hands like small suited connectors. I need good implied odds to make these hands profitable over a large sample. E.g. I usually stay out of pots against short stacks with my small pairs but will gladly call a bet with them when calling a raise from at least one full/deep stack. I do find that giving the SPR a little thought pre-flop makes post-flop play easier...

Playing top-pair hands like AK with a high SPR on a wet flop including a K and many drawing options and us holding TPTK is rather dangerous. Chances are good that several large bets will go into the pot and out TPTK hand is beaten.

My question is: Are you aware of that concept? Do you use it? Hasn't it been mentioned here in a long time because it is so very common and self-evident?

Yes. No. Dunno.

Good question.

Maybe it's self-evident to many of us, I'm not sure, or maybe it's a new concept to a lot of people.

M and SPR are two of the statistics I consider the most when making good MTT decisions.

In a way, yes Im aware.

Im not calculating but Im just looking at stacks and the pot and evaluate it from there. One advantage of online - seeing the pot.

Can somebody explain what is the stack-to-pot ratio? First time I've ever heard this term actually.

rytciaq said:

Can somebody explain what is the stack-to-pot ratio? First time I've ever heard this term actually.

Click to expand...

Stack to pot ratio. Ed Miller first wrote about it in one of his HE books.

Post-flop, SPR is the ratio of the effective stack sizes to the pot.

In a nutshell, SPR gives you a bird's eye view of which hands you can profitably play post-flop.

For example, with an SPR of, say, 5, you'll want to play your top pair, bottom two, and overpairs.

Whereas, with an SPR of, say, 19, you'll only want to go with your sets, strong draws, and nut/near-nut flushes/straights.

BearPlay said:

Stack to pot ratio. Ed Miller first wrote about it in one of his HE books.

Post-flop, SPR is the ratio of the effective stack sizes to the pot.

In a nutshell, SPR gives you a bird's eye view of which hands you can profitably play post-flop.

For example, with an SPR of, say, 5, you'll want to play your top pair, bottom two, and overpairs.

Whereas, with an SPR of, say, 19, you'll only want to go with your sets, strong draws, and nut/near-nut flushes/straights.

Click to expand...

Thank you, I understand it now.Gotta do a bit more research about SPR now.

hffjd2000 said:

In a way, yes Im aware.

Im not calculating but Im just looking at stacks and the pot and evaluate it from there. One advantage of online - seeing the pot.

Click to expand...

Same. I don't really work out exactly ratios, just evaluate stacks and the pot and work out roughly if its worth playing or paying to hit a draw.

Say were 3bet pre with 66 or 89s. If I make it a multi-way pot by calling and everyones deep stacked, its worth thinking about calling. Whereas if were 3bet by a shortish stack and it's only a 2way pot, it's almost certainly not worth calling.

Just a simple example

I talk about SPR on a semi regular basis. I thinks its something that a lot of people don't really consider. On the other hand, if you try to manipulate SPR too much using bet sizes, then you will be relatively easy to play against and will lose value. Tough opponents will notice, but weaker opponents won't. Something worth thinking about.

I will often consider what the SPR is likely to be, based on my bet and if I think another player will call. I can use that to make a nice big pot sized bet on the flop if things go my way and people will get over committed on the turn and will be out a lot. Those big value bets work well with SPR considerations, if you are being careful.