Poker Term

75bb Push Fold

75bb Push Fold

A non-standard term used to refer to a push-fold strategy applied at a stack depth of 75 big blinds, which is far beyond the typical range (under 20bb) where such strategy is considered optimal.

Overview

The term "75bb Push Fold" is not a standard concept in poker. In tournament or cash game strategy, "push-fold" refers to a simplified decision model where a player either moves all-in or folds, typically used when effective stacks are shallow—generally under 20 big blinds (bb). At deeper stacks, optimal play involves more complex actions such as raising to smaller sizes, calling, and post-flop play.

Why Push-Fold Is Not for 75bb

Push-fold strategies rely on the fact that when stacks are short, the cost of raising and then folding to a re-raise is prohibitive, and the all-in move maximizes fold equity and simplifies decisions. At 75bb, the effective stack depth is large enough that:

  • A standard raise to 2-3bb remains viable without committing the whole stack.
  • There is significant room for post-flop play and skill expression.
  • Opponents are unlikely to fold to an all-in with a wide range because the risk-reward ratio changes.

Using a pure push-or-fold approach at 75bb would be highly exploitable and suboptimal, as it wastes the advantage of deep-stack play.

Possible Origins of the Term

The phrase "75bb Push Fold" may appear in some training materials or calculators as part of a broader discussion on stack depth thresholds, but it is not a recognized term in competitive poker. It could be a misnomer or a hypothetical scenario used to illustrate why deep-stack strategy differs from shallow-stack strategy.

Conclusion

Poker players should understand that push-fold is a specialized tool for short stacks (typically under 20bb). At 75bb, standard open-raising, 3-betting, and post-flop fundamentals take precedence. Relying on a push-fold chart at such a deep stack would lead to poor results in practice.

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